Fix vscode mac permission denied Easily (Step-by-Step Guide)

Okay, so, here’s the deal, I ran into this annoying issue with VS Code on my Mac, and I figured I’d share how I finally got it sorted.

It all started when I was trying to set up a new project. I fired up VS Code, tried to install some extensions, and boom! I got hit with this “EACCES: permission denied” error. It was super frustrating because I’m a developer, I know how to use this software, but I couldn’t even install an extension. I thought it was the software’s bug, but it wasn’t. I was so confused, to be honest.

First, I tried the usual stuff, you know? I restarted VS Code, restarted my Mac, even checked the date and time, nothing. I thought this is so simple, why am I taking so long? I went through the files to see if there was any kind of permission block, but I found nothing. I was so mad, I just wanted to work.

Then, I started digging deeper. I remembered some stuff about permissions on Macs, especially with apps and features. I thought maybe VS Code is a bad boy, but then I had an idea. I realized the problem was that VS Code didn’t have the right permissions to do what it needed to do. I had added VS Code to my Mac recently, and I guess I must have skipped over some setup steps. Classic me, always in a hurry.

So, here’s what I did. I opened up my Mac’s System Preferences and went to “Security & Privacy.” From there, I clicked on the “Privacy” tab and found the “Files and Folders” section. I noticed that VS Code was there, but it didn’t have all the checkmarks it needed. I’m guessing when I first installed it, I must have denied some permissions without realizing it.

I clicked the little lock icon at the bottom to make changes, entered my password, and then I gave VS Code full access to my files and folders. I made sure to check all the boxes, including “Documents Folder,” “Downloads Folder,” and “Removable Volumes.” You know, just to be safe. Then I clicked the lock again to save the changes.

After that, I restarted VS Code one more time, just for good measure. And guess what? It worked! I could finally install my extensions without any errors. I was so relieved, I felt like I had conquered some big tech monster. I could finally get back to work, which was the most important part for me, the project was waiting for me!

• Tried the basics first: I restarted everything, checked the time, all that jazz, but no luck.
• Dug deeper: Remembered about Mac permissions.
• Found the culprit: VS Code didn’t have the right permissions in “Security & Privacy.”
• Fixed it: Gave VS Code full access to files and folders.
• Victory: Restarted VS Code, and it worked like a charm!

So, yeah, that’s my little adventure with VS Code permissions on my Mac. It was a pain, but I learned something new. Hopefully, this helps someone else out there who might be struggling with the same issue. Remember, sometimes the solution is simpler than you think. Just gotta poke around in the right places!