Well, I didn't pose it in the form of a question, but the answer is there. Be sure to see that the user is listed as a Valid user in the smb.conf (located in /etc/samba/ on my linux machine).

Answer from Steve L on Stack Overflow
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/selfhosted › smb share only works in read-only
r/selfhosted on Reddit: SMB share only works in read-only
February 17, 2024 -

I am new to Linux and tried to make a Samba share, to access files on an external hard drive (ext4), mounted on my Linux system, from a mac and a PC. I followed the steps on Ubuntu's website, and I can navigate in the share, but only in read-only. I would like all my shares to work with read-write permissions to the designated users.

Here is my smb.conf file:

#
# Sample configuration file for the Samba suite for Debian GNU/Linux.
#
#
# This is the main Samba configuration file. You should read the
# smb.conf(5) manual page in order to understand the options listed
# here. Samba has a huge number of configurable options most of which 
# are not shown in this example
#
# Some options that are often worth tuning have been included as
# commented-out examples in this file.
#  - When such options are commented with ";", the proposed setting
#    differs from the default Samba behaviour
#  - When commented with "#", the proposed setting is the default
#    behaviour of Samba but the option is considered important
#    enough to be mentioned here
#
# NOTE: Whenever you modify this file you should run the command
# "testparm" to check that you have not made any basic syntactic 
# errors. 

#======================= Global Settings =======================

[global]

create mask = 0644
directory mask = 0755

## Browsing/Identification ###

# Change this to the workgroup/NT-domain name your Samba server will part of
   workgroup = WORKGROUP

# server string is the equivalent of the NT Description field
   server string = %h server (Samba, Ubuntu)

#### Networking ####

# The specific set of interfaces / networks to bind to
# This can be either the interface name or an IP address/netmask;
# interface names are normally preferred
;   interfaces = 127.0.0.0/8 eth0

# Only bind to the named interfaces and/or networks; you must use the
# 'interfaces' option above to use this.
# It is recommended that you enable this feature if your Samba machine is
# not protected by a firewall or is a firewall itself.  However, this
# option cannot handle dynamic or non-broadcast interfaces correctly.
;   bind interfaces only = yes



#### Debugging/Accounting ####

# This tells Samba to use a separate log file for each machine
# that connects
   log file = /var/log/samba/log.%m

# Cap the size of the individual log files (in KiB).
   max log size = 1000

# We want Samba to only log to /var/log/samba/log.{smbd,nmbd}.
# Append syslog@1 if you want important messages to be sent to syslog too.
   logging = file

# Do something sensible when Samba crashes: mail the admin a backtrace
   panic action = /usr/share/samba/panic-action %d


####### Authentication #######

# Server role. Defines in which mode Samba will operate. Possible
# values are "standalone server", "member server", "classic primary
# domain controller", "classic backup domain controller", "active
# directory domain controller". 
#
# Most people will want "standalone server" or "member server".
# Running as "active directory domain controller" will require first
# running "samba-tool domain provision" to wipe databases and create a
# new domain.
   server role = standalone server

   obey pam restrictions = yes

# This boolean parameter controls whether Samba attempts to sync the Unix
# password with the SMB password when the encrypted SMB password in the
# passdb is changed.
   unix password sync = yes

# For Unix password sync to work on a Debian GNU/Linux system, the following
# parameters must be set (thanks to Ian Kahan <<kahan@informatik.tu-muenchen.de> for
# sending the correct chat script for the passwd program in Debian Sarge).
   passwd program = /usr/bin/passwd %u
   passwd chat = *Enter\snew\s*\spassword:* %n\n *Retype\snew\s*\spassword:* %n\n *password\supdated\ssuccessfully* .

# This boolean controls whether PAM will be used for password changes
# when requested by an SMB client instead of the program listed in
# 'passwd program'. The default is 'no'.
   pam password change = yes

# This option controls how unsuccessful authentication attempts are mapped
# to anonymous connections
   map to guest = bad user

########## Domains ###########

#
# The following settings only takes effect if 'server role = classic
# primary domain controller', 'server role = classic backup domain controller'
# or 'domain logons' is set 
#

# It specifies the location of the user's
# profile directory from the client point of view) The following
# required a [profiles] share to be setup on the samba server (see
# below)
;   logon path = \\%N\profiles\%U
# Another common choice is storing the profile in the user's home directory
# (this is Samba's default)
#   logon path = \\%N\%U\profile

# The following setting only takes effect if 'domain logons' is set
# It specifies the location of a user's home directory (from the client
# point of view)
;   logon drive = H:
#   logon home = \\%N\%U

# The following setting only takes effect if 'domain logons' is set
# It specifies the script to run during logon. The script must be stored
# in the [netlogon] share
# NOTE: Must be store in 'DOS' file format convention
;   logon script = logon.cmd

# This allows Unix users to be created on the domain controller via the SAMR
# RPC pipe.  The example command creates a user account with a disabled Unix
# password; please adapt to your needs
; add user script = /usr/sbin/adduser --quiet --disabled-password --gecos "" %u

# This allows machine accounts to be created on the domain controller via the 
# SAMR RPC pipe.  
# The following assumes a "machines" group exists on the system
; add machine script  = /usr/sbin/useradd -g machines -c "%u machine account" -d /var/lib/samba -s /bin/false %u

# This allows Unix groups to be created on the domain controller via the SAMR
# RPC pipe.  
; add group script = /usr/sbin/addgroup --force-badname %g

############ Misc ############

# Using the following line enables you to customise your configuration
# on a per machine basis. The %m gets replaced with the netbios name
# of the machine that is connecting
;   include = /home/samba/etc/smb.conf.%m

# Some defaults for winbind (make sure you're not using the ranges
# for something else.)
;   idmap config * :              backend = tdb
;   idmap config * :              range   = 3000-7999
;   idmap config YOURDOMAINHERE : backend = tdb
;   idmap config YOURDOMAINHERE : range   = 100000-999999
;   template shell = /bin/bash

# Setup usershare options to enable non-root users to share folders
# with the net usershare command.

# Maximum number of usershare. 0 means that usershare is disabled.
#   usershare max shares = 100

# Allow users who've been granted usershare privileges to create
# public shares, not just authenticated ones
   usershare allow guests = yes

#======================= Share Definitions =======================

# Un-comment the following (and tweak the other settings below to suit)
# to enable the default home directory shares. This will share each
# user's home directory as \\server\username
;[homes]
;   comment = Home Directories
;   browseable = no

# By default, the home directories are exported read-only. Change the
# next parameter to 'no' if you want to be able to write to them.
;   read only = yes

# File creation mask is set to 0700 for security reasons. If you want to
# create files with group=rw permissions, set next parameter to 0775.
;   create mask = 0700

# Directory creation mask is set to 0700 for security reasons. If you want to
# create dirs. with group=rw permissions, set next parameter to 0775.
;   directory mask = 0700

# By default, \\server\username shares can be connected to by anyone
# with access to the samba server.
# Un-comment the following parameter to make sure that only "username"
# can connect to \\server\username
# This might need tweaking when using external authentication schemes
;   valid users = %S

# Un-comment the following and create the netlogon directory for Domain Logons
# (you need to configure Samba to act as a domain controller too.)
;[netlogon]
;   comment = Network Logon Service
;   path = /home/samba/netlogon
;   guest ok = yes
;   read only = yes

# Un-comment the following and create the profiles directory to store
# users profiles (see the "logon path" option above)
# (you need to configure Samba to act as a domain controller too.)
# The path below should be writable by all users so that their
# profile directory may be created the first time they log on
;[profiles]
;   comment = Users profiles
;   path = /home/samba/profiles
;   guest ok = no
;   browseable = no
;   create mask = 0600
;   directory mask = 0700

[printers]
   comment = All Printers
   browseable = no
   path = /var/spool/samba
   printable = yes
   guest ok = no
   read only = yes
   create mask = 0700

# Windows clients look for this share name as a source of downloadable
# printer drivers
[print$]
   comment = Printer Drivers
   path = /var/lib/samba/printers
   browseable = yes
   read only = yes
   guest ok = no
# Uncomment to allow remote administration of Windows print drivers.
# You may need to replace 'lpadmin' with the name of the group your
# admin users are members of.
# Please note that you also need to set appropriate Unix permissions
# to the drivers directory for these users to have write rights in it
;   write list = root, @lpadmin

[MOVIES]
    comment = MOVIES
    path = /media/MOVIES
    read only = no
    browsable = yes
    valid users = admin, myusername
    write list = admin, myusername

[DATA]
    comment = DATA
    path = /media/DATA
    read only = no
    browsable = yes
    valid users = admin, myusername
    write list = admin, myusername

[PUBLIC]
    comment = PUBLIC
    path = /media/DATA/PUBLIC
    read only = no
    browsable = yes
    valid users = admin, myusername, public
    write list = admin, myusername, public

Discussions

Samba SMB shares are read only now in Fil… - Apple Community
At present, with iOS 14.6, I can ... to read or write. Meanwhile, the same Samba server continues to function with my Win7 and Win10 machines, unimpeded. I don't have any more information to share, other than I'm frustrated with iOS and Apple. ... The only thing I can add from looking at my SMB logs is that it seems ... More on discussions.apple.com
🌐 discussions.apple.com
Mixed OSX with SMB- Now monterey - Read only issues | MacRumors Forums
Hi, i am a technician in UK. (I may put this on other forms to) I have a customer who has been dogged by "read only" issues on SMB shares. Network = 10 iMacs (not AD joined, just "connect to server") 1 x Windows Server 2016 SMB share Users work as "standard users" and dont have admin to... More on forums.macrumors.com
🌐 forums.macrumors.com
September 6, 2022
Smb share works fine read/write and then is only read-only from MacOS after some period of time for the same user/configuration - General Support - Unraid
Hi there, it is a really annoying behavior between my Mac computers and Unraid server. Have SMB configured for the file shares with a user with read and write rights. Everything works fine, you can access the share from MacOS and read/write files. Then you let the server as-is for some weeks, you... More on forums.unraid.net
🌐 forums.unraid.net
September 30, 2024
Cannot mount as RW(readwrite) on macOS, but Windows works
I am expecting to setup an Samba service that can be accessd without password and any one can have Read Write access. As this service is working in my home network, security is not a problem. My Windows PC can access this Samba share and can R/W files and folders. But my macOS can only mount is ... More on github.com
🌐 github.com
4
March 1, 2022
🌐
Apple Community
discussions.apple.com › thread › 252772242
Samba SMB shares are read only now in Fil… - Apple Community
I had the same issue after the latest iOS upgrade (14.4 -> 14.6) and what helped in my case was to adjust the smb.conf as described here under [Global]: https://wiki.samba.org/index.php/Configure_Samba_to_Work_Better_with_Mac_OS_X · I just skipped the 'min protocol = SMB2' setting as I still have some clients only capable of SMB1. ... I have 3 more iPhones that are still on iOS 14.4 and they all continue to work as usual. As a workaround, I have switched to using a third party app Documents by Readdle.
🌐
MacRumors
forums.macrumors.com › macs › macos › macos
Mixed OSX with SMB- Now monterey - Read only issues | MacRumors Forums
September 6, 2022 - Then Rright-click on the shared drive, and choose Properties. Go to Security tab. Click Advanced, then Change Permissions.Highlight the user who is used by the Macs to access (if necessary create a user for this beforehand), and click Edit. Choose This folder, subfolders and files under Applies to: Choose Full Control under Basic Permissions.
🌐
Unraid
forums.unraid.net › home › unraid os support › general support › smb share works fine read/write and then is only read-only from macos after some period of time for the same user/configuration
Smb share works fine read/write and then is only read-only from MacOS after some period of time for the same user/configuration - General Support - Unraid
September 30, 2024 - Hi there, it is a really annoying behavior between my Mac computers and Unraid server. Have SMB configured for the file shares with a user with read and write rights. Everything works fine, you can access the share from MacOS and read/write files. Then you let the server as-is for some weeks, you...
🌐
GitHub
github.com › dperson › samba › issues › 411
Cannot mount as RW(readwrite) on macOS, but Windows works · Issue #411 · dperson/samba GitHub
March 1, 2022 - I am expecting to setup an Samba service that can be accessd without password and any one can have Read Write access. As this service is working in my home network, security is not a problem. My Windows PC can access this Samba share and can R/W files and folders. But my macOS can only mount is ...
Author   dperson
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Samba
lists.samba.org › archive › samba › 2020-January › 227838.html
[Samba] read only mount on Mac OS Catalina
January 22, 2020 - The fix is to set up two shares: [share] path = /dir1/dir2 read only = no [share2] path = /dir1/dir2/user read only = no If there are multiple 'user' paths, replace 'user' with '%U' Rowland · Previous message (by thread): [Samba] read only mount on Mac OS Catalina
Find elsewhere
🌐
Apple Community
discussions.apple.com › thread › 8260158
SMB Mount turning into Read Only - Apple Community
February 13, 2018 - I'm pretty Mac savvy and I've tried all the basic things. I Googled the issue and tried what was suggested but it didn't work for me. Any suggestions? 1640 4 ... Yes, unmounting/remounting will fix the issue. But at some random point, the network drive will become read only again.
🌐
Reddit
reddit.com › r/macos › macos 12.x smb permissions issues
r/MacOS on Reddit: MacOS 12.x SMB Permissions Issues
August 8, 2022 -

I have a client environment where their "server" is running MacOS 12.3.1 and is sharing out folders using SMB with permissions -

User - read/write
Staff (group) - read/write
Everyone - read/write

When a Mac client connects to smb:/IPADDRESS/Share it mounts as expected. They can modify their own files and create new folders and files. However when a different user or Mac client connects they show permissions -

User - read only
Everyone - read only

So the Everyone permission doesn't appear to be working. The catch here is this ONLY affects the Mac clients. Windows clients connecting to the same server and shares have the permissions -

User - read/write
Everyone - read/write

I've searched for this issue and found many SMB issues with MacOS 12 but nothing about this exact situation. They are all about settings SMB permissions or revoking them. I tried revoking permissions and setting up from scratch, same issue. Tried revoking permissions, creating NEW user on client so it forces login, same issue. I'm stumped.

I've followed Apple KB to enable SMB2/3, same issues.

It gets more odd, when you are on the Mac client and create a new file/folder and check the permissions on the server, it should be read/write for everything BUT, it's not!

User - read/write
Staff (group) - read only
Everyone - read only

This leads me to wonder if the issue is with the Mac clients and not the server but I don't know what logs to gather to confirm this since it is working on Windows clients. Any suggestions?

🌐
The Mac Observer
macobserver.com › home › tips › how-to › [fixed] files/folders on smb server read only in ios 18/18.5
[Fixed] Files/Folders on SMB Server Read Only in iOS 18/18.5 - The Mac Observer
September 28, 2025 - Add or confirm this line under the shared folder’s section: read only = no. Restart Samba with: sudo systemctl restart smbd.
🌐
Apple Community
discussions.apple.com › thread › 1449801
Files copy from Samba share as read-only - Apple Community
Even though the folders were ... line in the conf file: guest account = nobody Since SMB reads the files as nobody, it inherits and passes across the permissions of 644 for each file as nobody, setting the file as read only....
🌐
Apple Community
discussions.apple.com › thread › 1196340
Windows SMB Shares Read Only? - Apple Community
April 25, 2008 - Well if the volume is NTFS, plugging it in locally would only allow it to be read only (i'm pretty sure?) because Mac only supports READ ONLY with ntfs volumes when they're connected directly to it. Shares are a different story though. Although I wonder if the fact that its NTFS has some sort of problem...
🌐
Reddit
reddit.com › r/ios › smb read only !?
r/ios on Reddit: SMB read only !?
December 29, 2024 -

Simple Problem:

After updating to ios 18 i my smb nas is read only via Files App. Other tools can access my nas and write data.

So i waited for 18.2. Nothing fixed!

Anybody any Information about that? I will ask apple, but mostly they do not care.

🌐
Microsoft Learn
learn.microsoft.com › en-us › answers › questions › 4842058 › files-read-only-on-linux-samba-fileshare-how-do-i
Files read-only on LINUX Samba fileshare. How do I set permissions properly? - Microsoft Q&A
January 2, 2014 - Since my organization has 400+ Macs that are not centrally managed (another long story) this is not practical. I have since found that this issue can be resolved by disabling SMB2/3 functionality in smb.conf, going back to the standard CIFS or NT1 protocol on the server. Although this is less than ideal as SMB2/3 has a lot of new features that improve performance, using Samba4 is hands down faster than AFP in almost every scenario.
🌐
Raspberry Pi Forums
forums.raspberrypi.com › board index › projects › networking and servers
[SOLVED]SAMBA: Can read but can't write to shared drive - Raspberry Pi Forums
The permission is now: ... 13107201 drwxrwxrwx 2 root root 4.0K Dec 20 09:19 shares While /media/USBHDD1/shares had the above permissions, I found that /media/USBHDD1 had the following permissions: ... 2 drwx------ 4 pi pi 4.0K Dec 20 07:39 USBHDD1 After chmod 777 on /media/USBHDD1, things seem to be working. I can read/write from both my Mac and PC.
🌐
Apple Community
discussions.apple.com › thread › 251103879
SMB Shares Suddenly Read Only - Apple Community
February 4, 2020 - I have had a local samba server running for a few months that I would connect to with my iPad and recently my MacBook. Everything was working fine until today - I tried to connect with my iPhone to find that it was now read only. Checking with my other devices, it is suddenly read only for my iPad, but not for my MacBook. All three are connected with the same account information. ... iOS Read Only after copying files from SMB Hey there, On my MBP I have shared ...