Time Machine 'no permissions' help

[bradpitch92]

I have a mid 2011 iMac with High Sierra and I just completed a time machine backup, but when i go to access the backup in the actual external HD, all the other users have the red circle 'no permissions' icon, and I can't view any of the folders contents. Is there a way to create a backup that doesn't have these limitations?
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Following up on this, when i connect the external hard drive with the TM backup to my other macbook pro, there are no permission issues and i can access all users files no problem. I plan on replacing the HDD with a SSD in my iMac in an attempt to help it run much better, so I will essentially be using the TM backup on a completely 'new' computer (since my HDD will be gone). Should I expect any issues then?

 

[!!!]

If you're talking about the Backups.backupdb folder having the red circle and dash, then just right click on it and set "Everyone" to read only. Don't do anything else. I have this happen from time to time, not sure why but it might have something to do with using it on different Macs.

 

[Taz Mangus]

I have a mid 2011 iMac with High Sierra and I just completed a time machine backup, but when i go to access the backup in the actual external HD, all the other users have the red circle 'no permissions' icon, and I can't view any of the folders contents. Is there a way to create a backup that doesn't have these limitations?
[automerge]1594139222[/automerge]
Following up on this, when i connect the external hard drive with the TM backup to my other macbook pro, there are no permission issues and i can access all users files no problem. I plan on replacing the HDD with a SSD in my iMac in an attempt to help it run much better, so I will essentially be using the TM backup on a completely 'new' computer (since my HDD will be gone). Should I expect any issues then?

I see the same thing. I think it is normal to see the other user accounts with access rights that are not yours, with the 'no permissions' red circle. Not sure why the permissions are wide open on another computer as I see that as well. I have a backup from my iMac where if I plug it in on my MacBook Pro I can access all the other user accounts. But if I plug that same backup drive into the iMac, I can't access the other user accounts.

 

[gilby101]

I have a mid 2011 iMac with High Sierra and I just completed a time machine backup, but when i go to access the backup in the actual external HD, all the other users have the red circle 'no permissions' icon, and I can't view any of the folders contents. Is there a way to create a backup that doesn't have these limitations?

The user permissions on folders in the TM backup are the same as the permissions on the source drive (usually an internal disk). And that is the correct thing. If the other users haven't given you permissions to view their source files, then you should not be able to view them in the backup.

BUT: If you are an 'administrator' then you can view the other users' files - on both the source drive and the backup. Just use 'sudo ls' in Terminal - if you don't what that is, time you found out.

And NEVER modify permissions on the TM backup drive. That is very likely to lead to a corrupt backup.