macOS can prevent an app from accessing files and folders through System Settings > Privacy & Security > Files and Folders. You can turn off access for individual folders, remove an app’s broader Full Disk Access, or use Finder permissions for more restrictive control.
Quick Answer
To block an app from accessing a protected folder:
- Open the Apple menu and choose System Settings.
- Select Privacy & Security in the sidebar.
- Click Files and Folders.
- Select the app and turn off access to the listed folders.
- If the app has broad access, check Full Disk Access and turn it off there too.
macOS may ask you to quit and reopen the app before the change takes effect. Blocking access can stop an app from opening, saving, importing, or backing up files in that location.
What macOS File and Folder Access Controls Do
macOS uses privacy protections to limit what apps can read and change. These protections are especially relevant to personal folders such as:
- Desktop
- Documents
- Downloads
- iCloud Drive
- Removable Volumes
- Network Volumes
An app may request access when it first tries to use one of these locations. If you approve the request, macOS records that permission. You can later review or revoke it in Privacy & Security.
This control is different from ordinary Finder permissions. Privacy controls decide whether an app is allowed to access a protected location at all, while Finder permissions control which users and groups can read or modify a file or folder.
An app with Full Disk Access may have much broader access than the permissions shown under Files and Folders. If you want to restrict an app thoroughly, review both sections.
Method 1: Turn Off Access in Files and Folders
This is the simplest method when macOS lists the specific folders an app can access.
Before you begin
Turning off access may interrupt an active task. Save your work before changing permissions, particularly if the app is importing media, recording audio, downloading files, or syncing data.
- Open the Apple menu in the upper-left corner.
- Select System Settings.
- Click Privacy & Security in the sidebar.
- Scroll down and select Files and Folders.
- Find the app you want to restrict and click it.
You may see a list of locations, such as Documents Folder, Downloads Folder, or Desktop Folder.
- Turn off the switch next to each folder you want to protect.
- Quit the app if it is open.
- Reopen the app and test it.
If the app does not appear in the list, it may not have requested access to a protected folder yet. You cannot always add an app manually to Files and Folders. In that situation, check Full Disk Access, use Finder permissions, or wait until the app requests access.
What happens after access is revoked
The app may be unable to:
- Open files in the blocked folder
- Save new files there
- Import photos, videos, or audio
- Create project files or libraries
- Search that folder
- Back up or synchronize its contents
Some apps show an error message. Others may simply display an empty folder or fail to complete an operation.
Method 2: Remove Full Disk Access
Full Disk Access gives an app unusually broad permission to read and modify data, including information that ordinary file access controls may not cover. Apps such as backup tools, disk utilities, antivirus programs, and system-management utilities may request it.
If an app has Full Disk Access, removing individual folder permissions may not provide the restriction you expect.
Before you begin
Removing Full Disk Access can disable important features. Backup software may stop backing up, security software may lose visibility into files, and utility apps may stop working correctly. Make sure you understand what the app does before revoking this permission.
- Open System Settings from the Apple menu.
- Select Privacy & Security.
- Click Full Disk Access.
- Find the app you want to restrict.
- Turn off its switch.
- Quit and reopen the app.
If macOS asks for an administrator password or approval, follow the onscreen instructions.
Afterward, test the app with a folder that should now be inaccessible. If it still works, check whether the app has access through another privacy category or through a different helper app.
Method 3: Remove an App from Privacy Permissions
Some apps appear in more than one privacy category, including Files and Folders, Full Disk Access, Accessibility, Automation, or Removable Volumes. If you want to reset an app’s stored privacy approvals, remove it from the relevant list when macOS provides a remove button.
- Open System Settings.
- Select Privacy & Security.
- Open the privacy category you want to review.
- Select the app.
- Click the Remove button, if available.
The exact controls can vary by macOS version and by privacy category. Removing an app does not uninstall it. It removes the listed approval, and the app may ask for permission again later.
If your goal is to prevent the app from accessing a specific folder permanently, do not approve the request when macOS asks again.
Method 4: Restrict Access with Finder Permissions
Finder permissions can provide an additional layer of control for a particular file or folder. This method changes access for users and groups, not just one app, so use it carefully.
Before you begin
Changing permissions can prevent macOS, other apps, or your own user account from working with the folder. Do not modify permissions for system folders or folders used by macOS. Make sure you have a backup before changing important files.
- Open Finder.
- Locate the file or folder.
- Control-click it, or click it while holding the Control key.
- Choose Get Info.
- Expand Sharing & Permissions.
- Click the lock and authenticate if necessary.
- Select the user or group whose access you want to change.
- Click the permissions menu and choose No Access, Read only, or another appropriate option.
- Close the Get Info window.
Finder permissions do not normally let you deny access to only one app while leaving every other app unaffected. If you set No Access for your own account, you may also block yourself from opening the folder in Finder.
To restore access, return to Get Info, authenticate, and change the permission back to Read & Write or the appropriate setting.
How to Prevent an App from Asking Again
When macOS displays a permission request, choose Don’t Allow if you do not want the app to access the file or folder. If you already chose Allow, revoke the approval through System Settings > Privacy & Security.
Avoid granting access merely to dismiss an error message. First determine why the app needs the folder and whether it offers another storage location. For example, an audio or camera app may let you choose a project folder outside Documents, Desktop, or Downloads.
Privacy permissions for files and folders are separate from camera and microphone permissions. If an audio or video app needs access to a recording location as well as your microphone or camera, review those permissions independently. You can use this guide to check which apps can access your camera and microphone on a Mac.
Blocking Access to a Specific File
macOS’s privacy controls are mainly organized around folders and broader data categories. They may not provide a simple switch for blocking one app from one individual file.
For a single file, you can try the following:
- Move the file into a folder the app cannot access.
- Rename the file or change its location if the app is searching for it automatically.
- Use Get Info > Sharing & Permissions to restrict access carefully.
- Remove the app’s access under Privacy & Security if it has broader permission.
Be cautious with application libraries, databases, and project files. Moving or renaming them may cause the app to lose track of your data or create a new empty library.
Troubleshooting
The app still accesses the folder
Check Privacy & Security > Full Disk Access. An app with Full Disk Access may not be limited in the same way as an app with access to only one listed folder.
Also check whether the app uses a separate helper, updater, plug-in, or background process. The program you launch may not be the component actually reading the files.
Finally, quit and reopen the app. Some apps keep files open until they are fully closed.
The app does not appear under Files and Folders
An app generally appears there only after it has requested access to one of the protected locations. Look under Full Disk Access and other privacy categories instead.
You can also start the task that needs the folder and wait for macOS to display a permission request. Choose Don’t Allow when prompted.
The switch is unavailable or cannot be changed
Some settings require administrator authentication. Click the lock or follow the authentication prompt if one appears.
If the setting remains unavailable, the Mac may be managed by an organization, or a configuration profile may control the permission. Contact the administrator rather than attempting to bypass the restriction.
The app stops working after access is blocked
Restore the specific permission temporarily and test again. If the app depends on that folder for its library, settings, cache, or exported files, it may need access to operate.
Instead of restoring access to a personal folder, check the app’s preferences for an alternative storage location. Save a copy of important data before moving any library or project.
The app can read files but cannot save them
Reading and writing are separate operations. Check Finder’s Sharing & Permissions for the folder and confirm that your user account has Read & Write access.
Also verify that the destination is not a read-only external drive, a locked folder, or a location controlled by another privacy setting.
A recording or camera app cannot save its files
The app may need file access in addition to microphone or camera permission. Check Privacy & Security > Files and Folders, then review the app’s selected recording or export location.
If the microphone or camera itself is not working, file permissions are not the only possible cause. Separate troubleshooting may be needed for microphone or camera access.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I block one app without blocking other apps?
Usually, yes. Files and Folders permissions are assigned to individual apps. However, Finder permissions apply to users and groups, so changing them can affect multiple apps.
Does removing Full Disk Access uninstall the app?
No. It only removes the app’s broad permission to access protected data. You can grant the permission again later from System Settings > Privacy & Security > Full Disk Access.
Will the app know that I blocked it?
The app may show an error, an empty folder, or a permission message. Some apps may not clearly explain why an operation failed.
Can I block an app from accessing all of my files?
Review the app under both Files and Folders and Full Disk Access. You may also need to check Finder permissions and any external or network volumes. No single setting covers every possible file location and access method.
Why does an app ask for permission again?
This can happen after an app update, a reset of privacy permissions, a change in the file’s location, or an attempt to access a different protected folder. Choose Don’t Allow if you do not want to grant the new request.
Is this the same as blocking camera or microphone access?
No. Camera, microphone, and file access are separate privacy controls. An app can have permission to use your microphone while being blocked from your Documents folder, or the reverse.
Final Thoughts
The safest starting point is System Settings > Privacy & Security > Files and Folders. Turn off only the folder access the app does not need, then check Full Disk Access if the app still reaches protected data. Use Finder permissions only when you understand that the change may affect every app and user working with that file or folder.