macOS keeps showing "[App] would like to access data from other apps" warning even if accepting it each time

Question

Created Nov ’23

Replies 9

Boosts 0

Views 3.7k

Participants 5

It seems that whenever I scan the contents of ~/Library/Containers with my app, I get the warning [App] would like to access data from other apps, regardless of how often I have already allowed it. When the warning appears, the last scanned file is ~/Library/Containers/com.apple.CloudPhotosConfiguration/Data.

My sample code:

let openPanel = NSOpenPanel()
openPanel.canChooseDirectories = true
openPanel.runModal()
let url = openPanel.urls[0]
let enumerator = FileManager.default.enumerator(at: url, includingPropertiesForKeys: nil)
while let url = enumerator?.nextObject() as? URL {
    print(url.path)
}

Is it expected that one has to allow this warning every time the app is run?

Answered by DTS Engineer in 813550022

While it’s not official documentation, I’ve added a bunch of information about app group container protection to App Groups: macOS vs iOS: Fight!

Share and Enjoy
—
Quinn “The Eskimo!” @ Developer Technical Support @ Apple
let myEmail = "eskimo" + "1" + "@" + "apple.com"

Boost

Answer 1

JWWalker OP

Nov ’23

How is your app signed? A problem with the signature might prevent the OS from "remembering" that permission has been granted before.

0

Answer 2

Nickkk OP

Nov ’23

How is your app signed? A problem with the signature might prevent the OS from "remembering" that permission has been granted before.

Thanks for the suggestion, but I don't think there's any problem with the signature. All other warnings (Calendar, Reminders, etc.) only get shown once, but this one gets shown each time. I think it only started appearing since macOS 14 Sonoma.

0

Answer 3

DTS Engineer OP

Apple

Nov ’23

Is it expected that one has to allow this warning every time the app is run?

Yes. TCC privileges fall into various groups, including:

Persistent, system wide
Persistent, per user
Transient, process lifetime

The privilege to access other apps containers falls into that third group.

Share and Enjoy
—
Quinn “The Eskimo!” @ Developer Technical Support @ Apple
let myEmail = "eskimo" + "1" + "@" + "apple.com"

0

Answer 4

Nickkk OP

Nov ’23

The privilege to access other apps containers falls into that third group.

Thanks for confirming. Personally, I think it's quite annoying that it gets shown each time, and the reason why I noticed this in the first place was that users of my app where asking me why the alert is shown each time they scan the disk, given that one is used to seeing this kind of alert only once. I have filed FB13410100 in case you're interested.

0

Answer 5

DTS Engineer OP

Apple

Nov ’23

I have filed FB13410100

Thanks.

I recommend that you update your bug with information about your specific use case. What user-level task are you trying to solve that’s triggering this issue?

Share and Enjoy
—
Quinn “The Eskimo!” @ Developer Technical Support @ Apple
let myEmail = "eskimo" + "1" + "@" + "apple.com"

0

Answer 6

Nickkk OP

Nov ’23

I recommend that you update your bug with information about your specific use case.

Thanks, updated it. It's an app that scans user-selected directories, such as Macintosh HD, and shows the contents as a graph.

0

Answer 7

difosfor OP

Feb ’24

I'm running into the same issue while using Aerial screensaver (https://aerialscreensaver.github.io/):

“Aerial Companion.app” would like to access data from other apps.

Aerial Companion needs to access macOS screen savers to install and update Aerial

I've tried to open your feedback ticket to add this information there as well, but wasn't able to open that.

0

Answer 8

Nickkk OP

1w

I've tried to open your feedback ticket to add this information there as well, but wasn't able to open that.

You won't be able to open other developers' feedbacks, only Apple can.

11 months ago my feedback was updated with

Every time the pid changes will trigger new prompt for consent. This is as expected. (Everytime you re-build/run your project, your pid will change.)

I asked if this is documented, but never got a response.

0

Answer 9

DTS Engineer OP

Apple

1w

Recommended

While it’s not official documentation, I’ve added a bunch of information about app group container protection to App Groups: macOS vs iOS: Fight!

Share and Enjoy
—
Quinn “The Eskimo!” @ Developer Technical Support @ Apple
let myEmail = "eskimo" + "1" + "@" + "apple.com"

0