How to Change Read and Write Permissions Mac [Step-by-Step]

According to the surveys, one of the most common issues Mac users faces is the issue with read and write permissions. The primary reason behind this is that the Mac has a different file system and lacks support for the NTFS file system. Whatever the reason, understanding how to change read and write permissions on your Mac is an essential skill for managing your files and maintaining your system's security.

EaseUS will discuss the different reasons that can create read and write permission issues in this post. It will also list the four easiest methods to change read-write permissions on Mac.

Why Can't I Read and Write Permissions on Mac

Before discussing how to change read-write permissions on Mac, it is essential to understand why this issue arose in the first place. There are many reasons which can result in the case. Some of these reasons are the following:

• NTFS File System: If you cannot copy or move files on an external storage drive, your external storage drive is likely formatted with NTFS.
• File Ownership: If you are not the owner of a file and it has restricted editing and sharing permissions, you will not be able to modify it.
• User Account: Many files and folders on your Mac system require you to have the highest privileges before you can access or modify them.
• File System Corruption: If the file system is damaged, you can face read-only issues.
• System Integrity Protection (SIP): To stop users from mistakenly modifying the core files and folders, Apple has introduced a security system known as System Integrity Protection (SIP). It restricts the user's access to specific files and folders on the Mac.

How to Change Read and Write Permissions on Mac – 4 Ways

Before reading the detailed steps of each solution, let's check them by the quick view list:

1. Method 1. Enable Permissions via NTFS Tool
2. Method 2. Reformat the Incorrect Drive
3. Method 3. Change Permissions via Terminal
4. Method 4. Fix Permission Problems via Finder

There are multiple ways to change the file permission on the Mac. These range from using the Terminal to employing third-party tools. Below we have explained the four easiest methods to change read-write permissions on Mac:

Method 1. Enable Permissions via NTFS Tool

If your issue concerns NTFS, the best solution is to use a third-party tool. Adding NTFS permission through a Terminal or a free NTFS driver is complex and hectic. The best tool which provides you with the simplest way to mount and unmount NTFS drive on Mac's status bar is EaseUS NTFS for Mac.

It is the most excellent option and comprehensive NTFS utility for Mac users. There are command lines, no virtual machines, and no drive formatting. You need to install this lightweight and dedicated software, and you can use NTFS on Mac natively.

Steps to Enable Permissions via EaseUS NTFS for Mac

The simple step-by-step process to change read-write permissions Mac via EaseUS NTFS for Mac is given below to help you:

Step 1. Launch and activate EaseUS NTFS for Mac. Click "I already have a license" to unlock this software.

Step 2. Connect an NTFS drive to Mac, EaseUS NTFS for Mac will automatically detect the device. Select your drive and you'll see it's now marked as 'Read-only". Click "Enable Writable" to add read and write rights to the drive.

Step 3. When the state of NTFS drives turns into "Writable".

Step 4. EaseUS NTFS for Mac will pops up a window to help Mac get access to the NTFS drive:

1. 1. Select "Full Disk Access", click the Lock icon and enter admin password to unlock it.
2. 2. Select the two icons of NTFS for Mac.
3. 3. Drag them to the "Full Disk Access" list.
4. 4. Click " Quit & Restore" to re-launch EaseUS NTFS for Mac.

Step 5. When EaseUS NTFS for Mac restarts, you can then open to check, read, write, and even modify saved data on the NTFS device.

Key Features of EaseUS NTFS for Mac

• EaseUS NTFS for Mac can also easily mount NTFS on Mac.
• This tool enables NTFS-write for macOS to help you use storage drives formatted to NTFS.
• It delivers fast transfer speeds, ensuring smooth data transfer operations between NTFS drives and Mac.
• This tool can create a Windows-like NTFS read-write partition on Mac which can help you write, copy, and delete files from external hard drives on Mac.

Suitable For: Hard Drive, External Hard Disk, SSD, USB Drive, Thunderbolt Drive, SD Card, CF Card, etc.

Compatible With: macOS 13 Ventura ~ macOS Sierra 10.13

If you are troubled by one of the above problems, launch and install the EaseUS NTFS for Mac to help you fix them quickly and safely:

Method 2. Reformat the Incorrect Drive

One solution for NTFS external storage drives is to format them to a file system fully compatible with Mac. It is recommended if you have only bought the hard drive and it has yet to have any data or is backed up elsewhere. Here is how you can reformat the incorrect NTFS drive on Mac:

Step 1: To begin, connect the NTFS drive to your Mac and tap the Finder from the Dock. Select "Application" from the left panel and move to "Utilities." Here, tap and launch "Disk Utility."

Step 2: Select your NTFS Drive and press "Erase" from the top bar in the Disk Utility. Choose the drive name and file system in the formatting options and tap "Erase" to start the process.

Suitable For: External Storage Devices, like SSD, HDD, etc.

Compatible With: All macOS versions.

Method 3. Change Permissions via Terminal

For advanced Mac users, a way is available to change read-write permissions Mac via Terminal. It means you will run commands to manage the permission for files, folders, and drives. And you can also format the disk to NTFS on Mac using Terminal. Since running commands can be risky, you should only try this method if you are confident in your skills. Follow these steps to change permission via Terminal:

Step 1: Access and run the Terminal from "Utilities" in "Applications" and access the folder where the required file is present using the "cd" command. Afterward, run the first command, ls -l, to see all the files with their permission.

Step 2: Now run these commands to set the read and write permissions for the user, group, and others on Mac Terminal:

"chmod ugo+ rwx""My Folder"

ls -l

This first command will grant permission, while you can view the current permissions with the second.

Step 3: If you want to remove the permissions, use the "chmod ugo+ rwx""My Folder" to remove file permissions for groups and others. You can also remove only a group using the "chmod g= "filename" command.

Suitable For: Files, Folder, and Groups

Compatible With: All macOS versions.

Method 4. Fix Permission Problems via Finder

If you don't want to use Terminal and aren't comfortable running commands, you can use the "Get Info" window to change read-write permissions on Mac. It is a simple process and only requires a little tech expertise to use this method. However, you do need to have administrator privilege to make these changes. Use the following steps to fix the permission problem via Finder:

Step 1: Launch the Finder through Dock on Mac and select your targeted hard disk. After selecting, right-click the drive and choose "Get Info."

Step 2: The "Command + I" shortcut key is also possible. Next, from the "Get Info" window, locate and choose the "Sharing & Permissions" option. Now you need to change the permission to "Read & Write" if it is "Read Only" to fix the issue.

Suitable For: External Storage Devices, like SSD, HDD, etc.

Compatible With: All macOS versions.

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Conclusion

To conclude the article, changing read and write permissions on a Mac can be complicated. However, knowing how to do it is vital for fully utilizing your external storage devices. While there are several ways to change permissions on Mac, a quick and reliable solution is to use EaseUS NTFS for Mac.

This software lets you efficiently manage read and write permissions for NTFS formatted drives on your Mac. With this tool, you can easily overcome the limitations of the NTFS file system on Mac. In short, if you want to fix: Can't change permission on external drive Mac, EaseUS NTFS for Mac is the way to go.

If you want to see more information about changing read and write permissions on Mac, click the following related articles links to find the answers:

FAQs About Change Read and Write Permissions on Mac

Review the answers to the FAQs regarding change read write permission Mac below if you have more queries:

1. Why can't I change the permissions of an external hard drive on a Mac?

There are many possible causes for your inability to change the permissions of the external hard drive on a Mac. These range from incompatible file formats like NTFS to locked permissions. Most of these issues are easily solvable through a third-party tool like EaseUS NTFS for Mac.

2. How to change a read-only file to write on Mac?

Follow these steps to change read-only files to write on Mac via the Get Info method:

Step 1: Use the Finder from the Dock to access the targeted drive. Use the "Command + I" to open the Get Info menu.

Step 2: Now scroll down to the bottom in "Sharing & Permissions" and set the read-only permissions to read and write.

3. How to change file permission using a Mac terminal?

Use the following step to change the file permissions using Mac Terminal:

Step 1: Launch Mac Terminal through Utilities from Application. Now run the command "chmod ugo+ rwx""My Folder".

Step 2: Grant the user, groups, and others read and write permissions.