Auto update isn't working in VSCode: Could not create temporary directory: Permission denied

Question

From certain point I started getting this error from time to time(I suppose it fires when editor tries to check for updates), and manual/auto update doesn't work. The only way I can update the editor is re-download the app and replace it manually.

Does someone face same issue and successfully resolved?

Answer 1

Try to type the following commands in a terminal:

cd ~/Library/Caches

sudo chown -R <username>:staff *

Answer 2

The above solution works, but it is like using a sledge hammer to kill a house fly.

1. Go to Caches cd ~/Library/Caches.
2. Check ownership of folders. ls -la
3. You will probably see drwxr--r-- 2 root staff 64 Nov 15 09:37 com.microsoft.VSCode.ShipIt
4. Run sudo chown <username>:staff com.microsoft.VSCode.ShipIt

This allows you to only update that folder owner and won't touch the other folders. You can break over item unexpectedly.

Answer 3

In my case, ~/Library/Caches/com.microsoft.VSCode.ShipIt was owned by root:staff all of a sudden. I fixed it by running the following command:

sudo chown -R $USER:'staff' ~/Library/Caches/com.microsoft.VSCode.ShipIt

(added single quotes around the group name because ZSH didn't like it)