I have a new external drive which is formatted to APFS. I have been perviously successful in setting up my complete folder on an external drive but now I am hitting a wall.
I have made sure all the folders have read & write access to all users
When selecting the volume (/Volumes/External Downloads) - new drive is named "External Downloads" I get an error notice "Cannot create directory /Volumes/External Downloads"
I have found recommendations online saying to remove the first / - which removes error message, but creates the folder in different location instead of my external drive.
Where I am going wrong?
Setup Download Complete Folder on External Drive Mac
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Hopper1979
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- Posts: 3
- Joined: January 5th, 2026, 4:12 pm
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Hopper1979
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- Joined: January 5th, 2026, 4:12 pm
Re: Setup Download Complete Folder on External Drive Mac
Also Sabnzbd has "Full Disk Access" which I never needed before
Re: Setup Download Complete Folder on External Drive Mac
It's not allowed to write there.
Something must have changed in macOS.. We don't require anything new.
Something must have changed in macOS.. We don't require anything new.
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Hopper1979
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- Joined: January 5th, 2026, 4:12 pm
Re: Setup Download Complete Folder on External Drive Mac
I have an error massage but I am not allowed to post links
line 741, in create_all_dirs
PermissionError: [Errno 13] Permission denied:
line 741, in create_all_dirs
PermissionError: [Errno 13] Permission denied:
Re: Setup Download Complete Folder on External Drive Mac
... so that's a contradiction with your statement "I have made sure all the folders have read & write access to all users", isn't it?Hopper1979 wrote: ↑January 8th, 2026, 11:44 am I have an error massage but I am not allowed to post links
line 741, in create_all_dirs
PermissionError: [Errno 13] Permission denied:
I don't use MacOS, but AFAIK MacOS has two layers of writing access: on the filesystem, and the application itself. Or something like that.
Google Gemini says the below. Maybe it helps you?
To give an application write access to a specific drive on macOS, you must clear two separate security hurdles: Filesystem Permissions (who owns the file) and Privacy Protections (what the app is allowed to do).
Here is the step-by-step process to handle both via the UI and Command Line.
1. The Easy Way: Ignore Ownership
If the drive is an external one (USB, Thunderbolt, etc.) and you want any user/app on your Mac to have full write access without permission errors, you can bypass the "who owns this" check.
Select the drive in Finder.
Press Cmd + I (Get Info).
Expand Sharing & Permissions at the bottom.
Click the Lock and authenticate.
Check the box: "Ignore ownership on this volume."
2. The Privacy Layer: "Full Disk Access"
Even if the filesystem says "Yes," macOS's TCC (Transparency, Consent, and Control) might say "No." If an app needs to write to a drive, it often requires Full Disk Access.
Via System Settings (Recommended)
Go to System Settings > Privacy & Security > Full Disk Access.
Toggle the switch for your application to ON.
If the app isn't listed, click the + button and add it from your /Applications folder.