Re: Cannot sync macOS user folder

Dear Stefan,

I assume that you call Unison on the MacBook Air that then should sync ever=
ything to the Mac mini server, right? You definitely must give unison acces=
s to all files on both computers: System Settings -> Privacy & Security -> =
Full Disk Access: flip the switch besides Unison to the right. Now, on the =
Mac mini, you might not see the app as you have only installed the CLI vers=
ion. In that case, click on the + and manually add the binary there, too.=
=20

Now, as Apple's software is getting more and more buggy by the month, it mi=
ght be that in spite of this setting, things still don't work out. In that =
case I only can think of the following hack: Install the GUI version also o=
n the Mac mini and call it once there on for a (temporary, e.g., only local=
ly) sync. The system should then ask for your permission to let Unison acce=
ss Downloads, Documents and Desktop. Then you give the permission and stop =
the sync. From then on, everything should work. (I have been using Unison o=
n Mac to Mac syncing most of the /Users folder (apart from Library) for yea=
rs.)

Cheers,

Stefan


> On 29 Dec 2025, at 20:59, 'Stefan Messmer' via unison-users <unison-users=
@seas.upenn.edu> wrote:
>=20
> Hello
> I am trying to sync the user folder of 2 Mac's. On my Mac mini server I h=
ave the CLI version of unison and on the MacBook Air I have the GUI version=
, both installed with HomeBrew and both version 2.53.7. Both Mac's run unde=
r macOS 26.2.
> Some Folder sync as expected, but the following folder cannot be synced (=
blocked, probably on the server):
>     =E2=80=A2=20
> Downloads
>     =E2=80=A2 Documents
>     =E2=80=A2 Desktop=20
> I suppose it is due to security settings. How can I circumvent these secu=
rity settings?
>=20
> Many thanks and best regards
> Stefan
>=20
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--=20
Stefan M. Moser <[email protected]>
Senior Scientist, ETH Zurich
Adjunct Professor, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University
Mathematiklehrer, Kantonsschule Uster
Web: https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://moser-isi.ethz.ch/__;!!IBzWLUs!TYQ=
YdUtEHd7pj68ie3_NQvWGKvc2D_XRF7nTaC3CGYtj2hyMyiEtcCfGiq7T23SK-ySugDRanzHQZu=
pRcV1a8LNNXW4$=20




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