

Whenever a user installs software that uses the macOS Installer package format, a bill-of-materials file is created which can be consulted for future permission repair. Typically, these files are stored within reduced-size Installer package (.pkg) files in the Receipts folder in the local Library directory ( /Library/Receipts) on the volume being checked.

The list of correct permissions is compiled by consulting the various bill-of-materials (.bom) files. Repairing permissions involves checking the permissions of a set of files and folders on a volume with macOS installed against a list of correct POSIX permissions and correcting any discrepancies. Applications depend on the correct assignment and interpretation of permissions in order to function properly. The BSD layer in macOS is responsible for file-system security, including the management of the Unix ( POSIX) permissions model. The efficacy of repairing permissions to troubleshoot application errors has been debated. Repairing disk permissions is a troubleshooting activity commonly associated with the macOS operating system by Apple.
