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Participant
October 13, 2013
Answered

InDesign CC Start-up Error: "...lack sufficient permissions to access the preferences folders"

  • October 13, 2013
  • 22 replies
  • 51786 views

InDesign CC

Having successfully installed many CC apps on my Mac Pro Desktop, I proceeded to do the same on my laptop. However, after two attempts at uninstalling and re-downloading both InDesign CC and the Creative Cloud Desktop. When starting up InDesign, I repeatedly get this error message: "Error: Unable to launch Adobe InDesign as you lack sufficient permissions to access the preferences folders. Ensure that you have appropriate permissions and then restart Adobe InDesign." and can go no further.

I can find no instruction on how to do this, or reference to anyone else getting this error.

MacBook Pro

17-inch, Late 2011

Processor  2.5 GHz Intel Core i7

Memory  8 GB 1333 MHz DDR3

Graphics  AMD Radeon HD 6770M 1024 MB

Software  Mac OS X Lion 10.7.5

Correct answer creatorii

I've seen this stock suggestion posted on many discussions. I've solved the problem with LiveChat with Adobe Support:

Mohammed: As I understand you are not able to launch CC apps since it is giving error "Unable to launch Adobe InDesign as you lack sufficient permissions to access the preferences folders". Is that correct?

Paul: Yes

Mohammed: Please open a Finder window. Choose Go > Go To Folder. Type ~/library and you will get Preferences folder.

Paul: In Library now

Mohammed: Are you able to find preferences folder?

Paul: yes

Mohammed: Control-click the folder and choose Get Info.

Mohammed: Expand the Sharing & Permissions section.

Mohammed: Click the lock icon in the lower-right corner. Enter your administrator user name and password when prompted, and then click OK.

Paul: done

Mohammed: Please click on + icon and add the Admin and all users showing.

Paul: done

Mohammed: Set permission for all users and admin as read/write

Mohammed: Click the Gear icon, and select Apply to Enclosed Item

Paul: to each of the individual users and groups?

Paul: one at a time?

Paul: I've done it.

Mohammed: Please open a Finder window. Choose Go > Go To Folder. Type ~/library/Application support and give full permission to Adobe folder.

Paul: That's completed... I've added all the users and groups, given each 'Read and Write" and extended the permissions to all enclosed items.

Mohammed: Now please open a Finder window. Choose Go > Go To Folder. Type /library/Application support and give full permission to Adobe folder.

Paul: OK, I understand... I am proceeding with your instruction.

Mohammed: Thank you.

Paul: I'm finished.

Mohammed: Please close all Adobe Applications and then launch InDesign CC and let me know the result.

Paul: OK... looking good so far Mohammed... fingers crossed!

Paul: Thanks Mohammed... it's launched!

Mohammed: Excellent, I am so happy to hear this from you.

Mohammed: I certainly appreciate your patience in this process.

Paul: And I yours.

22 replies

Inspiring
August 21, 2014

Thank you very much Mohammed, clear and easy to follow steps, worked immediately.

Rave
Participating Frequently
October 13, 2013

Hi creatorii,

A few standard troubleshooting steps we'd like you to test out:

1. Check the user / disk permissions.

2. Recreate preferences: http://forums.adobe.com/thread/526990

3. Disable any third party plug-ins

4. Starting your computer in Safe boot mode: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1455

5. Creating a new user account / Root user account ( http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1528 )and see if the issue persists

Please let us know how it goes. Thanks!

creatoriiAuthorCorrect answer
Participant
October 13, 2013

I've seen this stock suggestion posted on many discussions. I've solved the problem with LiveChat with Adobe Support:

Mohammed: As I understand you are not able to launch CC apps since it is giving error "Unable to launch Adobe InDesign as you lack sufficient permissions to access the preferences folders". Is that correct?

Paul: Yes

Mohammed: Please open a Finder window. Choose Go > Go To Folder. Type ~/library and you will get Preferences folder.

Paul: In Library now

Mohammed: Are you able to find preferences folder?

Paul: yes

Mohammed: Control-click the folder and choose Get Info.

Mohammed: Expand the Sharing & Permissions section.

Mohammed: Click the lock icon in the lower-right corner. Enter your administrator user name and password when prompted, and then click OK.

Paul: done

Mohammed: Please click on + icon and add the Admin and all users showing.

Paul: done

Mohammed: Set permission for all users and admin as read/write

Mohammed: Click the Gear icon, and select Apply to Enclosed Item

Paul: to each of the individual users and groups?

Paul: one at a time?

Paul: I've done it.

Mohammed: Please open a Finder window. Choose Go > Go To Folder. Type ~/library/Application support and give full permission to Adobe folder.

Paul: That's completed... I've added all the users and groups, given each 'Read and Write" and extended the permissions to all enclosed items.

Mohammed: Now please open a Finder window. Choose Go > Go To Folder. Type /library/Application support and give full permission to Adobe folder.

Paul: OK, I understand... I am proceeding with your instruction.

Mohammed: Thank you.

Paul: I'm finished.

Mohammed: Please close all Adobe Applications and then launch InDesign CC and let me know the result.

Paul: OK... looking good so far Mohammed... fingers crossed!

Paul: Thanks Mohammed... it's launched!

Mohammed: Excellent, I am so happy to hear this from you.

Mohammed: I certainly appreciate your patience in this process.

Paul: And I yours.

Participant
July 18, 2014

Solved my problem. Thanks so much for posting!