Running python script in Mac OSX launchd permission issue

Question

I have a simple python script which is moving files from my download folder. The script works fine when I running it via terminal. The issue happens when it gets run through launchd:

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/Users/ben/Project/Automation/CleanDownload.py", line 11, in <module>
    for f in listdir(downloadFolder):
OSError: [Errno 1] Operation not permitted: '/Users/ben/Downloads/'

Any Idea why?

Steven Oxley · Accepted Answer · 2019-12-17 00:56:10Z

5

Here is the workaround that I used to circumvent this issue. I was trying to run a simple shell script, but the same workaround would apply to a Python script. To summarize, the steps involved are:

Create an automator application called e.g. run-script.app that has a single bash script which runs whatever file is passed to it
Either give the full automator application Full Disk Access via Security & Privacy or run it once manually and click Allow when macOS prompts for permissions
Call the automator application with whatever script you want to run

More details:

Whatever script you're wanting to run, make sure it's executable (using chmod +x) and that you have the right #! line at the top of the script (e.g. #!/bin/bash). In this example, I'll use a script at ~/scripts/organize-screenshots.sh that moves screenshots from my desktop to my Google Drive directory:

#!/bin/bash
user_dir="/Users/soxley"

find "$user_dir"/Desktop -name 'Screen Shot *.png' -exec mv {} "$user_dir"/Google\ Drive/pictures/screenshots/ \;

Next, create an Automator application:
- Open Automator
- Click New Document
- Select Application
- Click Choose
- Select Utilities > Run Shell Script
- Select Pass Input: as arguments
- Enter /bin/bash -c "$1" as the body of the script (see screenshot below)
- Click File > Save and save the application wherever you'd like (run-script.app in this example)
Next, run the application that was just created manually to make sure it has the permissions it needs (you could also grant Full Disk Access to the new application in Security & Privacy):
- Open Terminal.app
- Execute the command open -a run-script.app organize-screenshots.sh
- Click Allow when macOS asks if the application can access your Desktop
Now you're ready to configure your script in launchd. Update your .plist with the following ProgramArguments:

<key>ProgramArguments</key>
<array>
  <string>open</string>
  <string>-a</string>
  <string>/Users/soxley/scripts/run-script.app</string>
  <string>/Users/soxley/scripts/organize-screenshots.sh</string>
</array>

Now you should be able to run whatever script you want using this application as a wrapper.

edited Dec 17, 2019 at 0:56

answered Dec 16, 2019 at 4:23

Steven Oxley

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3 Comments

Erik Gomersbach Over a year ago

I had to add <string>--args</string> to be able to pass the script name to the run-script.app.

BadAtLaTeX Over a year ago

Automator script works & has full access, but launchd still does not. Could you provide the rest of the setup or a link to it? (There are too many different instructions) -- edit: It does work! My error was not using the user Library path ~/Library/LaunchAgents/ but /Library/LaunchAgents/. Thank you!

DNS Over a year ago

I'm trying this wrapper-app approach, but to obtain Camera permission, rather than Full Disk Access. I can create the app, run it from a terminal to get the permission prompt, and everything works fine. However, when I run it via my LaunchDaemon, I get "kLSNoLaunchPermissionErr: User doesn't have permission to launch the app (managed networks)". Is there a step that I'm missing?

Chanaka Weerasinghe · Accepted Answer · 2019-12-08 10:58:42Z

0

if you havent seen this check out "OSError: [Errno 1] Operation not permitted" when installing Scrapy in OSX 10.11 (El Capitan) (System Integrity Protection)

and this https://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/339862/ls-operation-not-permitted-mojave-security

according to Roger go to Go to System Preferences -> Security & Privacy

and give Full Disk Access to Terminal.

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/8637915

answered Dec 8, 2019 at 10:58

Chanaka Weerasinghe

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1 Comment

xpollcon Over a year ago

thanks for the answer as mentioned, it works fine from the terminal. The issue shows up when I'm running it from launchd.

benwiggy · Accepted Answer · 2019-12-08 11:20:25Z

0

Have you tried giving /sbin/launchd Full Disk Access?

answered Dec 8, 2019 at 11:20

benwiggy

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Comments

Aaron_Anthony13 · Accepted Answer · 2022-09-16 10:45:42Z

0

I was breaking my head on this issue for Big Sur for a LONG Time. What worked for me was the following :

Grant Full Disk Access to Python3
Grant Full Disk Access to launchd & launchctl

answered Sep 16, 2022 at 10:45

Aaron_Anthony13

1

1 Comment

Jack Over a year ago

How did you achieve this? @Aaron_Anthony13

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