Not able to tick Chrome in System Preferences

If you’re facing issues where you can’t enable Google Chrome in your Mac’s System Preferences, you’re not alone. This problem often occurs when trying to grant permissions, such as allowing Chrome to access screen recording, microphone, or other security features. Here’s a comprehensive guide on how to troubleshoot and resolve this issue.

Common Causes

1. Permission Restrictions: Sometimes, your macOS system may have restrictions in place that prevent you from making changes.
2. System Preferences Lock: The System Preferences menu might be locked, preventing any modifications.
3. Corrupted System Files: Occasionally, system file corruption or software glitches can interfere with permission settings.

Step-by-Step Solutions

1. Check if System Preferences is Locked

• Open System Preferences and navigate to the section where you need to tick Chrome (e.g., Security & Privacy).
• Look for a lock icon at the bottom left of the window.
• If the lock is closed, click on it and enter your administrator password to unlock it. This will allow you to make changes.

2. Ensure Full Disk Access is Enabled

• Go to System Preferences > Security & Privacy.
• Click on the Privacy tab.
• Scroll down to Full Disk Access and make sure Google Chrome is listed and checked.
• If Chrome isn’t listed, click the + button, find Chrome in your Applications folder, and add it manually. Check the box to enable full disk access.

3. Enable Screen Recording (If Applicable)

If you’re trying to enable Chrome for screen recording:

• In System Preferences, go to Security & Privacy.
• Click the Privacy tab and select Screen Recording from the sidebar.
• Make sure Chrome is listed and that the box is ticked. If it’s not ticked or if you can’t tick it, follow these steps:
  • Unlock the preferences (click the lock icon and enter your password).
  • Try adding Chrome manually by clicking the + button.

4. Restart Your Mac

Sometimes, a simple restart can resolve permission issues.

• Save any work in progress and restart your Mac.
• After the restart, try accessing System Preferences and ticking Chrome again.

5. Reset Privacy Settings via Terminal

If you’re still unable to make changes, you can reset your privacy settings using Terminal. This will reset all privacy settings, so use it with caution.

• Open Terminal (you can find it in Applications > Utilities).
• Type the following command and press Enter:

  tccutil reset All
  
  

  • This command resets the permissions for all applications, so you’ll need to re-grant permissions for apps as needed.

• 6. Reinstall Google Chrome

  If the issue persists, try reinstalling Chrome:

  • Open Finder and go to Applications.
  • Drag Google Chrome to the Trash and empty the Trash.
  • Download the latest version of Chrome from Google’s official website and install it.
  • Go back to System Preferences and check if you can now tick Chrome.

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  Additional Tips

  • Update macOS: Make sure your operating system is up to date. Sometimes, bugs are fixed in newer versions of macOS.
  • Check for Malware: Use a reliable antivirus or anti-malware program to ensure your system is not compromised.
  • Safe Mode: Boot your Mac into Safe Mode (hold down the Shift key while starting up) and try enabling Chrome in System Preferences. Safe Mode can bypass certain restrictions and may allow you to make the changes.

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