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Troubleshooting the macOS Device Control and Data Access or Accessibility permission

Updated

Written for Synergy 3 (v3.7.2) and Synergy 1 (v1.21.4), checked 3 October 2026.

Operating system: macOS

Products: Synergy 1, Synergy 3

If Synergy 1 or Synergy 3 stops sharing your keyboard and mouse on a Mac, remove it from the macOS permission list and add it back, using the steps below. On macOS 27 Golden Gate and later the list is called Device Control and Data Access; on earlier versions it's Accessibility.

macOS sometimes breaks this permission without showing an error (for example, when a macOS update is installed). Your settings may look fine, with Synergy 1 or Synergy 3 switched on, while macOS is actually ignoring it.

Synergy 3 tells you when it doesn't have the permission: it shows a macOS permissions window with an Open privacy settings button that takes you to the right list. When the Mac is sharing its keyboard and mouse, the Synergy 1 log shows this line instead:

assistive devices does not trust this process, allow it in system settings.

macOS 27 Golden Gate and later

  1. Click the Apple icon (top left)
  2. Click System Settings
  3. Click Privacy & Security
  4. Click Device Control and Data Access

macOS 13 Ventura to macOS 26 Tahoe

  1. Click the Apple icon (top left)
  2. Click System Settings
  3. Click Privacy & Security
  4. Click Accessibility

macOS 12 Monterey

  1. Click the Apple icon (top left)
  2. Click System Preferences
  3. Click Security & Privacy
  4. Click the Privacy tab
  5. Click Accessibility
  6. Click the lock and enter your password to make changes

Troubleshooting steps

If Synergy is not switched on in the Device Control and Data Access or Accessibility list, switch it on and then restart Synergy 1 or Synergy 3.

If it still isn't working after that:

  1. Quit Synergy 1 or Synergy 3 from its icon in the menu bar (Exit in Synergy 3, Quit in Synergy 1)
  2. Open the Device Control and Data Access or Accessibility list, as above
  3. Select Synergy and click the minus button to remove it from the list
  4. Open Synergy 1 or Synergy 3 again, and switch it on when macOS asks

If the problem is still not resolved after doing this, uninstall it, remove its entry from the list, reboot, and then reinstall:

  1. Quit Synergy 1 or Synergy 3 from its menu bar icon
  2. Delete Synergy from your Applications folder
  3. Go to Device Control and Data Access or Accessibility
  4. Remove Synergy from the list
  5. Reboot your Mac
  6. Install Synergy 1 or Synergy 3 again
  7. Open it and switch it on when macOS asks

One last thing to try before getting in touch with us...

Warning: Only attempt this last step if you are familiar with the Terminal app. It resets this permission for every app on your Mac, not just Synergy 1 or Synergy 3, so you'll need to allow your other apps again afterwards.

Try running the following command from the Terminal app:

sudo tccutil reset Accessibility

Still not working? Please get in touch with us.

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