Help: The permissions macOS asks for
Screen Recording, Accessibility, Full Disk Access and the microphone: what each is for and how to turn it on.
Which permissions and why
macOS protects the screen and the input of every Mac. Before a technician can see and use a Mac, the person at that Mac allows ShareDesk once in System Settings › Privacy & Security:
| Permission | What for | Needed |
|---|---|---|
| Screen Recording | So technicians can see this screen. | Yes, on the Mac that receives help |
| Accessibility | So technicians can use the mouse and keyboard. | Yes, on the Mac that receives help |
| Full Disk Access | So files can be sent and browsed without macOS asking each time. | Optional; recommended for unattended access |
| Microphone | So the other side hears you, only while the microphone is on in a session. | Only for talking |
Allowing them gives nobody access by itself: every connection still has to be accepted, or needs the password for unattended access.
Set them up
When a permission is missing, ShareDesk opens the window Set Up Permissions by itself (once per start). You can also open it any time with the shield in the main window, or with Set Up… in the orange box Permissions needed.
- Click Allow… next to a permission. macOS opens System Settings at the right place.
- Turn on the switch next to ShareDesk. macOS may ask for your password or Touch ID.
- Go back to ShareDesk: the row now says Allowed. Do the same for the next one, then click Done.
The shield in the main window shows the state: orange when a required permission is missing, green when all are allowed, grey when only the optional Full Disk Access is off.
Screen Recording
Without it, technicians can't see the screen, and their connection request is refused with a note that the remote computer hasn't allowed screen recording yet.
- Open System Settings › Privacy & Security › Screen & System Audio Recording (on macOS 14 and earlier: Screen Recording).
- Turn on ShareDesk.
Privacy & Security ›
Screen & System Audio Recording
On macOS 14 and earlier: Screen Recording.
You don't need to restart ShareDesk: it notices the change, and a technician who is waiting gets the picture without reconnecting. If ShareDesk still shows the permission as missing, it offers Restart (“Already turned on? macOS may need ShareDesk restarted.”).
Accessibility
Without it, technicians see the screen but can't use the mouse and keyboard.
- Open System Settings › Privacy & Security › Accessibility.
- Turn on ShareDesk.
Privacy & Security ›
Accessibility
Full Disk Access (optional)
Without it, macOS asks the person at the Mac before ShareDesk may use files in folders such as Desktop, Documents or Downloads. With it, a technician can send and browse files without these questions – important for unattended access, when nobody is there to answer.
- Open System Settings › Privacy & Security › Full Disk Access.
- Turn on ShareDesk.
Privacy & Security ›
Full Disk Access
Microphone
macOS asks the first time you turn on the microphone in a session; ShareDesk uses it only while the microphone is on, so the other side hears you. If you said no, turn it on later in System Settings › Privacy & Security › Microphone.
Other questions from macOS
- Notifications: connection requests, chat messages and received files can also appear as notifications; a request can be accepted or dismissed right there.
- Finder: when a technician pastes files on your Mac, ShareDesk asks Finder which folder you are looking at, so the files land there. macOS asks once whether ShareDesk may do that.
- Folders: without Full Disk Access, macOS asks once per folder (Desktop, Documents, Downloads, network and external drives) during a session you accepted.
- Administrator password: only for access at the login window and for the private network (VPN), each once.
Many Macs: permissions by MDM
Organizations with a device management (MDM) can allow Accessibility in advance with a profile. Screen Recording is different: Apple doesn't let an MDM turn it on, but a profile can let users without administrator rights allow it themselves. Details: ShareDesk for IT departments.