For some reason, a number of files in my Mac’s home account have become inaccessible.

Doing an info (command-I) on them says they are supposed to be readable and writeable by me, which makes sense, since I created them. But in some cases, they are not. When I try to access them, I am asked for a password, and when I give it, I still do not get access.

Under Catalina (and now, Big Sur), the solution is as follows:

  • Shut down the machine
  • Press the Power button to reboot, then immediately hold down command-R to enter Recovery mode
  • Keep it held until the Apple logo vanishes and then re-appears
  • When the recovery options appear, from the menu click
    • Utilities, then
    • Terminal
  • In the terminal window, type repairHomePermissions (note the capital letters)
  • A dialogue screen will open; follow the instructions, then
  • Click the Apple logo and shut down again.

Note that this procedure involves providing an administrator password on two occasions.

Officially, Apple wants us to reinstal the operating system after this as well. However, the support person I spoke to when I had the trouble with the external monitor recently suggested that she has not found that to be necessary. So I decided not to do it, as I’d already wasted a lot of time doing that sort of thing with the monitor problem.

So far, so good.