Leaker: macOS 27.3 to limit app prompts for Full Disk Access
Apps that request files outside their scope will reportedly no longer be listed as options for enabling Full Disk Access, per leaker pdfu.
Starting with macOS 27.3, apps that request files outside their permission scope will no longer be logged as options for enabling Full Disk Access, according to code sifter pdfu, as reported by 9to5mac.com. The leaker detailed the change in a post on X.
Under the reported change, apps that ask for files beyond what they are permitted to reach would stop appearing in the Settings panel as candidates for Full Disk Access. Developers would still be able to ask users to drag an app icon into the Settings panel to grant Full Disk Access while the feature flag is enabled.
pdfu also mentioned Private Folders, a mechanism that could let users grant scoped access to only the iMessage database folder rather than to a broader area of the disk.
The report follows Apple’s announcement in October 2025 that it would tighten privacy controls in a future macOS update. In a blog post at the time, Apple said apps will require very explicit user action to have Full Disk Access on a Mac.
What is not yet confirmed
Apple has not confirmed the macOS 27.3 behaviour described by pdfu, and the specific release timing of that update has not been announced.
Quick answers
What changes in macOS 27.3 for Full Disk Access?
According to leaker pdfu, apps that request files outside their permission scope will no longer be logged as options for enabling Full Disk Access.
Will developers lose the ability to request Full Disk Access?
pdfu said developers can still ask users to drag an app icon into the Settings panel to enable Full Disk Access while the feature flag is enabled.
Has Apple confirmed the change?
Apple has not confirmed the reported macOS 27.3 behaviour. Apple said in October 2025 that it would tighten privacy controls in a future macOS update.