Why do I get "operation not permitted" when I try to `ls` the content of Desktop on Mac OS?

Question

I cannot list files in the Desktop folder using the terminal:

Desktop % ls -l
total 0
ls: .: Operation not permitted

I have no problems accessing the Desktop folder or its subfolders with the Finder app.

OS: Sonoma 14.0 (23A344)
Terminal: iTerm2

I have checked the permissions for the Destkop folder and some of its subfolders using Finder's "Get Info" panel (Cmd+I) and my user has R+W permissions (as expected).

See "What and how does macOS Mojave implement to restrict applications access to personal data?" — Gordon Davisson, Nov 06 '23 at 18:26

score 2 · Answer 1 · answered Nov 06 '23 at 13:22

2

It turns out that applications have an additional set of permissions over the user folders.

I had to allow iTerm2 access to the Desktop folder:

System Settings => Privacy & Security => Files and Folders => iTerm => Desktop Folder => Enable

answered Nov 06 '23 at 13:22

Marcello Romani

151

Seems a bit "overdone" to me. :) – Seamus Nov 07 '23 at 05:59

Why do I get "operation not permitted" when I try to `ls` the content of Desktop on Mac OS?

1 Answers1