{
  "schema": "https://storagestudio.us/schema/wiki-page.v1",
  "title": "Why Storage Studio asks for Full Disk Access",
  "slug": "full-disk-access",
  "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/full-disk-access",
  "markdown_url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/full-disk-access.md",
  "category": "Getting started",
  "category_url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/getting-started/",
  "tags": [
    "full disk access",
    "permissions",
    "privacy",
    "getting started"
  ],
  "summary": "Full Disk Access is the macOS permission that lets Storage Studio read the protected folders it measures, moves and clears. You grant it in System Settings, the app notices on its own, and you can skip it and grant it later.",
  "published_at": "2026-10-01T06:16:00.000Z",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-01T05:35:23.000Z",
  "headings": [
    {
      "level": 2,
      "text": "Why it's needed",
      "id": "why-it-s-needed"
    },
    {
      "level": 2,
      "text": "How to grant it",
      "id": "how-to-grant-it"
    },
    {
      "level": 2,
      "text": "How Storage Studio knows",
      "id": "how-storage-studio-knows"
    },
    {
      "level": 2,
      "text": "Without it",
      "id": "without-it"
    },
    {
      "level": 2,
      "text": "When it stops working",
      "id": "when-it-stops-working"
    }
  ],
  "links_out": [
    {
      "slug": "glossary-full-disk-access",
      "label": "Full Disk Access",
      "exists": true,
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/glossary-full-disk-access"
    },
    {
      "slug": "what-a-move-keeps",
      "label": "What a move keeps",
      "exists": true,
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/what-a-move-keeps"
    },
    {
      "slug": "privacy-overview",
      "label": "Privacy: what stays on your Mac",
      "exists": true,
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/privacy-overview"
    },
    {
      "slug": "services-pane",
      "label": "Services",
      "exists": true,
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/services-pane"
    },
    {
      "slug": "full-disk-access-not-detected",
      "label": "Full Disk Access is on but the app says it isn't",
      "exists": true,
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/full-disk-access-not-detected"
    },
    {
      "slug": "permissions-storage-studio-asks-for",
      "label": "The permissions Storage Studio asks for",
      "exists": true,
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/permissions-storage-studio-asks-for"
    },
    {
      "slug": "your-first-launch",
      "label": "Your first launch",
      "exists": true,
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/your-first-launch"
    }
  ],
  "links_in": [
    {
      "slug": "glossary-full-disk-access",
      "title": "Full Disk Access",
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/glossary-full-disk-access"
    },
    {
      "slug": "full-disk-access-not-detected",
      "title": "Full Disk Access is on but the app says it isn't",
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/full-disk-access-not-detected"
    },
    {
      "slug": "rules-dont-move-documents-or-desktop",
      "title": "My rules don't move anything from Documents or Desktop",
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/rules-dont-move-documents-or-desktop"
    },
    {
      "slug": "preferences-window",
      "title": "The Preferences window",
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/preferences-window"
    },
    {
      "slug": "permissions-storage-studio-asks-for",
      "title": "The permissions Storage Studio asks for",
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/permissions-storage-studio-asks-for"
    },
    {
      "slug": "your-first-launch",
      "title": "Your first launch, step by step",
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/your-first-launch"
    }
  ],
  "diagrams": [
    {
      "kind": "flowchart",
      "caption": "How Storage Studio decides whether it has Full Disk Access",
      "outline": "- Try to read a few protected files\n  - leads to Did macOS refuse any of them?\n- Did macOS refuse any of them?\n  - Yes: leads to Not granted\n  - No: leads to Could it read at least one?\n- Could it read at least one?\n  - Yes: leads to Granted\n  - No: leads to Can't tell, so treated as not granted\n",
      "source": "%% caption: How Storage Studio decides whether it has Full Disk Access\nflowchart TD\n  A[Try to read a few protected files] --> B{Did macOS refuse any of them?}\n  B -->|Yes| C[Not granted]\n  B -->|No| D{Could it read at least one?}\n  D -->|Yes| E[Granted]\n  D -->|No| F[Can't tell, so treated as not granted]"
    }
  ],
  "images": [],
  "screenshots_pending": [
    {
      "alt": "The \"One quick permission and we're all set\" window with its three reasons, the Skip for now button and the Open System Settings button",
      "caption": "The Full Disk Access request at first launch"
    }
  ],
  "faqs": [],
  "text": "Full Disk Access is a macOS permission that lets an app read folders macOS normally protects, such as Documents, Desktop and Downloads. Storage Studio asks for it so it can see where your space is going and move or clear files without being blocked part-way. You grant it once in System Settings; you can skip it and grant it later. Why it's needed The request explains three things: See where your space is going. Without it, Storage Studio can't tell which folders are large or which files haven't been touched in months. Move files without breaking them. Moves, clear-ups and scans need to read every file they touch. What a move keeps is explained in What a move keeps . Your files stay on your Mac. Storage Studio looks at sizes and dates to suggest what's safe to move. Granting the permission doesn't send anything anywhere — see Privacy: what stays on your Mac . How to grant it When the request appears, System Settings opens at Privacy & Security → Full Disk Access for you. Find Storage Studio in the list and switch it on. Come back to Storage Studio. It notices within a couple of seconds and carries on — no restart needed. If you skipped it, or Storage Studio isn't in the list: Open Settings… in Storage Studio and choose Advanced . In Permissions , click Show Storage Studio in Finder , then Open Full Disk Access . Click + and choose Storage Studio, or drag the app from the Finder window into the list. Switch it on, then click Re-check . The Permissions page in Settings also shows whether it's granted, with an Open Settings button. How Storage Studio knows macOS doesn't tell apps when a permission changes, so Storage Studio checks for itself by trying to read a few protected files. How Storage Studio decides whether it has Full Disk Access Flowchart outline: How Storage Studio decides whether it has Full Disk Access Try to read a few protected files leads to Did macOS refuse any of them? Did macOS refuse any of them? Yes: leads to Not granted No: leads to Could it read at least one? Could it read at least one? Yes: leads to Granted No: leads to Can't tell, so treated as not granted Any refusal counts as \"not granted\", and \"can't tell\" is never treated as a yes. It checks at launch, when you open the app, while the request window is open, and again whenever macOS actually refuses it a file. Without it Storage Studio still runs, but it can't read everything: macOS may ask you the first time it touches each protected folder. Anything it can't read is left out of scans, moves and clear-ups. The menu bar icon shows a yellow dot, the App permissions row in Services turns red, and the notification bell shows Full Disk Access needed with a Grant access button. When it stops working macOS ties the permission to the exact copy of the app, so an update or repair can quietly drop it. Storage Studio tells you Your Mac has stopped honouring this permission . Switch Storage Studio off and back on in the Full Disk Access list to restore it. If it's on but still not detected, see Full Disk Access is on but the app says it isn't . Some folders belong to other apps and stay off-limits even with Full Disk Access. Storage Studio reports those as refused without sending you to change a setting that wouldn't help. See also: The permissions Storage Studio asks for , Your first launch .",
  "markdown": "[Full Disk Access](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/glossary-full-disk-access) is a macOS permission that lets an app read folders macOS normally protects, such as Documents, Desktop and Downloads. Storage Studio asks for it so it can see where your space is going and move or clear files without being blocked part-way. You grant it once in System Settings; you can skip it and grant it later.\n\n## Why it's needed\n\nThe request explains three things:\n\n- **See where your space is going.** Without it, Storage Studio can't tell which folders are large or which files haven't been touched in months.\n- **Move files without breaking them.** Moves, clear-ups and scans need to read every file they touch. What a move keeps is explained in [What a move keeps](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/what-a-move-keeps).\n- **Your files stay on your Mac.** Storage Studio looks at sizes and dates to suggest what's safe to move. Granting the permission doesn't send anything anywhere — see [Privacy: what stays on your Mac](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/privacy-overview).\n\n## How to grant it\n\nWhen the request appears, System Settings opens at **Privacy & Security → Full Disk Access** for you.\n\n1. Find **Storage Studio** in the list and switch it on.\n2. Come back to Storage Studio. It notices within a couple of seconds and carries on — no restart needed.\n\nIf you skipped it, or Storage Studio isn't in the list:\n\n1. Open **Settings…** in Storage Studio and choose **Advanced**.\n2. In **Permissions**, click **Show Storage Studio in Finder**, then **Open Full Disk Access**.\n3. Click **+** and choose Storage Studio, or drag the app from the Finder window into the list.\n4. Switch it on, then click **Re-check**.\n\nThe **Permissions** page in Settings also shows whether it's granted, with an **Open Settings** button.\n\n## How Storage Studio knows\n\nmacOS doesn't tell apps when a permission changes, so Storage Studio checks for itself by trying to read a few protected files.\n\n```mermaid\n%% caption: How Storage Studio decides whether it has Full Disk Access\nflowchart TD\n  A[Try to read a few protected files] --> B{Did macOS refuse any of them?}\n  B -->|Yes| C[Not granted]\n  B -->|No| D{Could it read at least one?}\n  D -->|Yes| E[Granted]\n  D -->|No| F[Can't tell, so treated as not granted]\n```\n\n*Flowchart — How Storage Studio decides whether it has Full Disk Access. Outline:*\n\n- Try to read a few protected files\n  - leads to Did macOS refuse any of them?\n- Did macOS refuse any of them?\n  - Yes: leads to Not granted\n  - No: leads to Could it read at least one?\n- Could it read at least one?\n  - Yes: leads to Granted\n  - No: leads to Can't tell, so treated as not granted\n\nAny refusal counts as \"not granted\", and \"can't tell\" is never treated as a yes. It checks at launch, when you open the app, while the request window is open, and again whenever macOS actually refuses it a file.\n\n## Without it\n\nStorage Studio still runs, but it can't read everything:\n\n- macOS may ask you the first time it touches each protected folder.\n- Anything it can't read is left out of scans, moves and clear-ups.\n- The menu bar icon shows a yellow dot, the **App permissions** row in [Services](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/services-pane) turns red, and the notification bell shows **Full Disk Access needed** with a **Grant access** button.\n\n## When it stops working\n\nmacOS ties the permission to the exact copy of the app, so an update or repair can quietly drop it. Storage Studio tells you **Your Mac has stopped honouring this permission**. Switch Storage Studio off and back on in the Full Disk Access list to restore it. If it's on but still not detected, see [Full Disk Access is on but the app says it isn't](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/full-disk-access-not-detected).\n\nSome folders belong to other apps and stay off-limits even with Full Disk Access. Storage Studio reports those as refused without sending you to change a setting that wouldn't help.\n\nSee also: [The permissions Storage Studio asks for](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/permissions-storage-studio-asks-for), [Your first launch](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/your-first-launch).\n"
}