It doesn’t affect user files, nor does it affect third-party files or programs. So you’ll commonly hear that you need to use Disk Utility’s Repair Disk Permissions feature on your startup drive as a routine maintenance procedure.īut contrary to popular belief, repairing permissions-a procedure which simply resets permissions to a known state-works only on a particular subset of OS X system files. If certain files have the wrong permissions, you can experience problems. OS X’s permissions determine the access each user has to each item on a hard drive. Myth #1: “You should repair permissions regularly.” But first, let’s talk about what you don’t need to do, despite what you may read in online forums or on email mailing lists.
This week, in our Essential Mac Maintenance series, I’ll show you what you need to do, starting today with how to Get Set Up. But as with most machines, a little preventative maintenance goes a long way toward keeping things running smoothly. You know you need to change the oil in your car every 3,000 miles, clean your house’s gutters every fall, and brush your teeth at least twice a day-but do you know what’s necessary to keep your Mac in good shape? For the most part, Macs run smoothly.
