Clear application privacy permissions

Apply Now

Works with any MacWorks with any Mac running macOS/OS X on Intel or Apple Silicon.

• Multiple actionsThis page belongs to a category, containing some changes with similar goal.
• macOS onlyThis script improves your privacy on macOS
• Impact: MediumSystem Functionality Loss Risk: Moderate
  This action improves privacy with minimal impact when you run the recommended script.
  This action improves privacy with some impact when you run the recommended script.
• Bash (Shell script)These changes use macOS system commands to update your settings.
• 24 scripts
• Fully reversible

  You can fully restore this action (revert back to the original behavior) using this website.

  The restore/revert methods provided here can help you fix issues.

Overview

This category provides scripts to reset privacy permissions for a variety of applications on your device, helping you to re-establish control over your personal data. Each script targets a specific permission type – such as camera, microphone, contacts, or accessibility services – enabling you to revoke permissions that have previously been granted to applications.

By resetting these permissions, you not only enhance your privacy but also improve your device's security. After running these scripts, applications will require your explicit permission again to access these services or information. This means the next time an app attempts to use a service like your camera or access your contacts, you'll be prompted to grant or deny permission. It's a proactive step to ensure that your sensitive information or system services are accessed only with your current and informed consent.

Use with Caution

This script is only recommended if you understand its implications.

Some non-critical or features may no longer function correctly after running this script.

Apply Now

Choose one of two ways to apply:

Download script

Download and run the script directly

• No app needed
• Offline usage
• Free
• Open-source

High

High — Advanced Privacy

• For advanced privacy-conscious users
• May affect some features

Read more about High and other protection levels

Apply protection

Undo protection

Maximum

Maximum — Strongest Possible Privacy

• Military-grade privacy protection
• Major system impact
• Consider having Time Machine backup.

Read more about Maximum and other protection levels

Apply protection

Undo protection

Help

How to apply "Clear application privacy permissions" using script

• ≈ 3 min to complete
• Tools: Web Browser
• Difficulty: Medium
• ≈ 6 instructions

1. 1

   Choose protection

   Choose one of the options with different impact levels:

   • High

     Some advanced scripts with high system impact.
   • Maximum

     Some not recommended scripts with very high system impact.

   Learn more about protection levels

2. 2

   Download

   Download the script file by clicking on the   Apply protection  button above.
3. 3

   Keep the file

   If warned by your browser, keep the file.
4. 4

   Open

   Open the downloaded file.
5. 5

   Exit

   Once it's done, press any key to exit the window.
6. 6

   Restart

   Restart your computer for all changes to take effect.

Apply with privacy.sexy

Guided, automated application with safety checks

• Recommended for most users
• Includes safety checks
• Shows the code
• Free
• Open-source
• Popular
• Offline/Online usage

Open privacy.sexy

Help

How to apply "Clear application privacy permissions" using privacy.sexy

• ≈ 3 min to complete
• Tools: privacy.sexy
• Difficulty: Simple
• ≈ 4 instructions

privacy.sexy is free and open-source application that lets securely apply this action easily with more advanced options.

1. 1

   Open or download

   Open or download the desktop application
2. 2

   Choose script

   1. Search for the category name: Clear application privacy permissions
   2. Check the category by clicking on the checkbox of the category.

   Applying High to limit the impact.

3. 3

   Run

   Click on ▶️ Run button at the bottom of the page.

   This button only appears on desktop version (recommended). On browser, use 💾 Save button.

Explore This Guide

• 24 Privacy settings

Choose what to protect based on your needs:This script already includes these options.
You can review, apply or reverse each option individually.
Click any option to learn more about what it does.

Some settings and commands may require technical knowledge to apply correctly.

• Clear "All" permissions

  This script resets all permissions for applications. It revokes all previously granted permissions, enhancing privacy and security by ensuring ...

• Clear "Camera" permissions

  This script resets permissions for camera access. It ensures no application can access the system camera without explicit user permission, prot...

• Clear "Microphone" permissions

  This script resets permissions for microphone access. It revokes all granted access to the microphone, protecting against eavesdropping and una...

• Clear "Accessibility" permissions

  This script resets permissions for accessibility features. It revokes application access to accessibility services, preventing misuse and ensur...

• Clear "Screen Capture" permissions

  This script resets permissions for screen capture. It ensures applications cannot capture screen content without user authorization, protecting...

• Clear "Reminders" permissions

  This script resets permissions for accessing reminders information managed by the Reminders app. It ensures applications cannot access or modif...

• Clear "Photos" permissions

  This script resets permissions for accessing the pictures managed by the Photos app. It revokes all permissions granted to applications, safegu...

• Clear "Calendar" permissions

  This script resets permissions for accessing the calendar information managed by the Calendar app. It ensures that applications cannot access c...

• Clear "Full Disk Access" permissions

  This script resets permissions for full disk access. Full disk access allows the application access to all protected files, including system ad...

• Clear "Contacts" permissions

  This script resets permissions for accessing contacts. The contact information managed by the Contacts app. It ensures that applications cannot...

• Clear "Desktop Folder" permissions

  This script resets permissions for accessing the Desktop folder. It revokes application access to files on the desktop, protecting personal and...

• Clear "Documents Folder" permissions

  This script resets permissions for accessing the Documents folder. It prevents applications from accessing files in this folder without user co...

• Clear "Downloads Folder" permissions

  This script resets permissions for accessing the Downloads folder. It ensures that applications cannot access downloaded files without user aut...

• Clear "Apple Events" permissions

  This script resets permissions for Apple Events. It revokes permissions for applications to send restricted Apple Events to other processes, en...

• Clear "File Provider Presence" permissions

  This script resets permissions for File Provider Presence. It revokes the ability of File Provider applications to know when the user is access...

• Clear "Listen Events" permissions

  This script resets "ListenEvent" permissions. It revokes application access to listen to system events, preventing unauthorized monitoring of u...

• Clear "Media Library" permissions

  This script resets permissions for accessing the Media Library. It ensures that applications cannot access Apple Music, music and video activit...

• Clear "Post Event" permissions

  This script resets permissions for sending "PostEvent". It prevents applications from using CoreGraphics APIs to send system events, safeguardi...

• Clear "Speech Recognition" permissions

  This script resets permissions for using Speech Recognition. It revokes application access to the speech recognition facility and sending speec...

• Clear "App Modification" permissions

  This script resets permissions for modifying other apps. It prevents applications from updating or deleting other apps, maintaining system inte...

• Clear "Application Data" permissions

  This script resets permissions for accessing application data. It revokes application access to specific application data, enhancing privacy an...

• Clear "Network Volumes" permissions

  This script resets permissions for accessing files on network volumes. It ensures applications cannot access network files without user authori...

• Clear "Removable Volumes" permissions

  This script resets permissions for accessing files on removable volumes. It protects data on external drives from unauthorized application acce...

• Clear "System Administration Files" permissions

  This script resets permissions for accessing system administration files. It enhances system security by restricting application access to crit...

Similar Guides

Wider Goal

The guide below includes this guide to achieve a wider goal.See other more general settings that includes this one as one of its actions.
These plans combine multiple privacy settings, including this one, for stronger protection.

Visit category: Privacy cleanup

Same Goal

Other guides in Privacy cleanup See settings that are in the same category as this guide.
Using other actions in the same category may help you achieve your goal better.

See all 12 guides

Clear terminal history

Clear system and app logs

Clear browser history

Clear third-party application data

Clear iOS usage data

Clear CUPS printer job cache

Empty trash on all volumes

Clear system cache

Clear Xcode's derived data and archives

Clear DNS cache

Clear inactive memory

Remove Guest User

---

About the Creators

These people have authored this documentation and written its scripts:

• 

  undergroundwires

  • Certified security professional
  • 7+ years experience securing banks
  • Open-source developer since 2005
  • EU advisor, Public Speaker, Moderator
• Open-Source Contributors

  • Hundreds across the globe
  • Testers, reviewers, developers
  • Companies, military agencies
  • Community since 2017

About Us

Reviewed By

This guide has undergone comprehensive auditing and peer review:

• Expert review by undergroundwires

  • Verified technical accuracy and editorial standards
  • Assessed system impact and user privacy risks
  • Audited and verified using automated security tests

• Public review by large community

  • Privacy enthusiasts and professionals peer-reviewed
  • Millions of end-users tested across different environments
  • Audited and verified using third-party security software

History

We continually monitor our guides, their impact and other potential privacy options. We update our guides when new information becomes available. On every update, we publicly store who made the change, what has been changed, why the change was made and when the change was made.

Review Change History Our Change Process