View macOS File ACLs with ls -le

See the extended ACL entries and file flags that plain ls -l and Unix chmod know nothing about.

macOSchmodsharingpermissionsaclLow risk

Run `ls -le <path>` to display ACL entries line by line, and `chmod -a# 0 <file>` to remove the first ACL entry.

01Command

Command

$ ls -le ~/Downloads/shared_folder

02What it does

macOS layers POSIX-style ACLs and BSD file flags (uchg, schg) on top of standard permissions; a '+' in ls output means ACLs exist and an '@' means extended attributes. These entries commonly explain why 'everyone' keeps access to a folder you shared, or why a file refuses deletion despite looking writable. Beyond viewing, chmod on macOS accepts ACL grammar like `chmod +a "everyone allow read"` that Linux chmod doesn't.

03Risk

RiskLow risk

04Undo

Undo

$ chmod -N <file>  (removes all ACLs)

05Sources

macOS ls — list directory contents
SS64 · technical · 2026-09-17
Evidence: Documents ls -e/-O printing of ACLs and flags on macOS.

Last verified: 2026-09-17 · Category: Files & Folders