Why do I need to allow Full Disk Access in macOS for device backups?

If you'd like for your existing iOS device backups in macOS 10.14 Mojave or 10.15 Catalina to appear in iExplorer and also allow iExplorer to create backups in the same location, you must allow Full Disk Access for iExplorer.app in your System Preferences Security & Privacy settings. iExplorer will prompt you with instructions for how to do this whenever you try to make your first backup in macOS Mojave or Catalina. If you choose not to give iExplorer Full Disk Access, you'll only be able to backup in a custom folder location, and you will not be able to access and extract data from device backups that you've made directly in iTunes or Finder. 

​Here's how to allow iExplorer to access to your iTunes backup folder location:
 

1. Open System Preferences. 
2. Click on Security & Privacy.
3. Click on the Privacy tab.
4. Click the lock icon in the lower left corner to allow changes and enter your Mac's Admin username & password.
5. Select Full Disk Access in the list on the left side.  
6. Click on the plus sign (+) below the list on the right. 
7. In the Finder window that opens, navigate to Applications, select iExplorer.app, and click Open.
8. Choose to Quit Now if prompted.  
9. Open iExplorer.

If you have an iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, or an iPhone XR and are using a Mac, you should also update iExplorer to the most current version by using iExplorer menu Check for Updates. 

Allowing Full Disk Access is only ​done so that iExplorer can access the folder location that macOS uses for backups since Apple added an additional privacy setting in macOS Mojave & Catalina that blocks it by default.  By giving access, you can rest assured that we do not collect any of your personal data (none it will ever get uploaded to our servers). iExplorer will also never access or collect ANY data from the other apps it mentions such as Mail and Messages. iExplorer doesn't have any features that require it to do so. You can view more about our Privacy Policy at the link below:

https://macroplant.com/legal/privacy-policy/