If you’ve just migrated your data via Apple’s Migration Assistant/Time Machine, you might be unable to launch Things.
Apple’s Migration Assistant can sometimes incorrectly restore file and folder permissions when transferring data to a new Mac (or restoring a Mac), so you might see this error when you try to launch Things:
“Things was unable to open your database file. The file couldn’t be saved because you don’t have permission.”
Here’s how to fix the problem:
- On your Mac, go to the
/Applications
folder and open the TextEdit app. - Create a new document.
- In the menu bar at the top of your screen, click Format → Make Plain Text. (If you don’t see that option, you’re already using plain text.)
-
Copy the following command and paste it into your document:
sudo chown -R username "/Users/username/Library/Group Containers/JLMPQHK86H.com.culturedcode.ThingsMac"
- Now go to
/Applications/Utilities
and open Terminal. - Copy the following command and paste it into Terminal:
whoami
- Hit Return to execute the command.
- The next line after the command will show your macOS user name. Select it and hit ⌘ Cmd C to copy.
- Return to the text document you created in step 2.
- Select
username
and hit ⌘ Cmd V to insert your own user name in its place. - Double-check the command you just edited – you must have inserted your user name twice.
- Copy the entire command from TextEdit, and paste it into Terminal.
- Hit Return to execute the command.
You might be prompted to enter your Mac user account’s password – that’s entirely normal (you are providing the password to macOS, not to us). Note that Terminal will not display the password as you enter it – just keep typing normally and hit Return when you’re done.
You should now be able to launch Things.