How to Review and Manage Privacy Permissions on macOS

Take control of your data by auditing app access to your Mac's camera, microphone, location, and sensitive files with this step-by-step guide.

1. Open System Settings. Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen and select System Settings. Alternatively, press Command + Space to open Spotlight, type System Settings, and press Return.
2. Access Privacy & Security. In the sidebar of the System Settings window, scroll down and click on Privacy & Security. This pane contains all system-wide controls for data access and hardware permissions.
3. Review sensitive hardware access. Scan the list of categories under the Privacy section, including Camera, Microphone, and Location Services. Click on any category to view which installed applications currently have permission to access that specific hardware.
4. Manage Full Disk Access. Select Full Disk Access from the list to see apps that can read files from your Mail, Messages, and Safari folders. Be highly selective here; only grant this permission to trusted security or backup software.
5. Review Accessibility and Automation. Check the Accessibility and Automation sections to see which apps can control your system or interact with other applications. Remove any suspicious entries by selecting the app and clicking the minus (-) button.