NVivo "Full Disk Access" work around - Mac

When trying to open a fresh install of NVivo you get a message that "NVivo needs permissions to access data on your computer before it can run." Even with the requested permissions granted, you continue to get the same message and NVivo never opens.

  1. Click on the Security & Privacy button in the pop-up message, and verify if Nvivo 12 is on the list of applications approved for Full Disk Access. If not, use + to add it.

  2. Open a blank text file with Text Edit, and from the Menu bar click on Save..

  3. Name the file CloudTabs.db, and save it to your desktop.

  4. The format of the new file will display as RTF, and needs to be changed. Right click on the file, and click Get Info.

  5. Remove the .RTF from the Name & Extension column and press ENTER.

  6. A prompt will appear to change the file extension. Select use .db from the prompt Window.

  7. From the Finder menu bar, click on the Go while holding on the OPTION key of your keyboard (ALT key on Windows KB) and open the Library folder.

  8. Navigate and open the Safari folder.

  9. Drag the CloudsTab.db file from your desktop into the Safari folder.

  10. Close the folder, and run NVivo. You may be prompted for admin credentials after running NVivo, but the setup should proceed as normal after entering admin credentials.

    • When customer is prompted to sign in, have them select or provide enterprise key to activate option if they received a key.

Keywords:
Permissions, Privacy and Security, Mac, macos
Doc ID:
151915
Owned by:
Michael B. in DoIT Contract Partner Support Help Desk
Created:
2025-06-23
Updated:
2025-06-23
Sites:
DoIT Contract Partner Support Help Desk