Fix Emacs permissions on macOS Catalina

fix-emacs-permissions-catalina.el

;;; package --- Fix permissions for Emacs.app on macOS Catalina
;;; Author: Artem Loenko
;;; Mail-To: <artyom.loenko@mac.com>
;;; Commentary:
;;; Code:

(defconst _default-emacs-app-plist-path "/Applications/Emacs.app/Contents/Info.plist")
(defconst _temp-buffer-name "*fixing Emacs permissions*")
(defconst _temp-buffer (get-buffer-create _temp-buffer-name))
(with-current-buffer _temp-buffer (erase-buffer))

(defun add-description-if-needed (description_key description)
  "DESCRIPTION_KEY - DESCRIPTION."
  (defconst read-args (list "read" _default-emacs-app-plist-path description_key))
  (if (equal 1 (with-temp-buffer (apply 'call-process "defaults" nil (current-buffer) nil read-args)))
      (progn
	(princ (format "Missing: %s. Adding...\n" description_key) _temp-buffer)
	(defconst write-args (list "write" _default-emacs-app-plist-path description_key "-string" description))
	(apply 'call-process "defaults" nil (current-buffer) nil write-args))
    (princ (format "Existed: %s. Skipping.\n" description_key) _temp-buffer)))

(add-description-if-needed
 "NSDesktopFolderUsageDescription"
 "Emacs requires permission to access the Desktop folder.")
(add-description-if-needed
 "NSDocumentsFolderUsageDescription"
 "Emacs requires permission to access the Documents folder.")
(add-description-if-needed
 "NSDownloadsFolderUsageDescription"
 "Emacs requires permission to access the Downloads folder.")
(add-description-if-needed
 "NSRemovableVolumesUsageDescription"
 "Emacs requires permission to access files on Removable Volumes.")

(switch-to-buffer-other-window _temp-buffer)

;;; fix-emacs-permissions-catalina.el ends here

I also solved it with full disk access rights to /usr/bin/ruby.

This worked for me. Many thanks!

I also solved it with full disk access rights to /usr/bin/ruby.

This worked for me too. Thank you very much 🎉 🎉

I solved this by creating a Automator "Application": Utilities -> Run Shell Script -> exec /Applications/Emacs.app/Contents/MacOS/Emacs 2>&1

Thanks -- that works for me for the time being.

I got a similar issue with my Emacs which I compiled from GNU original source. When I called a command via Apple script (send a line message to Reminder), it failed even it is allowed on Security/Privacy Control panel. But calling emacs from Automator, it finally worked. Thank you!

@waqarsaleem Many thanks. Your fix worked for me.

I fixed my problem by granting Full Disk Access to /usr/bin/ruby as instructed here.
https://emacs.stackexchange.com/a/53037/11143

I had previously given access to Emacs under /System/Volumes/Data/Applications/Emacs.app. My install was the brew install cask. My original error happened when trying to add a new project to Treemacs that was under my Downloads directory. It was probably also wrapped up in the fact that I first opened emacs from iTerm for that session and then Ctrl+c quit it. After that I re-installed emacs altogether and only found this solution at that point.

@jcottrell I am glad. I know how important Emacs is to our workflows and understand the frustration and helplessness we feel when Emacs does not work!

As suggested by @waqarsaleem. I granted Full Disc access via System Preferences > Security > Full Disc Access for /bin /usr/bin/ruby and it worked!

Same for me... (As suggested by @waqarsaleem, thanks).
Giving Full Disc access to /usr/bin/ruby in System Preferences > Security > Full Disc Access helped.
https://gist.github.com/dive/f64c645a9086afce8e5dd2590071dbf9?permalink_comment_id=3049341#gistcomment-3049341

Same for me... (As suggested by @waqarsaleem, thanks). Giving Full Disc access to /usr/bin/ruby in System Preferences > Security > Full Disc Access helped. https://gist.github.com/dive/f64c645a9086afce8e5dd2590071dbf9?permalink_comment_id=3049341#gistcomment-3049341

Same for me too!