If SquirrelDisk cannot read part of a drive, its scan may omit those files or show incomplete totals. The right fix depends on whether you are scanning locally or over SSH, which account is scanning, and the exact error. Check access to the affected path first; do not change permissions across an entire drive as a blanket fix.
Start by identifying the error and scan type
A folder that is inaccessible and a scan that stalls at 100 percent are different symptoms. Record the exact message, the path being scanned, where the scan stops, your operating system and version, and your SquirrelDisk version. Also establish whether SquirrelDisk is scanning a local drive or connecting to a remote computer over SSH.
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- Permission denied or missing folders: check whether the account running the scan can read the affected path.
- Scan hangs at completion: do not assume it is a permissions problem; note whether other folders scan and gather details about the system.
SquirrelDisk provides builds for macOS, Windows, and Linux, so a single permission-setting recipe cannot safely cover every setup. See the SquirrelDisk project repository for its platform downloads.
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Check whether the scanning account can read the folder
Use the same account that runs SquirrelDisk to try to open or list the affected folder in the operating system’s file manager or command-line tools. If that account cannot read the path outside SquirrelDisk, the scan cannot be expected to show its contents. Identify which account owns the data and what access it should have before changing anything.
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Linux: check directory totals without changing permissions
SquirrelDisk’s Linux guidance warns that folders the user cannot access can make scan results incomplete. It suggests this command to check totals for directories under /var that the normal user may not be able to read:
sudo du -sh /var/*
This is a targeted diagnostic for directory totals. It is not guidance to launch SquirrelDisk as root or to loosen permissions recursively. For paths outside /var, first confirm the exact path and the account that should have access; the command above does not establish a universal repair procedure. See SquirrelDisk’s Linux guidance.
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SSH scans: check the remote account
For a remote scan, SquirrelDisk can show the paths readable by the SSH user configured for the connection. Verify that this remote identity has permission to read the directories you want to inspect. If it does not, use an account authorized for those paths or ask the system administrator to determine the appropriate access. SquirrelDisk’s SSH scanning guidance explains that remote visibility follows the SSH user’s read access.
macOS: Full Disk Access is not a guaranteed fix
Full Disk Access may seem like an obvious response to a Mac permission error, but it is not established as a universal solution. In an individual issue opened on January 25, 2026, a user running macOS 15.6.1 on a MacBook Pro M4 reported that granting Full Disk Access did not resolve a scan stuck at 100 percent. That unresolved report does not identify the cause of other scan failures. If your scan hangs at completion, note your macOS version and hardware, whether other folders scan, and the exact path, then check the SquirrelDisk issue report and issue tracker for relevant updates or report a reproducible case.
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Windows: distinguish installation rights from file access
SquirrelDisk’s Windows guidance says its MSI installs for the current user without administrator rights. That concerns installation; it does not show that the account can read every folder on a drive. For a scan error, check the access available to the Windows account running SquirrelDisk and record the exact path and message. The Windows guidance does not provide a general repair for local drive read permissions.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Before changing permissions
- Confirm whether the scan is local or remote and which account is being used.
- Test access to the specific path rather than changing settings across the whole drive.
- Determine who owns the data and what access is intended before making a change.
- Do not apply recursive ownership or permission changes based on a generic recipe; the cited SquirrelDisk guidance does not recommend one.
If the problem remains, include your OS and version, SquirrelDisk version, local-versus-SSH details, exact error text, affected path, and where the scan stops when seeking platform-specific help.
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- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
- The available storage capacity may vary.
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