macOS · Privacy & Security
Control which apps can read your contacts and calendars
This privacy page lists every app that has requested access to your Contacts, Calendars, or Reminders, and lets you grant or revoke that access individually per app.
How to open Contacts & Calendar Access Permissions
- Open System Settings → Privacy & Security
- Select Contacts, Calendars, or Reminders from the list
- Review which apps have access
- Toggle off access for any app you want to restrict
What you should know
- See every app currently granted Contacts, Calendars, or Reminders access
- Revoke access for any app with a single toggle
- New requests trigger a permission prompt the first time an app tries to read this data
- Separate lists exist for Contacts, Calendars, and Reminders under Privacy & Security
Why it matters
Contacts and calendar data are among the most sensitive categories of personal information on a Mac, since they reveal relationships, schedules, and often physical addresses or phone numbers of people who never consented to have an app access their information. Reviewing this list periodically helps catch apps that requested access for a one-time feature but retained it indefinitely. It's especially relevant after removing an app, since access grants can sometimes persist as stale entries until manually cleared.
Best practices
- Revoke access for any app you no longer actively use that appears in this list.
- Be cautious granting Contacts access to lesser-known apps, since exported contact data can't be easily 'taken back' once shared.
- Review this list after installing a new productivity or social app that requested broad permissions during setup.
Common problems and fixes
- An app stops syncing contacts after being toggled off here.
- This is expected behavior; re-enable access if the app genuinely needs it for a feature you use.
- A removed app still appears in the list.
- Stale entries sometimes remain until a restart or macOS periodically cleans the list; it can typically be ignored since the app can no longer access anything.
Tips and tricks
- Check this list right after granting permission to a new app if you're unsure exactly what you agreed to.
Frequently asked questions
Does revoking access delete data the app already has?
No, it only prevents future access; any data the app already synced or stored remains until you delete it within that app.
Will I be asked again if I revoke and the app tries again?
Yes, the app will trigger a new permission prompt the next time it attempts access.
Related settings
- App PermissionsBeyond camera and microphone, macOS tracks separate permissions for things like Full Disk Access, Files & Folders, Automation, Accessibility, and Local Network — each controlling exactly what a specific app is allowed to see or control on your Mac.
- Camera & Microphone PrivacyPrivacy & Security settings let you review and control exactly which apps are allowed to use your Mac's camera and microphone, so you always know what has access to audio and video.
- Privacy & SecurityThe Privacy & Security settings pane is the central hub for controlling app permissions, FileVault encryption, Gatekeeper protections, Lockdown Mode, and analytics sharing — essentially every major security and data-access decision on your Mac in one place.
More Privacy & Security guides for macOS
- FileVault Disk EncryptionFileVault encrypts the entire startup disk on your Mac, so your data stays protected even if the device is lost or stolen. Only someone with your password or recovery key can unlock and read the disk.
- Activation Lock (Find My Mac)Activation Lock automatically protects your Mac the moment Find My Mac is turned on, requiring your Apple Account password or device passcode before anyone can turn off Find My, erase the Mac, or reactivate it after an erase — making a lost or stolen Mac far less useful to whoever has it.
- Location ServicesManage system-wide Location Services and grant or deny individual apps and system features permission to use your Mac's estimated location.
- Full Disk AccessAuthorize specific apps, usually backup, security, or automation tools, to read protected locations across your entire disk that are normally off-limits.
- Screen Recording PermissionControl which apps are allowed to record or capture the contents of your screen, a permission required by screen-sharing, recording, and streaming tools.
- Apple AdvertisingTurn Personalized Ads on or off to control whether Apple uses your activity within its own apps, like the App Store and News, to show more relevant advertising.