Locations and permissions

What a location is, why macOS asks, and how to forget one.

What a location is

A folder you granted SpareDisk access to. Your home folder covers Desktop, Documents, Downloads and Library in one step. Applications and external drives are separate locations. Several folders can be added at once and scan one after another.

Why macOS asks

macOS confirms once before an app reads a protected folder such as Desktop or Downloads. SpareDisk never asks for Full Disk Access and cannot read outside the folders you add.

External drives and network shares

Add a drive from the picker like any folder. If the drive is unplugged, its location shows Reconnect required until it returns; its saved scan stays readable meanwhile.

Forgetting a location

Forget Location in the sidebar removes the saved permission and the saved scans for that folder. Nothing on disk changes.

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