Opening multiple instances of MATLAB causes endless folder access errors

Whenever I try to open two instances of MATLAB, I run into an endless loop of error windows. For example, if I'm running 2022b and I try to start an instance of 2021b, I get this popup message:

“MATLAB_R2021b” would like to access files in your Documents folder.

When I click OK, I get this popup message:

“MATLAB_R2022b” would like to access files in your Documents folder.

When I click OK, I get this popup message:

“MATLAB_R2021b” would like to access files in your Documents folder.

When I click OK, I get this popup message:

“MATLAB_R2022b” would like to access files in your Documents folder.

When I click OK, I get this popup message:

“MATLAB_R2021b” would like to access files in your Documents folder.

When I click OK, I get this popup message:

“MATLAB_R2022b” would like to access files in your Documents folder.

...and so on.

I'm using a Mac OS Monterey 12.6.1.

Does anyone know how to fix this?

[Miguel Garcia-Valenzuela]

Hi Chad!

Did you manage to solve this issue? I'm having the same problem with the 2 Matlab versions (R2019a and R2022a) installed on my Mac using Big Sur 11.7.9.

[Chad Greene]

@Miguel Garcia-Valenzuela Nope, it's still an issue for me!

[Karthik Reddy Lyathakula]

@MathWorks Support Team Did you have a solution for this? I am also facing the same issue on MAC when two versions of MATLAB are open at the same time.

[Mohammad]

same isuee

[Margot]

I have the same issue with matlab 2022b and 2024b. Is there a solution yet?

Answer 1

[Jan]

What about allowing Matlab to access your documents folder?

[Chad Greene]

I've sure tried! When I click OK to allow access for R2022b, a window immediately pops up asking if I should allow access for R2021b, so I click OK, and immediately a window pops up asking me to allow access for R2022b, and so on.

[Jan]

I assume, that starting up Matlab accesses the settings files in the user's Documents folder. If a setting is changes, this might trigger the other instance of Matlab.

I did not meant to allow the access once, but in general. This should be a task for the operating system. Try the control panel for data protrection and security and allow both Matlab versions accessing your Documents folder.

[Chad Greene]

Thanks for your engagement on this, Jan. Unfortunately I can't add both MATLAB_R2021b and MATLAB_R2022b at the same time. Every time I give one of them access to my Documents folder, the other loses access.

[Jan]

This sounds very strange. It should be possible to gain access to several applications.

Which folders inside the Documents folder are concerned?

[Chad Greene]

Chiefly the MATLAB folder is inside the Documents folder.