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Internal drive password

I run my 2017 iMac from an external SSD drive on Ventura. I generally just use the internal 1TB drive as a storage device but everything i do anything on it from creating a folder to amending a name to copying, I have to type in the iMac user password every time.


Is there a way of switching this off ? The drive isn't encrypted but I want to avoid having to input the password dozens of times just to do simple tasks.

iMac 21.5″

Posted on Mar 18, 2023 7:30 AM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Mar 21, 2023 9:34 AM


Hi Airsculpture,


You may want to check your permissions are set correctly. This article explains more about this: If you don’t have permission to use files on a Mac disk.


"If you don’t have permission to use the files on a disk that’s connected to your Mac and you are not the administrator of the Mac, ask the administrator to give you access to the disk.

If you’re the administrator, you can change the read and write privileges for those files.


  1. On your Mac, select the disk, then choose File > Get Info.
  2. Click the arrow  next to Sharing & Permissions to expand that section.
  3. If the lock at the bottom right is locked , click it to unlock the permissions.
  4. Select the type of user you want to give access to, then choose “Read only” or Read & Write from the Privileges menu."


Take care.


4 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Mar 21, 2023 9:34 AM in response to Airsculpture


Hi Airsculpture,


You may want to check your permissions are set correctly. This article explains more about this: If you don’t have permission to use files on a Mac disk.


"If you don’t have permission to use the files on a disk that’s connected to your Mac and you are not the administrator of the Mac, ask the administrator to give you access to the disk.

If you’re the administrator, you can change the read and write privileges for those files.


  1. On your Mac, select the disk, then choose File > Get Info.
  2. Click the arrow  next to Sharing & Permissions to expand that section.
  3. If the lock at the bottom right is locked , click it to unlock the permissions.
  4. Select the type of user you want to give access to, then choose “Read only” or Read & Write from the Privileges menu."


Take care.


Mar 20, 2023 2:39 PM in response to Airsculpture

Hi Airsculpture.


Thank you for using the Apple Support Communities! Are you using FileVault? You can check with the steps below:


Encrypt Mac data with FileVault


On your Mac, choose Apple menu  > System Settings, click Privacy & Security  in the sidebar, then go to FileVault. (You may need to scroll down.)
Click Turn On next to FileVault.
You might be asked to enter your password.
Choose how to unlock your disk and reset your login password if you forget it:
* iCloud account: Click “Allow my iCloud account to unlock my disk” if you already use iCloud. Click “Set up my iCloud account to reset my password” if you don’t already use iCloud.
* Recovery key: Click “Create a recovery key and do not use my iCloud account.” Write down the recovery key and keep it in a safe place.
Click Continue.
If your Mac has additional users, their information is also encrypted. Users unlock the encrypted disk with their login password.
If there’s an Enable Users button, you must enter a user’s login password before they can unlock the encrypted disk. Click Enable Users, select a user, enter the login password, click OK, then click Continue.


Hope this helps!

Have a great day.


Internal drive password

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