Software⏱️ 2 min read📅 2026-05-31

How to Fix: Run script on mac prompt "Permission denied"

Permission denied error when running Ruby script on Mac terminal.

Quick Answer: Run the script with elevated privileges using "sudo" command, e.g., "sudo ruby /dvtcolorconvert.rb ~/Themes/ObsidianCode.xccolortheme".

You're getting the 'Permission denied' error when running a script on the Mac terminal because you're trying to execute it from the root directory of your volume. This is not the recommended way to run scripts, as it can lead to issues with permissions and file ownership.

💡 Why You Are Getting This Error

  • [Cause]

✅ Best Solutions to Fix It

Method 1: Change Directory

  1. Step 1: Navigate to the directory where your script is located using the `cd` command. For example, if your script is in the `~/Themes/ObsidianCode.xccolortheme` directory, run the following command: `cd ~/Themes/ObsidianCode.xccolortheme

Method 2: Run with Elevated Permissions

  1. Step 1: Open the Terminal app and run the command `sudo chmod u+x /dvtcolorconvert.rb` to grant execute permissions to the script. Then, try running the script again using the original command.

✨ Wrapping Up

By changing the directory or granting execute permissions to your script, you should be able to run it without encountering the 'Permission denied' error.

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