I am an admin but several preferences are grey and say "your system administrator has not given you access to this preference pane"

Solution 1:

On ElCapitan

With System Prefs not running:

• Go to: Hard Drive Name/Library/Managed Preferences/administrator
• Delete or (rename to *_old) com.apple.systempreferences.plist
• Run System Prefs, all should now be visible

Solution 2:

I have found a work around that is a bit hackish.

You can read the details here: http://walkingtowel.org/2010/02/25/accessing-mac-os-x-leopard-greyed-out-preference-panes/

In case the link goes bad, here are the steps suggested:

1. copy the system prefs app
2. in /Applications/System\ Preferences\ copy.app/Contents/Resources, rename or delete NSPrefPaneGroups.xml
3. Make sure preferences is not running
4. Launch the copied version
5. note the empty pane -> use the view menu (all pane exist here)

Solution 3:

I don't have a fix for 10.11 El Capitan, but I think I know where the problem is. On my system, my IT department put in managed preferences, even for Admin accounts. The list of allowed preferences can be found in /Hard Drive Name/Library/Managed Preferences/User Name/complete.plist

About 3/4 of the way down the file I see the enabled preferences as:

<dict>
    <key>EnabledPreferencePanes</key>
    <dict>
        <key>mcxdomain</key>
        <string>always</string>
        <key>source</key>
        <array>
            <string>mcx_computer_com.apple.systempreferences_1c94dead-4cb3-4a32-8a44-d343a0ef3ce0</string>
            <string>mcx_computer_com.apple.systempreferences_497c6ca0-fd5c-4400-93aa-ece9aa25f397</string>
        </array>
        <key>value</key>
        <array>
            <string>MouseLocator.prefPane</string>
            <string>com.apple.preferences.users</string>
            <string>com.apple.preference.general</string>
            <string>com.apple.preference.universalaccess</string>
            <string>com.apple.preferences.appstore</string>
            <string>com.apple.preferences.Bluetooth</string>
            <string>com.apple.preference.digihub.discs</string>
            <string>com.apple.preference.datetime</string>
            <string>com.apple.preference.desktopscreeneffect</string>
            <string>com.apple.preference.speech</string>
            <string>com.apple.preference.displays</string>
            <string>com.apple.preference.dock</string>
            <string>com.apple.preference.energysaver</string>
            <string>com.apple.preferences.icloud</string>
            <string>com.apple.preference.ink</string>
            <string>com.apple.preferences.internetaccounts</string>
            <string>com.apple.preference.keyboard</string>
            <string>com.apple.Localization</string>
            <string>com.apple.preference.expose</string>
            <string>com.apple.preference.internet</string>
            <string>com.apple.preference.mouse</string>
            <string>com.apple.preference.network</string>
            <string>com.apple.preference.notifications</string>
            <string>com.apple.preferences.parentalcontrols</string>
            <string>com.apple.preference.printfax</string>
            <string>com.apple.preference.security</string>
            <string>com.apple.preferences.softwareupdate</string>
            <string>com.apple.preference.sound</string>
            <string>com.apple.preference.spotlight</string>
            <string>com.apple.preference.startupdisk</string>
            <string>com.apple.prefs.backup</string>
            <string>com.apple.preference.trackpad</string>
            <string>com.oracle.java.JavaControlPanel</string>
            <string>com.mysql.prefpane</string>
        </array>
    </dict>

However, I can't seem to permanently change the file. I've tried copying to my desktop and modifying (both with TextWangler and with Xcode) then moving it back (authentication needed of course) but it doesn't change which preferences are activated when restarting System Preference. I think this file is only read on login. Also, the file reverts back to its original state after I log out and back in, so the changes can't be activated as the file reverts before System Preferences loads it. Is there a way to get System Preferences to re-read the complete.plist file after it is changed?

Solution 4:

Simply restarting the mac seems to have resolved the issue for me. I'm guessing this answer tells what's really going on:

If the other account is logged in (possible if you have "fast user switching" enabled), you will not be able to make any changes to that account from System Preferences, even as administrator. To reset their password, they cannot be logged in. If you can't log that user out, you can restart the computer to force it to be logged out.