Time Machine backup to external drive keeps asking for TouchID/password every time I move, copy or rename a file or folder

I restored a Time Machine backup to my external drive. Now on this external drive, every time I try to move a file or folder, copy a file or folder or rename a file or folder, my TouchID or password is required. There is obviously a permissions issue occurring. My computer was not doing this before. How do I fix this?

MacBook Pro 14″

Posted on Dec 15, 2025 10:16 AM

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Posted on Dec 15, 2025 4:46 PM

I upgraded from version 15.7.2

I did some more Internet searching and from trial and error, I figured out how to fix this. After restoring the Time Machine backup, first I did a "Get Info" on my external drive and made sure at the very bottom left of the Get Info popup window, that the "Ignore ownership on this volume" has the checkbox checked. And then next, right above, I clicked the down arrow that appears to the right of the 3 dots inside a circle icon that reveals a drop down menu with the "Apply to Enclosed items..." option. After Finder updated the enclosed items, everything started working like before. I can copy over files, move them around again and rename them without being asked for TouchID/password anymore.

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Dec 15, 2025 4:46 PM in response to den.thed

I upgraded from version 15.7.2

I did some more Internet searching and from trial and error, I figured out how to fix this. After restoring the Time Machine backup, first I did a "Get Info" on my external drive and made sure at the very bottom left of the Get Info popup window, that the "Ignore ownership on this volume" has the checkbox checked. And then next, right above, I clicked the down arrow that appears to the right of the 3 dots inside a circle icon that reveals a drop down menu with the "Apply to Enclosed items..." option. After Finder updated the enclosed items, everything started working like before. I can copy over files, move them around again and rename them without being asked for TouchID/password anymore.

Dec 15, 2025 1:01 PM in response to den.thed

Here's more back story. I have an external drive connected to my MBP that I use to store the majority of my files. I made a Time Machine backup before upgrading to MacOS 15.7.3. I backed up my boot drive and the external drive. After upgrading the OS, my external drive would only go into Read only mode. So I reformatted it and restored the recently made Time Machine backup using the top menu bar Time Machine icon method, choosing the "Browse Time Machine Backups" from the dropdown menu. The external drive is only for files, I do not start up from it at all.



Time Machine backup to external drive keeps asking for TouchID/password every time I move, copy or rename a file or folder

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