Shortcuts: External drive folders greyed out

Question

fluxxy1245 Author

Level 1

7 points

Shortcuts: External drive folders greyed out

Hi

Id' like to create some automations in the shortcuts app, especially some folder automations.

In the shortcuts app, I select 'automation', then I click on + to create a new automation

I select the Folder automation and click next.

In the right corner I can click on 'choose folder'.

When I select my folder, which is on an external drive, all folders are greyed out.

I tried several solutions I found on the net.

Settings > Privacy & security > Full disc acces > adding shortcuts app in this list
checking if folder or root folder is locked, not the case
checking permissions, it is on Read & write

What else can I do

Running macOS 26.1 / mac Studio M4

Posted on Nov 28, 2025 8:37 AM

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Answer 1

Barney-15E

Level 10

122,048 points

Nov 28, 2025 7:00 PM in response to fluxxy1245

It doesn't appear you can set them up for folders on external drives.

You can use Folder Action Setup to add an AppleScript action to an external drive folder. I don't know if it will function as I didn't go that far.

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Answer 2

fluxxy1245 Author

Level 1

7 points

Nov 29, 2025 12:05 AM in response to Luis Sequeira1

Here are 2 screenshots

I can't select the folder that needs to be watched

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Answer 3

Nov 28, 2025 11:24 AM in response to fluxxy1245

Can you post a screenshot of what you are trying to achieve?

There may be a translation problem, as you keep talking about "automation", "Folder automation" and I am having trouble determining exactly what that is. There are several "actions" involving folders, but no "Folder automation" that I can find.

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