General: Forums subtopic: App & System Services > Core OS Forums tags: Files and Storage, Foundation, FSKit, File Provider, Finder Sync, Disk Arbitration, APFS Foundation > Files and Data Persistence documentation Low-level file system APIs are documented in UNIX manual pages File System Programming Guide archived documentation About Apple File System documentation Apple File System Guide archived documentation File system changes introduced in iOS 17 forums post On File System Permissions forums post Extended Attributes and Zip Archives forums post Unpacking Apple Archives forums post Creating new file systems: FSKit framework documentation File Provider framework documentation Finder Sync framework documentation App Extension Programming Guide > App Extension Types > Finder Sync archived documentation Managing storage: Disk Arbitration framework documentation Disk Arbitration Programming Guide archived documentation Mass Storage Device Driver Programming Guide archived documentation Device File Access Guide for Storage Devices archived documentation BlockStorageDeviceDriverKit framework documentation Volume format references: Apple File System Reference TN1150 HFS Plus Volume Format Share and Enjoy — Quinn “The Eskimo!” @ Developer Technical Support @ Apple let myEmail = "eskimo" + "1" + "@" + "apple.com"

Hi guys, I'm developing a FinderSync Extension that extends Finder contextual menu with a couple of items doing some trivial file operations. I'm using Xcode 16.2 on macOS Sequoia 15.3.2 I could run the containing app in debug, and in System Preferences -> File Providers the flag is enabled for my app finder extension. Anyway, the contextual menu does not show in Finder, probably because the finder extension crashes immediately. Some output: pluginkit -m | grep "com\.[^a]" + com.mycompany.MyApp.MyAppFinderExtension(1.1.14) codesign -dvvv --entitlements - /Users/me/Library/Developer/Xcode/DerivedData/MyApp-dmzhnwmosboixodalsrrbwvwvmqm/Build/Products/Debug/MyApp.app/Contents/PlugIns/MyApp\ Finder\ Extension.appex Executable=/Users/me/Library/Developer/Xcode/DerivedData/MyApp-dmzhnwmosboixodalsrrbwvwvmqm/Build/Products/Debug/MyApp.app/Contents/PlugIns/MyApp Finder Extension.appex/Contents/MacOS/MyApp Finder Extension Identifier=com.mycompany.MyApp.MyAppFinderExtension Format=bundle with Mach-O thin (arm64) CodeDirectory v=20400 size=659 flags=0x2(adhoc) hashes=9+7 location=embedded Hash type=sha256 size=32 CandidateCDHash sha256=b59538ef9e3b6e8cf462a3e260e3bf26d050deb5 CandidateCDHashFull sha256=b59538ef9e3b6e8cf462a3e260e3bf26d050deb5e21fb27d4fa0a4fe5f3e78b7 Hash choices=sha256 CMSDigest=b59538ef9e3b6e8cf462a3e260e3bf26d050deb5e21fb27d4fa0a4fe5f3e78b7 CMSDigestType=2 CDHash=b59538ef9e3b6e8cf462a3e260e3bf26d050deb5 Signature=adhoc Info.plist entries=23 TeamIdentifier=not set Sealed Resources version=2 rules=13 files=9 Internal requirements count=0 size=12 [Dict] [Key] com.apple.security.app-sandbox [Value] [Bool] true [Key] com.apple.security.application-groups [Value] [Array] [String] [Key] com.apple.security.assets.movies.read-write [Value] [Bool] true [Key] com.apple.security.assets.music.read-write [Value] [Bool] true [Key] com.apple.security.assets.pictures.read-write [Value] [Bool] true [Key] com.apple.security.files.documents.read-write [Value] [Bool] true [Key] com.apple.security.files.downloads.read-write [Value] [Bool] true [Key] com.apple.security.files.user-selected.read-write [Value] [Bool] true [Key] com.apple.security.get-task-allow [Value] [Bool] true [Key] com.apple.security.personal-information.location [Value] [Bool] true The log is showing something very strange: log show --predicate 'eventMessage contains "com.mycompany.MyApp" and messageType = error' --last 1h Filtering the log data using "composedMessage CONTAINS "com.mycompany.MyApp" AND logType == 16" Skipping info and debug messages, pass --info and/or --debug to include. Timestamp Thread Type Activity PID TTL 2025-03-25 10:20:48.428127+0100 0x221af Error 0x53dbe 159 0 tccd: [com.apple.TCC:access] Request message contains a target_token to accessing_process (TCCDProcess: identifier=com.mycompany.MyApp, pid=4140, auid=501, euid=501, binary_path=/Users/me/Library/Developer/Xcode/DerivedData/MyApp-dmzhnwmosboixodalsrrbwvwvmqm/Build/Products/Debug/MyApp.app/Contents/MacOS/MyApp) but TCCDProcess: identifier=com.apple.audio.coreaudiod, pid=184, auid=202, euid=202, binary_path=/usr/sbin/coreaudiod is not a TCC manager for service: kTCCServiceScreenCapture. 2025-03-25 10:20:53.166554+0100 0x22139 Error 0x67ff4 163 0 runningboardd: (RunningBoard) [com.apple.runningboard:general] RBSStateCapture remove item called for untracked item 163-158-7088 (target:[app<application.com.mycompany.MyApp.36628067.36635236.92E24CD3-97A8-4340-A46E-4493456283C7(501)>:4140]) 2025-03-25 10:20:53.166575+0100 0x22139 Error 0x67ff4 163 0 runningboardd: (RunningBoard) [com.apple.runningboard:general] RBSStateCapture remove item called for untracked item 163-158-7087 (target:[app<application.com.mycompany.MyApp.36628067.36635236.92E24CD3-97A8-4340-A46E-4493456283C7(501)>:4140]) 2025-03-25 10:20:53.166582+0100 0x22139 Error 0x67ff4 163 0 runningboardd: (RunningBoard) [com.apple.runningboard:general] RBSStateCapture remove item called for untracked item 163-158-7091 (target:[app<application.com.mycompany.MyApp.36628067.36635236.92E24CD3-97A8-4340-A46E-4493456283C7(501)>:4140]) 2025-03-25 10:20:53.166593+0100 0x22139 Error 0x67ff4 163 0 runningboardd: (RunningBoard) [com.apple.runningboard:general] RBSStateCapture remove item called for untracked item 163-132-7084 (target:[xpcservice<com.apple.finder.FinderSync.IsExtensionEnabled([app<application.com.mycompany.MyApp.36628067.36635236.92E24CD3-97A8-4340-A46E-4493456283C7(501)>:4140])(501)>{vt hash: 0}:4144:4144]) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Log - Default: 0, Info: 0, Debug: 0, Error: 13, Fault: 0 Activity - Create: 0, Transition: 0, Actions: 0 Especially the first line: MyApp is not accessing coreaudiod - neither trying to get a ScreenCapture, so ... WTF??? How is it possibile? Why is the system blocking MyApp FinderExtension, or preventing it to run? Thank you in advance _Alex

I am trying to move my home directory to a secondary drive, but I am running into to two issues. When I try to do it via Finder I get the error - The operation can’t be completed because “<my account name>” needs to be downloaded. And when I try to do it via the terminal in recovery mode (after mounting the Data directory), It seems to copy a set of directories within ~/Library/Daemon Containers/. These appear to be snapshots of some sort, which when cp runs, end up taking up the entire drive of the target drive, which is 4 times larger than my base volume. Two questions: Why I am getting the message via finder (and how do I get around it? What is the correct process for moving the home directory to a second drive? Thanks!

Hi All, I have a finder sync extension that passes data back to my main app. It currently writes to a plist file in my group container folder. Since updating to macOS 15, I have been getting this pop-up every time I trigger this writing to the plist after the finder sync extension loads. This is how I write to the plist from my finder sync extension: let appGroupDefaults = UserDefaults(suiteName: "group.team_id.Finder-Sync-Extension-Test-Project") let items = FIFinderSyncController.default().selectedItemURLs() DispatchQueue.main.async { let url = items?.first?.absoluteString var file = items?.first?.lastPathComponent if let defaults = appGroupDefaults{ defaults.set(url, forKey: "targetURL") defaults.synchronize() } self.showWindow(with: NSExtensionContext()) } This is how I read the plist from my main app: if let defaults = UserDefaults(suiteName: "group.team_id.Finder-Sync-Extension-Test-Project") { defaults.synchronize() if let clickedUrl = defaults.string(forKey: "targetURL") { window = NSWindow(contentRect: NSScreen.main?.frame ?? .zero, styleMask: [.miniaturizable, .closable, .resizable, .titled], backing: .buffered, defer: false) window?.title = "My App" window?.makeKeyAndOrderFront(nil) textField.stringValue = clickedUrl window?.contentView?.addSubview(textField) } } It is fine if this popup happens once and the user's choice gets remembered. I just don't want it to happen every time. Any help on if this is the correct way to pass data between the finder sync extension and the main app or on how to get macOS to remember the choice of the user would be great. Thanks, James

Hi all, I am creating an app that, when you right-click on a file and select a custom option in the context menu, it pops open a window then processes this file. Currently, I am writing that file name and path to a plist in my app's group container folder, sending a notification from my finder sync extension to my main app, and then reading the values in my plist. Is this the best way to pass data between the finder sync extension and the main app? What is the industry standard way of doing this? Thanks, James

Not able to replicate this myself but have had a couple of users report this. I have a Finder Sync Extension. It does not, at least intentionally, change any sidebar icons. The hosting app mostly uses asset catalogs and the icon file it specifies in its info.plist is a icns file, not an iconset. Any idea what may be causing this? Seems odd to me that there isn't some explicit setting to enable this instead of requiring some set of configurations lining up.

Hi all: I am experimenting with Finder extensions. I’d like to be able to add a context menu to all folder locations. I believe the code below should work, but it doesn’t. If I hard code a path, it does work. Any tips on what I am missing? Thanks! // Doesn’t work FIFinderSyncController.default().directoryURLs = nil // Works for user folder var myFolderURL = URL(fileURLWithPath: "/users/exampleuser") FIFinderSyncController.default().directoryURLs = [self.myFolderURL]

Description We used to use FIFinderSyncController.showExtensionManagementInterface() to navigate to the corresponding Setting's path via a button in our app to make the user enable our FinderSync App. (Or user can navigate manually via "System Settings -> Privacy & Security -> Extensions -> Added Extensions" themselves in Settings.app) But the UI is now disappearing on macOS 15.0 As a result, if user had previously enabled it, user will now be unable to disable it, and if user had not previously enabled it, user will never be able to enable it. STEPS TO REPRODUCE Create an empty macOS app xcodeprojc, add Finder Sync Extension and run it. Or you can use the repo here to reproduce the issue. https://github.com/Kyle-Ye/MenuHelper

Hello, If a user allows access to, for example, Removable Volumes (TCC permission) to the main app, does these permissions will be inherited by a bundled Finder Extension from the main app? More specific, I have an app that bundles a Finder Extension and both the main app and the bundled extension need access to Removable Volumes. Only the main app can request it, since the main app is the only that can prompt the user. If the user allows, will the bundled extension also receive the permissions? If not, is there any workaround? Regards.

Hello, I developed a file provider extension that can access files from multiple locations. With the new macOS Sequoia I cannot access files from volumes, here is the error from Console: Refusing TCCAccessRequest for service kTCCServiceSystemPolicyRemovableVolumes from extension Sub:{com.app.ext}Resp:{TCCDProcess: identifier=com.app.ext-Driver, pid=26706, auid=501, euid=501, binary_path.... Driver}, extension point disallows prompting I added "Privacy - Removable Volumes Usage Description" values for both the main app and extension Info.plist, I click Allow on the alert, but still I receive this error message. Any solution? Thank you.

Hello! I want to add an option to the finder context menu. In particular the context menu that shows when you right click empty space inside a folder. Its not problem if I have to write some swift code. It must be possible, because Google drive or Dropbox also add options to that menu directly. I do not want to add a option to the Quick options, but just an option that right below the "New folder" option. Is this possible? And can someone point me in the right direction? Maybe some API from apple or something? Thanks!

'Remove Download' button in right click menu for iCloud folder in Finder on macOS does not work if total number of selected files/ folders at the time are more than 10 nos. If more than 10 non of files/ folders are selected at any time, then the 'Remove Download' button disappears from the right click context menu in macOS Finder for iCloud folders. To click and act on the 'Remove Download' button on context menu of Finder upon right click, the total number of files and folders together must not exceed 10 nos. Is this the behaviour expected, or am I missing something and this observed behaviour is a bug of Finder?

In the context of a NSFileProviderReplicatedExtension I would like to only see the "Move to Bin" Finder action when files have been materlialised ( isDownloaded fileprovider attribute ) I thought it might be possible to get the isDownloaded attribute in my NSFileProviderItemProtocol class capabilities method but that doesn't seem to be the case. Possible ?

On macOS Sequoia, the settings to enable FIFinderSync seem to have gone. I have already figured out that Extensions are no longer in the Privacy &amp; Security section, but they are now at General › Login Items &amp; Extensions. Here there is a Finder section, but that is just for the Finder-Extensions, not the Finder-Sync-Extensions. Those previously did not have their own section and were hidden away in the Added Extensions section that apparently no longer exists. I expect that it has been forgotten when migrating. Where are the settings for this – have they been forgotten?

I'm unable to use third party Finder Sync Extensions on macOS 15, first beta. They do not appear in the Extensions section, that is now in System Settings - General - Login Items & Extensions.