Mac permissions
The two macOS permissions a bot needs to see your screen and use the mouse and keyboard, and how to turn them on.
On a Mac, a bot needs two permissions to see your screen and use the mouse and keyboard. Files, commands, and the Machine browser work without them.
| Permission | Why it's needed |
|---|---|
| Screen Recording | To take screenshots and read what's on the screen. |
| Accessibility | To use the mouse, keyboard, and app controls. |
You only need these if Apps, mouse and keyboard is on in the folder menu (it is by default).
Turn them on
When a bot first needs them, Machine Desktop shows Machine needs permission to control this Mac, listing what's missing. It shows once each time you open the app.
Open System Settings
Click Open System Settings. (Or click Later to do it another time.)
Turn on Screen Recording
Go to Privacy & Security → Screen Recording (on newer macOS it's called Screen & System Audio Recording). Turn on Machine Desktop. If it isn't listed, click + and add it from Applications.
Turn on Accessibility
Go to Privacy & Security → Accessibility. Turn on Machine Desktop, or add it with +.
Restart Machine Desktop
Press ⌘Q to quit Machine Desktop, then open it again. macOS only applies these permissions after a restart.
Turn them off
Open the same pages in System Settings → Privacy & Security and turn Machine Desktop off. Bots can then still use files, commands, and the Machine browser, but not your screen.
Or, to stop screen control for a single thread, turn off Apps, mouse and keyboard in its folder menu.
Microphone and speech
Voice features ask for different permissions: Microphone and Speech Recognition. See Voice.