Check Accessibility Permissions on Your Mac

Checking accessibility permissions shows which apps on your Mac are allowed to control your computer through accessibility features, such as interacting with windows or using other apps. You can review the list in System Settings and switch access off for apps you no longer trust or use. You’ll need to be signed in to a Mac user account with permission to change its settings.

What You’ll Need

• A Mac you can unlock and access.
• The macOS user account whose app permissions you want to review. Accessibility permissions are managed per user.
• If you intend to change a setting, your Mac account password or another available authentication method may be requested.

Step-by-Step

1. Open System Settings. Choose the Apple menu in the top-left corner of the screen, then select System Settings. On older macOS versions, this app is called System Preferences.
2. Go to Privacy & Security. In the System Settings sidebar, select Privacy & Security. If you don’t see it immediately, scroll down the sidebar. In System Preferences, choose Security & Privacy, then open the Privacy tab.
3. Open the Accessibility permission list. In the Privacy & Security settings, scroll to the Privacy section and select Accessibility. On some macOS versions, you may need to scroll within the main settings pane. This view lists apps that have requested or been granted permission to use accessibility features.
4. Review the switches. Check the switch beside each app. An enabled switch means that app is allowed to use the permission; a disabled switch means it is not currently allowed. Read the full app name and consider whether you recognize it and still need it. The list can include remote-control tools, automation utilities, input tools, or other apps that need to interact with your Mac.
5. Check an unfamiliar app before changing anything. If you don’t recognize an entry, note its name and look for the corresponding app in Finder. Check its location and whether you installed it or expected another app to install it. Don’t assume that an unfamiliar name is malicious: support tools and utilities can have names that differ from the one shown in their menus.
6. Turn off access you no longer want. Click the switch beside an app to disable its accessibility permission. Authenticate if macOS asks. This changes the app’s permission; it does not uninstall the app or necessarily revoke other permissions it may have, such as access to screen recording, files, or input monitoring.
7. Keep access enabled only where needed. If you use an app that relies on this permission, leave its switch on. Turning it off may prevent some features from working. You can return to Accessibility later and turn it back on if you decide to use those features again.
8. Close Settings and check the app if appropriate. Your change is generally applied without a restart. If you turned off access for an app, try the feature that used it to confirm the result. If macOS or the app asks for permission again, review the request and allow it only if you trust the app and need the feature.

Common Mistakes

• Confusing permission with installation. Turning off Accessibility access does not delete an app. Remove an app separately if you no longer want it, using the app’s normal uninstall instructions or Finder when appropriate.
• Assuming every listed app is currently active. An entry may remain in the list even if you rarely use the app. The switch indicates permission status, not whether the app is running at this moment.
• Disabling an app without checking its purpose. This can interrupt legitimate functions such as keyboard shortcuts, automation, assistive features, or remote support. Identify the app and consider what depends on it before changing the switch.
• Looking in the wrong privacy category. Accessibility is separate from permissions such as Screen & System Audio Recording, Input Monitoring, and Files & Folders. A change in one category does not automatically change the others.
• Expecting the same screen on every macOS version. Names and layout differ between System Settings and the older System Preferences interface. Look for the Privacy section if the directions don’t match your screen exactly.

Tips

• Review this list periodically, especially after installing software that controls the mouse or keyboard, automates tasks, or provides remote assistance.
• When an app asks for permission, consider whether the requested access makes sense for the feature you want. You can deny it initially and revisit the Accessibility list later.
• If you need to identify an app, use Finder’s Applications folder and inspect the app’s name and location. Avoid deleting system files or unfamiliar components just because their names are unclear.
• Check related privacy categories separately if your concern is broader than accessibility. Only change the permissions that match your needs.

Troubleshooting

• You can’t find Accessibility. In System Settings, scroll the sidebar to Privacy & Security, then look within its Privacy options. In older System Preferences, open Security & Privacy and select Privacy. You can also use the search field in System Settings and search for “Accessibility.”
• The switch is unavailable or settings are locked. Unlock the settings if a lock control appears, and authenticate when prompted. A work- or school-managed Mac may have restrictions set by its administrator; contact that administrator if you cannot make a needed change.
• An app is missing from the list. Some apps appear only after they request Accessibility access. Open the app and use the feature that needs access, then respond to the macOS prompt. If there is no prompt, check the app’s own settings or support instructions; don’t add files or modify system databases manually.
• An app still behaves as if it has access after you switch it off. Quit and reopen the app, then test again. Some changes may not affect a feature until the app restarts. If access remains enabled in Settings, restart the Mac and inspect the list again.
• A trusted app stops working. Return to Privacy & Security > Accessibility and re-enable its switch if you trust it and need the feature. If the app still fails, check for an in-app permission prompt and review its instructions. Don’t enable access for an app you cannot identify or verify.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Accessibility permission let an app do?
It allows an app to use certain macOS accessibility capabilities to interact with or control parts of the computer. The exact functions depend on the app.

Does an enabled switch mean the app is spying on me?
No. It means the app has permission, not that it is currently using it or misusing it. Check whether you recognize the app and need its features.

Will turning off access uninstall the app?
No. It only disables that permission. You must remove the app separately if you want it uninstalled.

Can I check accessibility permissions for another Mac user?
These settings are associated with the currently signed-in user. Switch to the other user’s account and review its Privacy & Security settings, if you’re authorized to do so.

Why does an app ask for Accessibility access again?
The app may need permission after installation, an update, or a change to its features. Review the request and allow access only if you recognize the app and want the feature.

Is Accessibility the same as Screen Recording permission?
No. They are separate privacy permissions. An app may need one, both, or neither, depending on what it does.

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