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Terminal - How to u...
 
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Terminal - How to unlock files ...

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(@hans)
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Joined: 10 years ago
Posts: 2547
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Sometimes you'll find that a file is locked when you use "Get Info" to see the details and attributes of a file.
This is how you can unlock the file in Terminal:

chflags nouchg /path/to/locked/file

or recursively an entire directory and its sub directories:

chflags -R nouchg /path/to/locked/files/directory

 

Note:

chflags = change flags on files/folders such as "locked"
-R = recursive or for everything and follow directories within the specified directory
nouchg = means the file can be changed (clear the user immutable flag)

 

Note that sometimes files are locked on a level where you cannot unlock a file, not even as a super user (sudo)!


   
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