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Admin User - Access to Standard User Files

c14nhl

c14nhl

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Oct 30, 2008
488
232
Edinburgh
I've been iOS exclusively since the iPad 2 and not used MacOS since then, I don't even think it was called MacOS then!?

I've recently purchased a MacBook Air for my partner which I have a Standard user account on. I've setup my partner up as Admin seeing as it is her laptop.

I will rarely use the Air and have setup my cloud storage providers on my user so will be saving any files I create to the cloud. This will allow me to access/edit on my preferred device, the iPad.

As Admin user, will my files be accessible to my partner with me being a Standard user? This isn't really a problem however would probably just remove my user account if that was the case and access my files via my cloud storage web interface from a guest account if they can be accessed.
 
Generally, no.

MacOS (and previously OS X) have separate permissions for each account, so each person has privacy. Think about a shared machine, like in a school lab.

Even as admin, you don't get automatic access to other users' data.

One of the easiest ways (without fiddling with permissions, which is not wise for the average user) is to use the Shared folder, which every user does have access to.

It is created as a default when the OS is installed, and lives here:

Macintosh HD/Users/Shared

Even this folder has some limitations. As I recall (last I checked), all users on the computer (admin and standard) can see, add files to, and edit content in it; Only the creator can delete.

To use it, every file/folder that needs to be shared between user accounts should be in it. You can put an alias to it where you like: desktop, Finder sidebar, Dock, etc.

Test it by creating or adding files and folders to the Shared folder, and then log in as the other user and verify you can see, open, and edit (as well as drag in or create new items from second user). Also try a delete to see if that is still as it used to be (only creator can delete).
 
KALLT said:
Administrators can obtain access to any directory by using root privileges. If you want to restrict file access to your user account, then you have to use encryption, such as encrypted disk images.
Click to expand...


This is technically not true. An administrator is not the same level of access as root.

Root is disabled by default. Root would need to enabled.

Yes, an admin can change permissions to see another user's files, but they can't by default. They would have to actively perform several actions to gain access. Long story short, if you don't trust the admin of the machine, don't use the machine (regardless of type of account). But this is not what the OP is asking, unless I misunderstood; The OP wants to share files between accounts, not hide them.

Back to OP's question: If you want your partner (with the admin account) to be able to access your files in your account, either use the Shared folder as outlined, or the admin will have to actively change permissions on directories to gain access. That is not recommended to normal users...it is easy for the inexperienced to cause serious access problems if they set permissions incorrectly for any other account.

You can both use the same user account....but that gets messy if you plan to use Mail, Calendar, Etc. as to who owns what.
 
hobowankenobi said:
This is technically not true. An administrator is not the same level of access as root.

Root is disabled by default. Root would need to enabled.

Yes, an admin can change permissions to see another user's files, but they can't by default. They would have to actively perform several actions to gain access. Long story short, if you don't trust the admin of the machine, don't use the machine (regardless of type of account). But this is not what the OP is asking, unless I misunderstood; The OP wants to share files between accounts, not hide them.

Back to OP's question: If you want your partner (with the admin account) to be able to access your files in your account, either use the Shared folder as outlined, or the admin will have to actively change permissions on directories to gain access. That is not recommended to normal users...it is easy for the inexperienced to cause serious access problems if they set permissions incorrectly for any other account.

You can both use the same user account....but that gets messy if you plan to use Mail, Calendar, Etc. as to who owns what.
Click to expand...

I think KALLT was referring to that an admin would be required to even access the root account. A standard user could not enable the root user without the admin password.
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c14nhl said:
I've been iOS exclusively since the iPad 2 and not used MacOS since then, I don't even think it was called MacOS then!?

I've recently purchased a MacBook Air for my partner which I have a Standard user account on. I've setup my partner up as Admin seeing as it is her laptop.

I will rarely use the Air and have setup my cloud storage providers on my user so will be saving any files I create to the cloud. This will allow me to access/edit on my preferred device, the iPad.

As Admin user, will my files be accessible to my partner with me being a Standard user? This isn't really a problem however would probably just remove my user account if that was the case and access my files via my cloud storage web interface from a guest account if they can be accessed.
Click to expand...

You could use iCloud to share files but that would require using the same Apple ID. Another option would be to use something like Dropbox to share files.
 
Last edited:
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