Access Denied when Connecting to your Mac

If FileBrowser displays an “Access Denied” error when connecting to your Mac, the issue is usually related to macOS file sharing permissions, SMB configuration, or the account being used to connect.

This guide explains the most common causes and how to resolve them.

Before you begin

Check these first — they solve many macOS connection problems:

File Sharing is enabled on your Mac
SMB sharing is turned on in macOS settings
Your Mac and iPhone or iPad are connected to the same network
You are using the correct Mac username and password
The folder you are accessing is shared for your user account
FileBrowser has Local Network permission enabled in iOS settings

If everything above looks correct, choose the issue below that best matches what you’re seeing.

Access denied when opening a shared folder

This usually means your Mac account does not have permission to access the folder over SMB sharing.

Open the 'System Settings' App.
Select 'General' then 'Sharing'.
Ensure that 'File Sharing' is enabled, then click the info icon next to the switch.
Select the shared folder from the 'Shared Folders' list
To add a user, click + under the 'Users' list and choose your account
Change permissions from 'Read Only' to 'Read & Write' to allow remote file changes
If you still can't access files in the folder, right-click the folder in the 'Shared Folders' list and select 'Apply Permissions to Enclosed Items'

Options

I now get a different error.

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FileBrowser browsing files stored on a Mac network share

About FileBrowser

FileBrowser provides reliable access to files stored on Macs, NAS drives, and other network storage devices directly from iPhone and iPad.

Whether you are connecting on a home network, office network, or VPN connection, FileBrowser is designed for fast and secure access to Mac shared folders, SMB shares, and network storage.