

In macOS Sierra, /usr/libexec/repair_packages is not available. In both cases, the user has to disable System Integrity Protection to change permissions of system files and directories. In El Capitan, the user can instead use two command-line utilities: pkgutil to repair particular packages or /usr/libexec/repair_packages to repair a standard set of system packages. The operation can also be performed by using the diskutil command-line utility. In systems prior to OS X El Capitan, a permissions repair can be performed by selecting a startup volume and clicking the "Repair Disk Permissions" button in the "First Aid" section of Disk Utility. To that end, Disk Utility as well as the corresponding diskutil command-line utility lost the ability to repair permissions.

Launch the Terminal. Permissions repairs are instead performed automatically upon system installs and updates. To be clear, this will initiate the exact same Repair Disk Permissions functionality that is seen in OS X Disk Utility app, via the Terminal. With it enabled, root privileges are no longer able to change system files and folders, including their permissions. In OS X El Capitan, Apple introduced a security feature called System Integrity Protection. Repairing permissions can become necessary, but has become increasingly less so for versions after Panther (10.3). įiles whose permissions have been incorrectly altered by an administrator, an administrator operating with root privileges, or a poorly designed installer package (installed with similar privileges) can cause a wide array of problems ranging from application errors to the inability to boot macOS.
REPAIR OS X PERMISSIONS FROM COMMAND LINE SOFTWARE
Whenever a user installs software that uses the macOS Installer package format, a bill-of-materials file is created which can be consulted for future permission repair. Typically, these files are stored within reduced-size Installer package (.pkg) files in the Receipts folder in the local Library directory ( /Library/Receipts) on the volume being checked. The list of correct permissions is compiled by consulting the various bill-of-materials (.bom) files. Single User Mode (fsck): This is another special startup method that allows you to run command line utilities, such as fsck, which can verify and repair hard drives.
REPAIR OS X PERMISSIONS FROM COMMAND LINE MAC
Repairing permissions involves checking the permissions of a set of files and folders on a volume with macOS installed against a list of correct POSIX permissions and correcting any discrepancies. Safe Mode: This is a special booting method that forces your Mac to perform an automatic disk check and repair as it tries to start up. Applications depend on the correct assignment and interpretation of permissions in order to function properly. The BSD layer in macOS is responsible for file-system security, including the management of the Unix ( POSIX) permissions model. The efficacy of repairing permissions to troubleshoot application errors has been debated. Repairing disk permissions is a troubleshooting activity commonly associated with the macOS operating system by Apple.
