Fix macOS Ventura Remote Login Privileges Error | Generated by AI

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Question: sudo systemsetup -setremotelogin on fails with a Full Disk Access privileges error on macOS Ventura — how to fix?

Answer:

This is a macOS Ventura change. systemsetup requires Terminal (or iTerm2) to have Full Disk Access granted in Privacy settings.

Fix — GUI way (30 seconds):

  1. System Settings → Privacy & Security → Full Disk Access
  2. Click + → add your terminal app (Terminal.app or iTerm)
  3. Toggle it on
  4. Re-run sudo systemsetup -setremotelogin on

Alternative — skip systemsetup entirely, use launchctl directly:

sudo launchctl load -w /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/ssh.plist

This bypasses systemsetup and enables sshd directly. No Full Disk Access needed.

Verify:

sudo launchctl list | grep ssh
# com.openssh.sshd should appear

The launchctl method is the cleaner approach on Ventura+ since systemsetup is being progressively deprecated by Apple anyway. Use that going forward.

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