Official documentation
System Integrity Protection (Apple Platform Security)
Apple, 2026
Read the originalRead on October 16, 2026
- What it is
- Apple's platform security guide describes System Integrity Protection, the macOS feature that restricts changes to protected system locations and applies to every running process. It is the primary description of what the setting protects.
- How much weight it carries
- Written by Apple, the maker of macOS. It describes the feature in general terms and does not give step-by-step instructions for changing it, so it is a source for what the protection does, not for how to turn it off.
Facts taken from this source
- Apple says macOS applies System Integrity Protection's security policy to every process running on the system.
“macOS applies this security policy to every process running on the system” (System Integrity Protection)
- On an Intel-based Mac, Apple says turning off System Integrity Protection removes protection for all partitions on the physical storage device.
“On an Intel-based Mac, turning off SIP removes protection for all partitions on the physical storage device.” (System Integrity Protection)
- Apple says System Integrity Protection restricts components to read-only in specific critical file system locations.
“SIP restricts components to read-only in specific critical file system locations” (System Integrity Protection)