How to Fix ls Operation Not Permitted in macOS

In some cases, you got the following error when you list the contents inside a folder on your Mac.

How to Fix ls Operation Not Permitted in macOS

In a Mac you would get the error ls: : Operation not permitted if the Terminal doesn’t have Full Disk Access permission. To fix it, you need grant the permission to the Terminal app.

1. Click on the Apple icon in the top-left corner of your screen and select System Preferences.

How to Fix ls Operation Not Permitted in macOS

2. In the System Preferences window, select Security & Privacy.

How to Fix ls Operation Not Permitted in macOS

3. In the Security & Privacy window. Select the Privacy tab.

4. Click the lock icon then enter your password to make the changes.

5. Scroll down to Full Disk Access in the left panel then select the checkbox to grant permission to Terminal app.

How to Fix ls Operation Not Permitted in macOS

6. New pop-up appears, let’s click on Quit & Reopen button then check if the error was gone.

How to Fix ls Operation Not Permitted in macOS

As you can see, the error was gone.

Last login: Tue Nov 22 13:19:17 on ttys000
bonben@flame01 ~ % cd .Trash 
bonben@flame01 .Trash % ls
AnyDesk 17.45.06.app				Telegram.app
AnyDesk.app					Telegram.dmg
BetterDisplay-v1.3.4.dmg			VSCode-darwin-universal.zip
Chrome Remote Desktop Host Uninstaller.app	anydesk 16.16.36.dmg
InstallOS.dmg.download				anydesk.dmg
Monterey.dmg					chromeremotedesktop (1).dmg
QuickRes_4.8.dmg				chromeremotedesktop.dmg
QuickRes_4.9.dmg				dmg
SwitchResX v4.12.2.dmg				googlechrome.dmg
TeamViewer.dmg

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