Apple plans to add new controls to macOS’s Full Disk Access setting, warning that increasingly capable AI agents could make the existing level of access more dangerous. The company says the changes will require users to take more explicit action before granting an app access to data across the Mac.

Apple announced the planned changes in a post on its developer website. It did not provide a release date or identify a specific macOS version that will introduce the updated controls.

Why Apple is changing Full Disk Access

Full Disk Access is an exception to macOS’s usual privacy protections. Apple says the permission exists largely so backup applications can work properly, but it can also give an app visibility into a broad range of personal information stored on a Mac.

According to Apple, some developers are using the permission in ways that may expose files, email, messages and browsing history without users fully understanding the consequences. The company also warned that communication apps with this level of access could affect the privacy of people communicating with the Mac’s owner.

Apple’s concern is not limited to traditional applications. The company said the risks will grow as AI agents become more capable and autonomous, particularly as these systems are able to perform more tasks with less direct user involvement.

What the new macOS controls will do

Apple said future versions of macOS will include “additional controls” intended to ensure that users who genuinely want to grant Full Disk Access can do so only through “very explicit user action.” The stated goal is to make the scope and consequences of the permission clearer before access is granted.

The announcement does not explain how the new process will appear in macOS. Apple has not said whether users will see a redesigned prompt, additional confirmation steps, expanded explanations or other restrictions for apps requesting the permission.

What Mac users should know

For now, Apple’s announcement does not change how Full Disk Access works. Mac users should continue to review which applications have the permission and consider whether each app needs access to data across the system.

The change could be particularly relevant as more applications incorporate AI features that can act on a user’s behalf. Apple’s language suggests that the company wants consent for system-wide access to be deliberate rather than something users approve without understanding what an app can read.

Apple has not indicated whether existing permissions will need to be reviewed when the new controls arrive. Until more details are provided, the company’s announcement establishes the privacy direction for macOS but leaves the timing and implementation unspecified.