Permission Denied for Final Cut Pro Library on External Drive

Question

Level 1

4 points

Permission Denied for Final Cut Pro Library on External Drive

I'm having an issue accessing footage on an external drive. I opened FCP, went to open a library stored on external drive (OWC Express 1M2) and keep getting the error message:

The media files were initially imported into FCP from the external drive, with all files stored back on the external drive. FCP has Full Disk Access. I've tried rebooting, deleting the preferences on rebooting, ejecting and reopening the external hard drive, but nothing works. Mac thinks there is a copy running somewhere, but where?

The drive is brand new, hooked up with lightening cable to macbook pro M4 pro on Sequoia 15.2.

Pulling my hair out trying to get this project done.

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

MacBook Pro 14″, macOS 15.2

Posted on Jan 13, 2025 11:15 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

fabricface Author

Level 1

4 points

Jan 13, 2025 1:13 PM in response to joema

joema wrote:

There is a rare scenario whereby if your machine is shut down suddenly or a drive is disconnected, or if a library is copied while FCP is still up, the advisory lock files in the root of the library could become out of sync with a UUID (Universal Identifier) used to construct a "Lock Identifier". I think this can be manually corrected using the following procedure:

1. Shut down FCP.

2. Make a complete file-level backup of the library (in Finder, right-click>Duplicate).

3. In Finder, right-click the library and pick "Show package contents".

4. Press CTRL+SHFT+. (Control + Shift + period) simultaneously. This will reveal the hidden lock files '.lock-info', '.lock', '.lock-dir' in the root of the library.

5. Delete the hidden lock files and exit the library.

6. Use this terminal command to reset the UUID used to construct the Lock Identifier: defaults delete com.apple.FinalCut "Flexo.FFFileLock.LockIdentifier"

Start FCP and see if you can open the library. If yes, examine your clips and projects. If you cannot open it, post any errors you get.

This worked! Thank you. I never would have gotten here without these specific instructions.

Reply

Answer 2

Jan 13, 2025 11:51 AM in response to fabricface

Two things: first make sure that FCP has Full Disk Access in System Settings->Privacy & Security.

Second, this kind of error can be due to FCP not existing normally and leaving the lock files in the library in an incorrect state. If this is the case, then the following process may help.

1) Quit FCP

2) In Finder, control-click the library and choose Show Package Contents

3) Press Command-Shift-period to make Finder show hidden files

4) Drag all three items whose names start with .lock to the trash. Do NOT change anything else inside the library bundle

5) Close the contents and double click to open the library normally

Reply

Answer 3

terryb

Level 4

3,370 points

Jan 13, 2025 12:07 PM in response to fabricface

In addition to Tom and Luis' always excellent advice, how is the drive formatted? For FCP, SSDs should be APFS and spinning disks should be MacOS Extended. Format storage devices for Final Cut Pro, Motion, and Compressor - Apple Support

Also, there's a (new?) note on that formatting page: "You can’t store your Final Cut Pro library on a storage device used for Time Machine backups."

Reply

Answer 4

joema

Level 4

1,155 points

Jan 13, 2025 12:10 PM in response to fabricface

There is a rare scenario whereby if your machine is shut down suddenly or a drive is disconnected, or if a library is copied while FCP is still up, the advisory lock files in the root of the library could become out of sync with a UUID (Universal Identifier) used to construct a "Lock Identifier". I think this can be manually corrected using the following procedure:

1. Shut down FCP.

2. Make a complete file-level backup of the library (in Finder, right-click>Duplicate).

3. In Finder, right-click the library and pick "Show package contents".

4. Press CTRL+SHFT+. (Control + Shift + period) simultaneously. This will reveal the hidden lock files '.lock-info', '.lock', '.lock-dir' in the root of the library.

5. Delete the hidden lock files and exit the library.

6. Use this terminal command to reset the UUID used to construct the Lock Identifier: defaults delete com.apple.FinalCut "Flexo.FFFileLock.LockIdentifier"

Start FCP and see if you can open the library. If yes, examine your clips and projects. If you cannot open it, post any errors you get.

Reply

Answer 5

fabricface Author

Level 1

4 points

Jan 13, 2025 12:33 PM in response to joema

joema wrote:

There is a rare scenario whereby if your machine is shut down suddenly or a drive is disconnected, or if a library is copied while FCP is still up, the advisory lock files in the root of the library could become out of sync with a UUID (Universal Identifier) used to construct a "Lock Identifier". I think this can be manually corrected using the following procedure:

1. Shut down FCP.

2. Make a complete file-level backup of the library (in Finder, right-click>Duplicate).

3. In Finder, right-click the library and pick "Show package contents".

4. Press CTRL+SHFT+. (Control + Shift + period) simultaneously. This will reveal the hidden lock files '.lock-info', '.lock', '.lock-dir' in the root of the library.

5. Delete the hidden lock files and exit the library.

6. Use this terminal command to reset the UUID used to construct the Lock Identifier: defaults delete com.apple.FinalCut "Flexo.FFFileLock.LockIdentifier"

Start FCP and see if you can open the library. If yes, examine your clips and projects. If you cannot open it, post any errors you get.

Disk is too full to make a copy

Reply

Answer 6

Tom Wolsky

Level 10

152,780 points

Jan 13, 2025 2:04 PM in response to fabricface

4. Press CMD+SHFT+. (Cmd + Shift + period) simultaneously. This will reveal the hidden lock files '.lock-info', '.lock', '.lock-dir' in the root of the library.

5. Delete the hidden lock files and exit the library.

6. Use this terminal command to reset the UUID used to construct the Lock Identifier: defaults delete com.apple.FinalCut "Flexo.FFFileLock.LockIdentifier"

Reply

Answer 7

Tom Wolsky

Level 10

152,780 points

Jan 13, 2025 11:23 AM in response to fabricface

Check read/write permissions on the drive and make sure it's set to apply to enclosed items and ignore ownership.

Reply

Answer 8

fabricface Author

Level 1

4 points

Jan 13, 2025 12:55 PM in response to Tom Wolsky

Tom Wolsky wrote:

You are using the application to open the library. Do mot double click the library. Right click on the Cooking Videos library and from the shortcut menu select Show Package Contents.

Okay. I can see the contents of the library. How should I open these files from here? I've not done this before.

Reply

Answer 9

terryb

Level 4

3,370 points

Jan 13, 2025 12:11 PM in response to fabricface

You have the library stored on the external drive, so Luis is saying control-click that library bundle and follow his instructions. Make sure FCP is not running.

Reply

Answer 10

Tom Wolsky

Level 10

152,780 points

Jan 13, 2025 12:23 PM in response to fabricface

You are using the application to open the library. Do mot double click the library. Right click on the Cooking Videos library and from the shortcut menu select Show Package Contents.

Reply

Answer 11

terryb

Level 4

3,370 points

Jan 13, 2025 1:46 PM in response to joema

Joe, to show hidden files in the library package I need to use Command-Shift-Period. I get a system beep with Control-Shift-Period.

Reply

Answer 12

fabricface Author

Level 1

4 points

Jan 13, 2025 11:38 AM in response to Tom Wolsky

Updated read/write permissions, now set to apply to enclosed items and ignore ownership. Ejected drive. Rebooted computer, restarted FCP, attempted to open the library on the OWC ex drive and same error message:

Reply

Answer 13

fabricface Author

Level 1

4 points

Jan 13, 2025 12:07 PM in response to Luis Sequeira1

Full Disk Access is set up properly.

I can't find the library in Finder. I looked macintosh HD->Users->macbook->Movies->

I tried to double click the FCP bundle directly from the external hard drive and same error message:

Reply

Answer 14

fabricface Author

Level 1

4 points

Jan 13, 2025 12:16 PM in response to Luis Sequeira1

You have the library stored on the external drive, so Luis is saying control-click that library bundle and follow his instructions. Make sure FCP is not running.

Tried this through finder on the external drive. Files still won't open but I get a slightly different error message now:

Reply

Answer 15

fabricface Author

Level 1

4 points

Jan 13, 2025 12:10 PM in response to terryb

Formatting on the OWC Express 1M2 is APFS

Time machine is not set up. There is no backup disk added right now.

Reply

Permission Denied for Final Cut Pro Library on External Drive

Similar questions