sqlite3.DatabaseError: authorization denied

[pimduin]

Running the exporter returns the following error:

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/Users/p/Library/Python/3.9/bin/wtsexporter", line 8, in <module>
    sys.exit(main())
  File "/Users/p/Library/Python/3.9/lib/python/site-packages/Whatsapp_Chat_Exporter/__main__.py", line 271, in main
    extract_iphone_media.extract_media(args.backup)
  File "/Users/p/Library/Python/3.9/lib/python/site-packages/Whatsapp_Chat_Exporter/extract_iphone_media.py", line 65, in extract_media
    if is_encrypted(base_dir):
  File "/Users/p/Library/Python/3.9/lib/python/site-packages/Whatsapp_Chat_Exporter/extract_iphone_media.py", line 50, in is_encrypted
    with sqlite3.connect(os.path.join(base_dir, "Manifest.db")) as f:
sqlite3.DatabaseError: authorization denied

It's an unencrypted backup, on MacOS.

Trying to opening the Manifest.db using the sqlite3 command does not seem to work. I suspect that may be the cause of the problem (?)

sudo sqlite3 Manifest.db
Password:
Error: unable to open database "Manifest.db": unable to open database file

I have tried deleting the backup, running the backup again, but I seem to get the same errors every time.

[KnugiHK]

Seems to be something related to the security mechanism of macOS. Try to see if access to the directory or file is blocked.

[pimduin]

Thanks! Copying the backup directory to a subfolder of my home folder did the trick. Not sure what was stopping the export from working, but I guess that's a problem on my side rather than a bug in the WhatsApp-Chat-Exporter.