---
title: Read Only Files – Mac Users
description: "macOS users may encounter a file which you cannot save.  You will also notice that the file name (visible at the very top center of your screen) ends with \"(read-only)\" Open Finder and browse to the location of the file,…"
url: "https://www.realdata.com/docs/read-only-files-mac-users/"
updated: "2026-03-18"
category: General
tags:
  - Macintosh
---

# Read Only Files – Mac Users

macOS users may encounter a file which you cannot save.  You will also notice that the file name (visible at the very top center of your screen) ends with "(read-only)"

Open Finder and browse to the location of the file, and single click to highlight the file name.  Click on File > Get Info.  If you have a laptop, you can also use two fingers on your touchpad to bring up the context menu for the file.

[![](https://www.realdata.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/getInfoMac.png)](https://www.realdata.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/getInfoMac.png)

At the top of the Get Info window, look for the checkbox next to "Locked" - deselect this checkbox to remove the read-only status.

Important Note!  We have found that if you use a special character in the file name (for example, a dollar sign, backslash, asterisk, etc) then this may force read-only status on a file.  Remove these special characters from the file name.