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gogreen1

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Nov 20, 2017
271
15
Do folder and file permissions in MacOS work as they do in Windows 10?

I'll be transferring a huge number of files from a Windows 10 environment to MacOS, and I'm wondering if the file and folder permissions will also be transferred from Windows 10 to MacOS. I hope to avoid a sharing debacle with messed up permissions.
 
Not sure what sort of difficulties you are anticipating. I have transferred files and folders between various Windows versions and macOS versions (formerly OS X) since 2002.

There are also many companies with environments with mixed systems (various Windows, various Macs, UNIX, Linux, whatever).

I have Windows 10 running on a virtual machine running on my Mac(s) and I routinely move files/folders between both. I am not well acquainted with the Windows 10 permission system but it appears to be similar to that of Windows 7 on my work PC (installed by my IT department).

macOS features a Unix ownership and permissions system.

Of course, a full backup would be highly advised.
 
Thank you, Bart. My concern is sharing on my network. The latest Windows 10 update wreaked havoc on my networked shares, so much so that I had to do a repair install on my laptop. I don't want the Windows-mangled permissions to be passed along in MacOS.
 
If the permissions are mangled, don't expect MacOS to automatically fix them. The assumption on a file/folder copy has to be to preserve existing permissions, not to make assumptions about what they ought to be.
 
ApfelKuchen is right. A Mac machine isn't going to fix problems on a mangled Windows machine nor vice versa.

Garbage In, Garbage Out.

If you make a smudge on a document then photocopy it, the copy should also have the smudge.

It is your responsibility to make sure the data is clean to begin with.

Smooth interoperability and integration is dependent on competent administration of all systems in a mixed platform environment whether it be in a corporate setting or in someone's house.
 
Thank you, Apfelkuchen and Bart Kela. I get that. From what I've seen, Windows 10 file and folder permissions and those of MacOS seem pretty similar. So let me rephrase my concern: Does MacOS handle file and folder permissions differently from Windows 10?
 
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