FileFreeze
Freeze files in time without Locking them
macOS has allowed users to Lock files in the Finder for quite some time. This prevents applications and users from writing over the file. However, not all software is designed to handle a locked file well. Enter FileFreeze.
FileFreeze allows users to freeze a file instead of locking it. Applications are allowed to write over the file, but FileFreeze will put the archived version back into place when it sees a change. This can be a more friendly way to "Lock" files.
Please note that FileFreeze needs Full Disk Access to operate.
How do I use FileFreeze?
To freeze a file in its current state click the Plus button in the toolbar and select a file. Alternatively, you may drag a file from Finder into the freeze list window.
To remove a freeze and allow a file to be changed by other applications, select the file in the list and press the Minus button in the toolbar.
System Requirements
10.14 (Mojave) — 13.4 (Ventura)
Support
FileFreeze is free to use!
If you have any questions or need help, please feel free to send an email.
What might I want to do?
FileFreeze was initially built to lock Xojo UI State files. Xojo crashes if you use the Finder Lock feature on a UI State file. Freezing a file instead of locking it is a great way to help any application that's struggling with locked files.
known_hosts file comes in handy. While building Lifeboat I end up connecting to a lot of different servers. I lock the known_hosts file to just the ones I actually want to be saved.