Privileges: Mac
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About Privileges
Privileges is an open source application for macOS which is designed to allow users to work as a standard user for day-to-day use, by providing a quick and easy way to gain administrator rights when needed. When you do need admin rights, you can get them by clicking on the Privileges icon in your Mac's dock.
Working as a standard user instead of an administrator adds another layer of security to your Mac and is considered a security best practice. Privileges helps enable users to act as administrators of the system only when required.
Privileges supports the following macOS versions:
- macOS 10.12 — macOS 14.x
Privileges can be found within the /Applications folder if installed.
Installing Privileges
Privileges can be installed via the Workspace ONE Intelligent Hub application.
- Open Workspace ONE Intelligent Hub either from the Mac menu bar or from within the Applications folder.
- Select Privileges and click on the INSTALL button.
Using Privileges
Request Admin Privileges
If you are a standard user and want admin rights, verify that Privileges is installed then use the following procedure:
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- Launch Privileges.
The first time Privileges is launched, if prompted to allow notifications by the Privileges app, please choose "Allow".
- Click the Request Privileges button.
- The Privileges dock icon should change to look like a yellow unlocked padlock
- A "Privileges have been changed successfully" notification banner should appear.
- The logged-in account should now have admin rights.
- Launch Privileges.
Remove Admin Privileges
If you are a admin user and want to remove admin rights, verify that Privileges is installed then use the following procedure:
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- Launch Privileges.
- Click the Remove Privileges button.
- The Privileges dock icon should change to look like a green locked padlock.
- A "Privileges have been changed successfully" notification banner should appear.
- The logged-in account should now be a standard user account.
- Launch Privileges.
Toggle Privileges - Preferred Method
This is the recommended method elevating your account to grant admin rights because it sets a timer which will automatically remove those privileges in 20 minutes (indicated by the dock icon notification) so that users will not need to remember to remove the admin privileges later.
To enable admin privileges for 20 minutes do the following:
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- Right-click on the Privileges dock icon and select Toggle privileges from the contextual menu.
- The Privileges dock icon will change to the yellow unlocked padlock with a red notification bubble indicating how long until the admin privileges are removed.
- Right-click on the Privileges dock icon and select Toggle privileges from the contextual menu.
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