diff --git a/downloadthread.cpp b/downloadthread.cpp
index c0d1c3a..cabf308 100644
--- a/downloadthread.cpp
+++ b/downloadthread.cpp
@@ -171,8 +171,17 @@ bool DownloadThread::_openAndPrepareDevice()
 #ifdef Q_OS_DARWIN
     _filename.replace("/dev/disk", "/dev/rdisk");
 
-    if (!_file.authOpen(_filename)) {
-        emit error(tr("Error running authopen to gain access to disk device '%1'").arg(QString(_filename)));
+    auto authopenresult = _file.authOpen(_filename);
+
+    if (authopenresult == _file.authOpenCancelled) {
+        /* User cancelled authentication */
+        emit error(tr("Authentication cancelled"));
+        return false;
+    } else if (authopenresult == _file.authOpenError) {
+        QString msg = tr("Error running authopen to gain access to disk device '%1'").arg(QString(_filename));
+        msg += "<br>"+tr("Please verify if 'Raspberry Pi Imager' is allowed access to 'removable volumes' in privacy settings (under 'files and folders' or alternatively give it 'full disk access').");
+        QProcess::execute("open x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.security?Privacy_AllFiles");
+        emit error(msg);
         return false;
     }
 #else
diff --git a/mac/macfile.cpp b/mac/macfile.cpp
index 7f890b9..91529db 100644
--- a/mac/macfile.cpp
+++ b/mac/macfile.cpp
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ bool MacFile::isSequential() const
     return false;
 }
 
-bool MacFile::authOpen(const QByteArray &filename)
+MacFile::authOpenResult MacFile::authOpen(const QByteArray &filename)
 {
     int fd = -1;
 
@@ -34,13 +34,13 @@ bool MacFile::authOpen(const QByteArray &filename)
             kAuthorizationFlagPreAuthorize;
     AuthorizationRef authRef;
     if (AuthorizationCreate(&rights, nullptr, flags, &authRef) != 0)
-        return false;
+        return authOpenCancelled;
 
     AuthorizationExternalForm externalForm;
     if (AuthorizationMakeExternalForm(authRef, &externalForm) != 0)
     {
         AuthorizationFree(authRef, 0);
-        return false;
+        return authOpenError;
     }
 
     const char *cmd = "/usr/libexec/authopen";
@@ -110,17 +110,17 @@ bool MacFile::authOpen(const QByteArray &filename)
         if (wpid == -1)
         {
             qDebug() << "waitpid() failed executing authopen";
-            return false;
+            return authOpenError;
         }
         if (WEXITSTATUS(status))
         {
             qDebug() << "authopen returned failure code" << WEXITSTATUS(status);
-            return false;
+            return authOpenError;
         }
 
         qDebug() << "fd received:" << fd;
     }
     AuthorizationFree(authRef, 0);
 
-    return open(fd, QIODevice::ReadWrite | QIODevice::ExistingOnly | QIODevice::Unbuffered, QFileDevice::AutoCloseHandle);
+    return open(fd, QIODevice::ReadWrite | QIODevice::ExistingOnly | QIODevice::Unbuffered, QFileDevice::AutoCloseHandle) ? authOpenSuccess : authOpenError;
 }
diff --git a/mac/macfile.h b/mac/macfile.h
index 6bc842a..b24dd3d 100644
--- a/mac/macfile.h
+++ b/mac/macfile.h
@@ -12,9 +12,11 @@ class MacFile : public QFile
 {
     Q_OBJECT
 public:
+    enum authOpenResult {authOpenCancelled, authOpenSuccess, authOpenError };
+
     MacFile(QObject *parent = nullptr);
     virtual bool isSequential() const;
-    bool authOpen(const QByteArray &filename);
+    authOpenResult authOpen(const QByteArray &filename);
 };
 
 #endif // MACFILE_H