MacOS – How to make a folder and its contents automatically owned by two people

file-sharingmacospermission

Ok, in the /Users/Shared/ folder I have my DropBox folder.

I have read/write permissions set for me and my wife (shared computer). However, if she creates a folder/file in the DropBox folder, I can see it but I have to type in my password to delete or edit it. And she has to do the same if I create something.

How can I make it so that if she creates a file/folder in the DropBox folder, we both automatically are the owners? It doesn't seem to me that the Shared folder does a very good job of, well, SHARING. Even though I have set both of our accounts as read/write on Shared and all contents.

This is driving me insane.

Thanks.

Best Answer

OS X has two main levels of file-level credential control:

  • users
  • groups

Right now, it sounds like your wife has "ownership" of the dropbox folder, much to your frustration.

To rectify this, you will want to use the Users and Groups preference panel to either

  1. (if everyone who uses the computer can have access to the dropbox folder) proceed to the last step, using the everyone access control group.
  2. (if you have multiple people using the computer, but only you and your wife can have access to the dropbox folder) create a new group, perhaps called Dropbox, and add you and your wife's accounts to this group.
  3. (if both you and your wife understand the power of being Administrator, and both you and your wife would be the only Administrator on this computer) add both your and your wife's account to the Administers group.
  4. Set the permissions on the Dropbox folder to give full control to this group from 1 through 3.
    • In Finder, select the Dropbox folder and press CMD-I (Get Info).
    • You might need to unlock the panel if you see the locked padlock in the lower right corner. Click on the Lockard provide an Administrator password.
    • In the Permissions section (towards the bottom)
      • if you see the group already in the list, set the permission to Read and Write
      • if you don't see your group in the list, click the + button on the groups side, select and add your group and set it to Read and Write
    • Be sure to set the drop list at the very bottom to Apply to enclosed items BEFORE you close the Get Info tab.

Choose wisely, but this process will eliminate your having to authenticate every time you want to use Dropbox.

Related Question