How to Grant Full Disk Access to a FIPLAB App

Some of our apps need Full Disk Access permission to do their job properly. Without it, macOS restricts what files and folders the app can see, which means you'll get incomplete results or the app won't be able to perform certain actions.

This applies to the following FIPLAB apps:

• Disk Doctor and Disk Doctor Pro
• Disk Aid
• Disk Map
• Delete Apps
• Duplicate Detective 2

What Happens Without Full Disk Access?

macOS protects certain folders (like Mail data, Safari data, Time Machine backups, and other user library folders) from being accessed by third-party apps. If you haven't granted Full Disk Access, you may experience:

• Incomplete scan results -- the app can only scan folders it has permission to access, so some files won't appear.
• Unable to delete certain files -- the app may find files but fail to remove them because it lacks the necessary permissions.
• Inaccurate disk usage information -- disk maps and storage breakdowns may not reflect the full picture.

Granting Full Disk Access resolves all of these issues.

How to Grant Full Disk Access

macOS Ventura and Later (macOS 13+)

1. Open System Settings (click the Apple menu in the top-left corner and choose System Settings).
2. In the sidebar, click Privacy & Security.
3. Scroll down on the right side and click Full Disk Access.
4. You may be prompted to authenticate -- enter your Mac password or use Touch ID.
5. Click the + button to add an app.
6. Navigate to your Applications folder, select the FIPLAB app you want to grant access to, and click Open.
7. The app will now appear in the list with a toggle switch. Make sure the toggle is turned on.
8. If prompted, click Quit & Reopen to restart the app with the new permissions.

macOS Monterey and Earlier (macOS 12 and below)

1. Open System Preferences (click the Apple menu and choose System Preferences).
2. Click Security & Privacy.
3. Select the Privacy tab at the top.
4. In the left sidebar, scroll down and select Full Disk Access.
5. Click the lock icon in the bottom-left corner and enter your Mac password to allow changes.
6. Click the + button to add an app.
7. Navigate to your Applications folder, select the FIPLAB app, and click Open.
8. Make sure the checkbox next to the app is checked.
9. Close System Preferences and reopen the app.

Drag-and-Drop Method

On some versions of macOS, you can also grant Full Disk Access by dragging the app icon directly into the Full Disk Access list:

1. Open the Full Disk Access settings panel using the steps above.
2. Open a Finder window and navigate to your Applications folder.
3. Drag the FIPLAB app from Finder into the Full Disk Access list.
4. Restart the app if prompted.

After Granting Access

Once Full Disk Access has been granted, reopen the FIPLAB app and run your scan or operation again. You should now see complete results and the app will be able to access and manage all files on your disk.

Troubleshooting

The app still isn't working properly after granting Full Disk Access:

1. Open the Full Disk Access settings and confirm the app is listed and its toggle (or checkbox) is enabled.
2. Try removing the app from the list (select it and click the - button), then add it again using the steps above.
3. Restart your Mac and try again.

I don't see the app in the Applications folder:

Make sure the app is installed in your main /Applications folder, not in a subfolder or on your Desktop. You can move it there using Finder before adding it to Full Disk Access.

If you're still having trouble, please contact us and we'll be happy to help.