Let l/Activity see protected folders
Give Storage access to the places macOS guards, so a scan can cover your whole disk.
- Time
- 2 minutes
- Steps
- 4
What you need
- A Storage scan that reports Partial coverage.
- Permission to change Privacy & Security settings on this Mac.
Steps
Step 1. See what was out of reach
In Storage, a scan that missed something shows the chip Partial coverage. Click Permissions & Scan Issues…. The sheet lists each folder that could not be read. Mail, Messages and Safari data are typical.
StorageFind large files and folders, see cleanup suggestions, and review what to remove.BrowseChangesCleanupHistorySearch or jump to…⌘KSaved snapshot13 Oct 2026 at 09:12≥612.4GBObserved on disk · allocated blocks in scanned folder≥ marks incomplete totalsPartial coverageFull scan2,184,306 itemsVolume capacity · 994.66 GBHow this relates to volume usage0%25%50%75%100%Observed≥ 61.6%of volumeNot attributed to this scan34.1 GB3.4%Available35.0%of volumeObserved file size≥ 640.8GBlogical bytes in scanned folderVolume available348.2GBVolume checked 13 Oct 2026 at 10:42:07Folder treeSpace MapLargest filesLargest foldersFile typesRank by space on diskFiltersFind a file or folderExpand/21 items · ≥ 612.4 GBFile or folderOn diskFile sizeKindShare/≥ 612.4 GB≥ 640.8 GBFolder100%Users≥ 463.4 GB≥ 481.5 GBFolder75.7%sam≥ 460.0 GB≥ 478.1 GBFolder75.1%Movies148.2 GB148.1 GBFolder24.2%Pictures86.4 GB86.3 GBFolder14.1%Developer62.8 GB79.6 GBFolder10.3%Library≥ 58.9 GB≥ 60.4 GBFolder9.6%Documents31.6 GB31.5 GBFolder5.2%Downloads22.7 GB22.7 GBFolder3.7%old-laptop-disk.dmg11.8 GB11.8 GBFile1.9%Music9.4 GB9.4 GBFolder1.5%Refresh FolderReveal in FinderReview Cleanup…Select a file or folderPermissions & Scan IssuesSaved snapshot of / · 13 Oct 2026 at 09:12DonemacOS protects some locations. Permissions settings explains the access used by l/Activity and guides you to the relevant macOS controls. After changing access, return here to retry the affected folders. System protections and other users’ files may remain inaccessible.
Manage Permissions…Retry All Denied FoldersCategoryAll issuesPermissionsRead errorsInvalid namesCoverageFind a pathFolder contents unavailable: Operation not permitted./Users/sam/Library/MailRevealPermissions…Retry FolderFolder contents unavailable: Operation not permitted./Users/sam/Library/SafariRevealPermissions…Retry FolderFolder contents unavailable: Operation not permitted./Users/sam/Library/MessagesRevealPermissions…Retry FolderFolder contents unavailable: Operation not permitted./Library/Application Support/com.apple.TCCRevealPermissions…Retry Folder4 issues · Page 1PreviousNextStep 01 Step 2. Open the permissions page
Click Manage Permissions… in that sheet. You can also get there any time with Help → Setup on This Mac….
StorageFind large files and folders, see cleanup suggestions, and review what to remove.BrowseChangesCleanupHistorySearch or jump to…⌘KSaved snapshot13 Oct 2026 at 09:12≥612.4GBObserved on disk · allocated blocks in scanned folder≥ marks incomplete totalsPartial coverageFull scan2,184,306 itemsVolume capacity · 994.66 GBHow this relates to volume usage0%25%50%75%100%Observed≥ 61.6%of volumeNot attributed to this scan34.1 GB3.4%Available35.0%of volumeObserved file size≥ 640.8GBlogical bytes in scanned folderVolume available348.2GBVolume checked 13 Oct 2026 at 10:42:07Folder treeSpace MapLargest filesLargest foldersFile typesRank by space on diskFiltersFind a file or folderExpand/21 items · ≥ 612.4 GBFile or folderOn diskFile sizeKindShare/≥ 612.4 GB≥ 640.8 GBFolder100%Users≥ 463.4 GB≥ 481.5 GBFolder75.7%sam≥ 460.0 GB≥ 478.1 GBFolder75.1%Movies148.2 GB148.1 GBFolder24.2%Pictures86.4 GB86.3 GBFolder14.1%Developer62.8 GB79.6 GBFolder10.3%Library≥ 58.9 GB≥ 60.4 GBFolder9.6%Documents31.6 GB31.5 GBFolder5.2%Downloads22.7 GB22.7 GBFolder3.7%old-laptop-disk.dmg11.8 GB11.8 GBFile1.9%Music9.4 GB9.4 GBFolder1.5%Refresh FolderReveal in FinderReview Cleanup…Select a file or folderPermissions & Scan IssuesSaved snapshot of / · 13 Oct 2026 at 09:12DonemacOS protects some locations. Permissions settings explains the access used by l/Activity and guides you to the relevant macOS controls. After changing access, return here to retry the affected folders. System protections and other users’ files may remain inaccessible.
Manage Permissions…Retry All Denied FoldersCategoryAll issuesPermissionsRead errorsInvalid namesCoverageFind a pathFolder contents unavailable: Operation not permitted./Users/sam/Library/MailRevealPermissions…Retry FolderFolder contents unavailable: Operation not permitted./Users/sam/Library/SafariRevealPermissions…Retry FolderFolder contents unavailable: Operation not permitted./Users/sam/Library/MessagesRevealPermissions…Retry FolderFolder contents unavailable: Operation not permitted./Library/Application Support/com.apple.TCCRevealPermissions…Retry Folder4 issues · Page 1PreviousNextStep 02 Step 3. Turn on Full Disk Access
In the Full Disk Access card, click Open Full Disk Access. System Settings opens on the right page. Find l/Activity in the list and switch it on. If it is not listed, click Reveal App back in l/Activity and drag the app into the list.
macOS may ask you to quit and reopen l/Activity.
SettingsMake l/Activity work the way you do.Search or jump to…⌘KSearch settingsGeneralDark · Dock and menu barPermissionsFinder not requestedMonitoringEvery 2 secondsHistory & Recording30 min live · 24 h maxStorage & CacheEvery hour · 1.8 GBAlertsNotifications offAbout & PrivacyVersion 2.39Changes save automaticallyPermissionsReview disk access and app removal permissions.Finder Automation and Accessibility refresh automatically when you open this page or return to l/Activity. Folder access is checked when requested. Ordinary monitoring needs none of these permissions.
For disk scansFull Disk AccessCheck in System SettingsAllows Storage to inspect protected locations and find more related app data. A fan controller working from a protected folder such as Desktop may also require this access.
Open Full Disk AccessReveal AppFiles & FoldersObserved folder accessCheck all folder accessDesktopReadableRecheck/Users/sam/Desktopl/Activity could read this folder's directory listing. This does not check its children, file contents, removal rights, or Full Disk Access.
Checked 13 Oct 2026 at 10:38:07DocumentsNot checkedCheck/Users/sam/DocumentsDownloadsNot checkedCheck/Users/sam/Downloadsl/Activity folderNot checkedCheck/Users/sam/Library/Application Support/app.activity.desktopChoose Folder to Check…Files & Folders SettingsFor App VolumeSystem Audio RecordingCheck in System SettingsTemporary per-app volume control needs access to that app’s audio. macOS does not provide a reliable public audio-only permission status check.
Open Audio PermissionsReveal AppFor cleanup and app removalFinder AutomationNot requestedLets l/Activity ask Finder to move your confirmed selections to recoverable Trash. Finder can ask for an administrator password when necessary.
Finder automation needs your consent. Request Access to let macOS ask; no files will be moved.
Request Finder Access…Automation SettingsRecheckStatus refreshes automatically when this page opens or l/Activity becomes active. If access was denied, enable l/Activity → Finder in Automation. Requesting access does not remove any files.
Checked 13 Oct 2026 at 10:41:52App ManagementCheck in System SettingsmacOS may require this permission when changing or removing other applications.
macOS does not provide a public status query for App Management. Review l/Activity in System Settings → Privacy & Security → App Management. Access is checked again when you confirm an app removal.
Open App ManagementReveal AppAdministrator authorizationAsked when neededAn administrator password is authorization for a particular operation, not a permanent permission switch.
Move to Trash lets Finder request authorization when needed. Delete Permanently uses your current permissions. Full Disk Access does not override file ownership, system protection or a read-only volume.
l/Activity runs as your user. The optional power capture in Hardware separately asks for one read-only administrator-authorized sample.
Step 03 Step 4. Read those folders again
Back in Storage, open the sheet again and click Retry All Denied Folders. Only the folders that failed are read. When they succeed, the chip changes to Complete coverage.
StorageFind large files and folders, see cleanup suggestions, and review what to remove.BrowseChangesCleanupHistorySearch or jump to…⌘KSaved snapshot13 Oct 2026 at 09:12≥612.4GBObserved on disk · allocated blocks in scanned folder≥ marks incomplete totalsPartial coverageFull scan2,184,306 itemsVolume capacity · 994.66 GBHow this relates to volume usage0%25%50%75%100%Observed≥ 61.6%of volumeNot attributed to this scan34.1 GB3.4%Available35.0%of volumeObserved file size≥ 640.8GBlogical bytes in scanned folderVolume available348.2GBVolume checked 13 Oct 2026 at 10:42:07Folder treeSpace MapLargest filesLargest foldersFile typesRank by space on diskFiltersFind a file or folderExpand/21 items · ≥ 612.4 GBFile or folderOn diskFile sizeKindShare/≥ 612.4 GB≥ 640.8 GBFolder100%Users≥ 463.4 GB≥ 481.5 GBFolder75.7%sam≥ 460.0 GB≥ 478.1 GBFolder75.1%Movies148.2 GB148.1 GBFolder24.2%Pictures86.4 GB86.3 GBFolder14.1%Developer62.8 GB79.6 GBFolder10.3%Library≥ 58.9 GB≥ 60.4 GBFolder9.6%Documents31.6 GB31.5 GBFolder5.2%Downloads22.7 GB22.7 GBFolder3.7%old-laptop-disk.dmg11.8 GB11.8 GBFile1.9%Music9.4 GB9.4 GBFolder1.5%Refresh FolderReveal in FinderReview Cleanup…Select a file or folderPermissions & Scan IssuesSaved snapshot of / · 13 Oct 2026 at 09:12DonemacOS protects some locations. Permissions settings explains the access used by l/Activity and guides you to the relevant macOS controls. After changing access, return here to retry the affected folders. System protections and other users’ files may remain inaccessible.
Manage Permissions…Retry All Denied FoldersCategoryAll issuesPermissionsRead errorsInvalid namesCoverageFind a pathFolder contents unavailable: Operation not permitted./Users/sam/Library/MailRevealPermissions…Retry FolderFolder contents unavailable: Operation not permitted./Users/sam/Library/SafariRevealPermissions…Retry FolderFolder contents unavailable: Operation not permitted./Users/sam/Library/MessagesRevealPermissions…Retry FolderFolder contents unavailable: Operation not permitted./Library/Application Support/com.apple.TCCRevealPermissions…Retry Folder4 issues · Page 1PreviousNextStep 04
02Good to know
The small print, in plain words
Note1 / 3
The chip that says "Check in System Settings"
macOS does not let an app read whether it has Full Disk Access. l/Activity cannot show "granted", so it points you to the place where you can see it.
Note2 / 3
You do not need this for monitoring
Watching CPU, memory, disk and network needs no permission. Full Disk Access only matters for Storage, Locate, Duplicates and cleanup of protected places.
Note3 / 3
You can take it back
Switch l/Activity off in System Settings → Privacy & Security → Full Disk Access at any time. Scans then return to partial coverage.
03Keep going
