PFS Installer Permissions

PFS Installer Displays Errors on Launch or During Installation

If the PFS Installer is not opening, immediately closing, or showing permission-related errors, this is typically caused by incorrect macOS folder permissions.

The installer relies on a specific folder structure with Read & Write access in order to properly download and install plugins.

Before you begin

Make sure you are logged into an Administrator account on your Mac.

• If you are not an admin user, you will need an administrator to enter their password during setup
• Without admin access, the installer may not be able to create or modify required folders

Step 1: Test the Installer

• Open the PFS Installer from your Applications folder
• If it opens and shows the login screen, the folder structure is likely correct and may just require a permissions check → skip to Step 5
• If a permissions error appears or the installer closes immediately, continue to Step 2

Step 2: Check the folder structure

Navigate to:

Macintosh HD → Applications

Look for a folder named:
Pixel Film Studios

Inside, you should see exactly three folders:

• Log
• PFS-Download
• Plugins

If this exact structure exists, skip to Step 4.
If not, continue to Step 3.

Step 3: Fix missing or incorrect folders

Choose the scenario that matches your setup:

A) Only a “Plugins” folder exists

• Backup the contents of the Plugins folder to your Desktop
• Delete the entire Pixel Film Studios folder

B) The folder exists but is empty

• Delete the Pixel Film Studios folder

C) The folder does not exist

• No action needed here

Then proceed to Step 4.

Step 4: Recreate the correct folder structure

1. Create a new folder named:
   Pixel Film Studios
2. Inside it, create three folders exactly named:
   • Log
   • PFS-Download
   • Plugins
3. Move the Pixel Film Studios folder into:
   Applications

Step 5: Set proper permissions

1. Right-click the Pixel Film Studios folder → select Get Info
2. Scroll to the Sharing & Permissions section
3. Click the lock 🔒 and enter the admin password

4. Ensure both:

   • Your user
   • The admin user (Administrators, admin)

   are listed with Read & Write access

5. If needed, click + to add users and update permissions

Step 6: Apply permissions to all folders

• Click the options menu (••• or gear icon) in the permissions section
• Select “Apply to enclosed items”

This ensures all subfolders inherit the correct permissions.

Final steps

• Open the PFS Installer again
• Log into your account
• Go to the My Downloads tab and install a product

If you previously backed up your Plugins folder, you can now move those files back into the new Plugins folder.

Important notes

• After your first login, restart the installer to fully load your library
• Make sure your device is activated in the Devices section of the installer
• If issues persist, carefully recheck folder names and permissions—small mismatches can cause failures

If plugins are still not installing, also verify the structure and permissions of your Motion Templates folder:
👉 https://pixelfilmstudios.kb.help/pfs-installer-my-plugins-arent-installing/ 

Once these steps are completed, the PFS Installer should open normally and allow you to install your plugins without issue.