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Files & Folders lets an app access selected locations, such as Documents, Downloads, or Desktop. Full Disk Access is substantially broader: Apple says it can allow access to all files on the Mac, including data from other apps, Time Machine backups, and certain administrative settings for all users. If an app needs only a particular folder, check its Files & Folders controls first; grant broader access only when the app’s documented purpose requires it and you trust the app.
What is the difference between Files & Folders and Full Disk Access?
| Permission | What Apple says it allows | How access is controlled |
|---|---|---|
| Files & Folders | Access to files and folders in particular locations. Apple’s current help identifies Desktop, Documents, and Downloads; its security guide also includes protected locations such as network and removable volumes in the file-access consent model. Apple’s Files & Folders guide; Apple’s security guide. | Location-specific switches are available for listed apps in Privacy & Security. Apple’s Files & Folders guide. |
| Full Disk Access | Access to all files on the computer, including data from apps such as Mail, Messages, and Safari, Home data, Time Machine backup data, and certain administrative settings for all users. Apple’s Privacy & Security guide. | A separate app-level permission in Privacy & Security. Apple lists Full Disk Access and Files & Folders as distinct controls. Apple’s Privacy & Security guide. |
The controls are separate: allowing an app to access a folder does not, by itself, grant it Full Disk Access, and Full Disk Access is not a substitute for choosing a location-specific switch. The exact behavior can vary with macOS version and the app.
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Which permission should you give an app?
Match the permission to the task, using the narrowest scope that works. If an app needs to import a file from Downloads or save to Documents, check its Files & Folders settings for the relevant location. If the app says it needs Full Disk Access, consult the app maker’s current documentation to understand why; Apple’s general guidance does not confirm the requirements of individual third-party apps.
- Prefer a specific location when the task involves a known folder or volume.
- Consider Full Disk Access only for a documented need that genuinely involves broad access across the Mac, and only if you trust the app.
- Check the app’s privacy practices. Apple cautions that information collected by a third-party app or website is governed by that party’s terms and privacy policies.
This least-access approach follows from the difference between Apple’s documented permission scopes; it is practical guidance, not a claim that Apple mandates a particular choice for every app.
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How to review or change access in System Settings
- Open the Apple menu and choose System Settings.
- Select Privacy & Security, then open Files & Folders.
- Find the app and switch access to the relevant listed locations on or off. The list and available controls depend on the app and macOS version.
- To review the broader permission, return to Privacy & Security and open Full Disk Access. Change the app’s access there if appropriate.
Apple’s current Mac user guide documents these controls in System Settings. On macOS 12 or earlier, the interface is called System Preferences, and labels or placement may differ. Files & Folders instructions; Privacy & Security settings.
What the macOS version thresholds mean
Apple’s security guide, published on 18 February 2021, describes a system-enforced consent model on macOS 10.15 or later for access to Documents, Downloads, Desktop, iCloud Drive, and network volumes. It also says apps requiring access to the full storage device must be explicitly added in privacy settings on macOS 10.13 or later. These are historical OS thresholds from that guide, not a release-by-release description of current permission behavior. For present-day navigation, use Apple’s current user guides and check the installed macOS version. Apple’s security guide.
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