Yes — Accessibility. The Grammarly desktop app uses macOS Accessibility access to read and edit the text you type across other apps. That's how it checks your writing everywhere — but Accessibility is a powerful permission, so it's worth understanding before you grant it. To check on your Mac, open System Settings, go to Privacy & Security, and review the Camera, Microphone, Screen & System Audio Recording, Accessibility, and Full Disk Access lists for Grammarly.
Writing Assistant
Yes — Accessibility. The Grammarly desktop app uses macOS Accessibility access to read and edit the text you type across other apps. That's how it checks your writing everywhere — but Accessibility is a powerful permission, so it's worth understanding before you grant it.
“Used” = needed for a core feature · “Optional” = only for a specific feature · “No” = not normally requested
Accessibility lets Grammarly see the text fields you're typing in (in Mail, Notion, Slack, etc.) so it can suggest corrections inline. It does not need camera, mic, or screen access.
Accessibility is the same permission a keylogger would want — an app with it can read what you type. Grammarly is a known company, but if you don't use the system-wide app, you can remove its Accessibility access and use the browser extension instead.
Mostly no. 1Password does not need your screen or microphone. It may request Accessibility to autofi...
Yes — Accessibility, and only that. Rectangle uses macOS Accessibility access to move and resize you...
Only when websites ask. Chrome requests Camera, Microphone, and Screen Recording at the macOS level ...
With Accessibility access, the desktop app can read text in the fields you're actively editing in other apps — that's how inline suggestions work. If that's more than you want, revoke Accessibility and use the browser extension.
No, but it relies on the same Accessibility permission keyloggers use. The difference is disclosed, opt-in functionality. Treat any app holding Accessibility access seriously and only grant it to software you trust.
A free CoreLock Security Score lists every app with screen-recording, mic, camera, accessibility, or full-disk access — and flags the risky ones — in about 60 seconds.
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