Flags

Changing file permissions on macOS (and using flags)

Using file flags on macOS. While performing system hardening on macOS, you may encounter a typical chmod error. Learn how to fix this type of error

Summary

Using file flags on macOS

While performing system hardening on macOS, you may encounter a typical chmod error. Something like this:

chmod: Unable to change file mode on /usr/bin/gcc: Operation not permitted

Even with root permissions, you can’t change the permissions of some files. How is this possible? This is caused by flags.

Showing file permissions and flags

To see if a file has any flags set, use the ls command with the l (el) and O (capital o).