MacOS: Using the Privileges App to Gain Temporary Admin Permissions

If you are using a Mac and have been approved for local administrator rights, you can use the Privileges app to temporarily elevate your local account permissions when needed in order to change system settings or perform an operation requiring local administrator credentials.

Administrator access requests are granted for up to 10 minutes to allow for operations to be completed. After 10 minutes, your account will be automatically reverted to a standard user.

1. The Privileges app should be deployed to your Mac automatically after you have been approved for local administrator rights. The app can also be downloaded and installed using Software Center.
2. Once installed, the app should be visible in the Dock and the Applications folder. Launch the app to start.
   
   
   
3. A window will appear prompting for a reason for the admin elevation request. Type the reason or purpose for your request, then click the Request Privileges button.
   
4. Enter your username and password when prompted to authenticate the request. If you have Touch ID set up, you can also use Touch ID to authenticate.
   
5. A notification will appear when the request is successful and your local account has administrator rights. The app icon will change accordingly to show that the account is elevated.
    
   
6. To change your account back to a standard user after you have finished any operations needing elevation, launch the Privileges app again. A window will appear confirming you are ready to revert admin permissions.
   
7. A notification will appear confirming that permissions were reverted.