Karabiner-elements: "Allow" button in System Preferences does not work

[pschremisl]

hi@all,

following problem in Step 2 of the installation procedure:
-> I press the button "Open System Preferences > Security & Privacy"
-> the window "System Preferences" appears
-> I press the "Allow" button
-> nothing happens
-> the message on the left side of the button and the button itself stay there
-> even after hours and restarts and reinstallations

Any ideas? Many thanks!

System information:
-> macOS version: macOS 10.13
-> Karabiner version: Karabiner-Elements 11.0.0
-> Mac hardware: MacBook Pro

I tried to load the KEXT manually:
mymac:extensions admin$ sudo kextload org.pqrs.driver.Karabiner.VirtualHIDDevice.kext
/Library/Extensions/org.pqrs.driver.Karabiner.VirtualHIDDevice.kext failed to load - (libkern/kext) system policy prevents loading; check the system/kernel logs for errors or try kextutil(8).

I called KEXTUTIL:
mymac:extensions admin$ sudo kextutil org.pqrs.driver.Karabiner.VirtualHIDDevice.kext
Kext rejected due to system policy: Kext rejected due to system policy: Diagnostics for /Library/Extensions/org.pqrs.driver.Karabiner.VirtualHIDDevice.kext:

[tekezo]

There is a report that you cannot allow kext if you are using Screen Sharing.
https://twitter.com/felix_schwarz/status/908690187219283970

[patkoscsaba]

I have the same issue. I am not using Screen Sharing, I am at the computer. Screen sharing is totally disabled. I tried to enable-disable Screen Sharing, doesn't seem to have any effect.
This is annoying like hell...

[patkoscsaba]

So, I figured this out!!! I use magic perf to intercept various touchpad actions. It seems like Apple is obsessed with security. If you have this problem try to disable any apps that my capture and forward clicks. The click must come from the touchpad directly. << pulling my hair out >>

[obriencj]

Also happens if you have SteerMouse installed. You'll have to remove the SteerMouse preference pane and reboot in order to click the Allow button.

[shockey]

@patkoscsaba, thank you! I was having the same issue, and disabling MagicPrefs got it going.

[patkoscsaba]

You are welcome.

On Mon, Oct 16, 2017 at 10:05 PM kyle [e-mail] wrote:

@patkoscsaba https://github.com/patkoscsaba, thank you! I was having
the same issue, and disabling MagicPrefs got it going.

—
You are receiving this because you were mentioned.

Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub
https://github.com/tekezo/Karabiner-Elements/issues/1017#issuecomment-336998931,
or mute the thread
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>

Patkós Csaba
Engineering Team Lead @ Syneto

[msaspence]

Same issue here, but with Witch

[fcomeraz]

I was clicking like crazy that button and nothing happened then I tried clicking with a wacom pen using my wacom tablet and it worked!!! :D (have to say I have MagicPrefs Installed but I didn't have to disable it, since I was able to click the allow button with the tablet)

[4faramita]

Eudic does it, too. If it should help.

[joncpc]

I am having the same problem (OS 10.13, Karabiner Elements 11.3) "allow" button not operating (it turns blue on clicking but white again off-click and nothing happens). I have screen sharing OFF and no trackpad modifying apps that I know of. I have tried restarting in "safe" mode with no other apps running.

The only thing that works is to disable SIP – and I have to leave it disabled because if I restart with it enabled the keyboard changes revert to default. This doesn't seem like a good solution: is there a safer alternative? I really need a one-hand [enter] key on my macBook Pro, preferably the right-hand [alt] key, where it used to be. I would happily pay for an app that does just this (and works).

[maczkus]

Disabling MagicPrefs worked for me as well! Thanks!

[dansanduleac]

Alternatively you can use the keyboard, if you have full keyboard access enabled:

Then just press tab several times until the "Allow" button is highlighted, then press space to activate it.

[woutervanwijk]

omg! This also happens with a (wacom) tablet. I had to use a normal mouse...

[wkoszek]

Thanks guys for posting that. It sucks. I have a remote OSX Jenkins box and I want VirtualBox there, and can't "Allow" Oracle extensions. I tried that:

http://hints.macworld.com/article.php?story=2008051406323031

WIth parameters:

./click -y 470 -x 600

When the Security&Privacy is at the top left corner. No luck.

[wkoszek]

This works for me for clicking "Allow" button via Screen Sharing:

https://gist.github.com/wkoszek/691f41c6ba2edfacc6903d163868b348

@tekezo

[wwvuillemot]

FWIW, I had a similar issue in 10.13.3. It took a few days to find a fix. Namely, Security asked me to "approve" Google for its Google File Stream Drive KEXT. In console, I could see that the keypress event was being rejected. It was ultimately due to the use of a third-party mouse from Logitech. I plugged in my Magic Mouse, click on the "approve" and things started to work as advertised.

[librucha]

Better touch tool make the same problems.

[hdiogenes]

The same thing happens with xGestures – I had to stop it in order to allow Karabiner Elements to run from inside the Security preferences. After that I just started xGestures again. Thank you for the information!

[rogerschlachter]

closed slack and discord and intellij and was able to click it.... 😠

[sv3k]

I have noting of previously mentioned running and still no luck...

[sv3k]

Solved with following steps:

1. Take a full desktop screenshot with System Preferences opened on it.
2. Open it in Preview app and find the button coordinates from upper left corner of the screen.
3. If you have Retina display, divide those coordinates by 2.
4. Open Script Editor and use the coordinates you have in following script (I've put my coordinates):

tell application "System Events" to click at {880, 511}

UPDATE: As suggested by @Evanthx, instead of first 3 steps you can just press ⌘⇧4 (command+shift+4) to switch to the screenshot capturing mode where you can move the mouse cursor and see its coordinates which is much easier.

[Evanthx]

sv3k's answer was the only thing that worked, but if you hit command-shift-4 to take a screenshot, the cursor will give you screen coordinates. That was easier than the screenshot!

[Reed97123]

sv3k's answer also worked for me.

[jsalvatier]

sv3k's answer worked for me even though I wasn't using any click capturing software.

[endobrendo]

Saw this issue today with a Wacom tablet being used as a mouse. Had to remove it and use the system mouse in order to click "Allow" ...

[DaveNOTDavid]

@dansanduleac's solution worked best for me 👍

[AndreiLetyushov]

@dansanduleac's solution is the best!

[romi1502]

@dansanduleac's solution did not work for me. But I discovered that Chrome was the culprit and for some reasins was intercepting trackpad clicks. Just shutting it down made me able to click the alllow button.

[ExProbitasFiducia]

Used @sv3k answer with a couple modifications, used Shif-Cmd-4 to get coordinates @Evanthx, and then did echo "tell application \"System Events\" to click at {x, y}" && osascript click && rm ./click

@AndreiLetyushov that solution may not work for everyone. I tried it on my machine and it did not work.

I'm not using chrome on my machine - I don't have a wacom tablet, and I'm not using screen sharing. Not sure what caused it on my machine.

[rayfoss]

Enabling mouse keys worked for me. The scripting solution failed at "System Events" and trying to use tab on my keyboard just skips over the allow button.

[madAndroid]

sv3k's answer worked for me even though I wasn't using any click capturing software.

Same here .. this is just nuts

[ghost]

Same issue without install any mouse control software.
I'm using mac high sierra 10.13.4, and extension of Tuxera 2018 can't be allow.

[tekezo]

I collect information into this page.
https://pqrs.org/osx/karabiner/help.html#kext-allow-button-does-not-work

The major app which prevents click seems Google Chrome.

[ficus]

Nothing else suggested worked for me. I closed Chrome and was able to click the 'Allow' button. Insane.

OS not optimized for your Mac...

[kohnworkshop]

The only thing that worked for me was closing Google Chrome.
What is chrome doing exactly and why does it need to intercept mouse clicks?

[timblaktu]

Same here, closing Chrome immediately enabled me to click "Allow" in Security & Privacy Prefs..

[jt-github]

The answer provided by @dansanduleac did not work for me. Here are the steps I took, but I suspect that High Sierra disabled keyboard-based access to the "Allow" area as yet another security lockdown to ensure that maligned apps couldn't use accessibility as a back door to allow their own access.

1. Open System Preferences
2. Click on Keyboard
3. Click on the Shortcuts "tab" at the top
4. Click on the All controls radio button at the bottom (under Full Keyboard Access)
5. Click the "Show All" button at the top to get back to all System Preferences
6. Click on Security & Privacy
7. Tab to that damned Allow button - you can't!

Trying the above steps including unlocking first (clicking the lock icon in the lower left corner and entering my credentials) also didn't work.

Closing Chrome also didn't help. In fact, closing EVERYTHING didn't help. Why the hell doesn't Apple at least complain about WHY the button isn't allowing the click, telling us what exact software it's unhappy about!? That's not a question I expect an answer to here; it's more of a complaint that a company who is supposedly _the_ expert on user interfaces really screwed the pooch here.

I had to use the @sv3k script approach (and this worked for me previously, too - I just wanted to see if I could do it another way this time) but had to take one extra step. I'm sure this is High Sierra's "improved" security at work _again_.

The script looks like this (your coordinates may vary - use Shift+Command+4 to get the right coordinates for that damned Allow button):
tell application "System Events" to click at {880, 511}
Running it yields the following Script Error:

System Events got an error: Script Editor is not allowed assistive access.

The fix for _that_ problem:

1. In Security & Privacy, click the Privacy tab
2. Click Accessibility
3. Click the lock in the lower left corner and authenticate to make changes
4. Scroll down to Script Editor and check the box next to it
5. Click on the General tab to go back to your favorite place in the whole world
6. Try running your Apple Script again
7. If you're feeling security conscious, go back to Privacy and unckeck the box next to Script Editor

Yes, this is insane. If you're a masochist (I sometimes am), you can read about more people being angry about this. To be clear, it's very much not Karabiner's fault!

[victorhooi]

I seemed to be hitting this issue as well - hitting Allow in System Preferences, Security for Karabiner did nothing.

However, going to Keyboard, Shortcuts then enabling Full Keyboard Access for All Controls allowed me to hit Allow using Tab/Space.

(See https://github.com/tekezo/Karabiner-Elements/issues/1017#issuecomment-357471556 above).

Weird.

Is this a bug in Karabiner or in MacOS?

[sv3k]

One more thing: seems like we'll have to go around this issue on each Karabiner update 😐

[jt-github]

@sv3k, hence my latest post. This is the second time I've had to do this, which is why I decided I should write it down this time. Hopefully, I'll remember to come here after the next freakin' update. Ugh... Apple, I know you're just trying to be secure, but holy crap, there has to be a better way! Yes, I know Apple won't see this; I'm just too lazy at the moment to go find the right place to yell at Apple where they'll see it.

@victorhooi, to be clear, this is not a bug, and absolutely not Karabiner's issue at all. But it is a major usability issue that is 100% the responsibility of Apple. They really need to provide some feedback (like telling you what app(s) are preventing the click) when you click that button and _nothing happens_.

[victorhooi]

I'm confused - how is this not a MacOS bug?

As in, it sounds like some bug in MacOS, which renders the button unclickable?

[jt-github]

Sorry, I guess my clearness was more opaque than it should have been. I was just trying to say that this is not a Karabiner bug. I don't think Apple considers this a bug either since they would likely state that it is "by design." But you and I might call it a bug or at least a usability issue because Apple is refusing to allow the click without giving any feedback about _why_.

[commd]

I had to quit Google Chrome to get the allow button to work. So I suggest closing all applications and then try the allow button in System Preferences > Security&Privacy.

[wojtekk]

I had the same issue macOS High Sierra v10.13.4

To be able to allow application I had to disable all gestures in System preference Trackpad.

[aardvarkk]

I had to run sudo spctl --master-disable in the Terminal to enable a third option for "Anywhere" for where to trust software from. After that, I was able to Allow the software to run.

See http://osxdaily.com/2016/09/27/allow-apps-from-anywhere-macos-gatekeeper/

[bjornbennett]

I had to close all of my apps for the button to work. Annoying as crap, but I'm just glad I found a resolution! I'm using macOS High Sierra 10.13.4.

[mdupuy]

sv3k's solution worked from the terminal too:

osascript -e 'tell application "System Events" to click at {584, 819}'

Just insert the mouse coordinates you get from cmd-shift-4

[arnostko]

OMG guys, I'm so happy to have solved this, thanks to @sv3k and @jt-github.
How Apple allows the button to still have the "click animation" without actually doing anything is beyond me. If it had been greyed out or something, then it would be at least a hint.

[natxet]

For me it was a software named jing to make screencasts. I closed it and the button worked. Apple should have added a prompt with the problem and specify the name of the software that is not allowing the button to work!

[dclive]

It's not an issue with the software, it's a MacOS flaw.

Easiest workaround (screen coordinates!?!?) is to turn on Keyboard Tabbing functions (in Prefs/Keyboard/Shortcuts/FullKeyboardAccess/ALL - and then simply use tab and space bar to move and select in the appropriate dialog box in the System/Security preferences, after clicking the Security (un)lock, of course.

[kedare]

About the tab thing... I had no luck using my external keyboard (it would block before the ALLOW button), it only works with an Apple keyboard (internal or external I suppose too).

This security feature is just a joke

[linearza]

I had http://milgra.com/high-sierra-media-key-enabler.html running in the background - quitting this worked for me - Ironic since this app actually fixes another MacOS issue with spotify and media keys

[dclive]

Apple’s issue - or - the thing they are protecting you against - is a third party keyboard driver, mouse driver, etc. doing something bad here. So yes, Apple forcing the use of internal keyboard to set this makes sense (if you follow their logic).

I happen to think it’s silly, but the keyboard workaround does work and is far easier for me than trying to find coordinates and using scripting.

[FezVrasta]

Just a tip, you can use the keyboard to focus the "Allow" button (press TAB few times), and then press the space key to "click" it.

[mr-kamran-ali]

Easy Working Solution(Worked for me):

Sytem Prefs --> Keyboard --> Shortcuts --> hit all controls at the bottom
then go to Security and Privacy and use tab button on keyboard to navigate to allow and hit space. Voila...!

[dclive]

Now we are just repeating ourselves :)

[MohamedSayed008]

Easy Fix : worked for me
1) Open System Preferences
2) Right click on System Preferences icon on Dock -> Options -> Assign to -> All Desktops
3) If you have any other Desktop tab to it ( or Create new Desktop and switch to it )
4) Open System Preferences on the new Desktop and click allow

[lpld]

I closed iTerm2, Atom, Skype, Viber and Deezer apps and was able to click it. Can't say which one helped though.

[tit1]

To add to Ipld's response if you have Chrome remote desktop you have to close out chrome as well.

[markstickley]

Wish I'd scrolled down to see the comments about Chrome earlier!

In the end I got it working with Full Keyboard access (toggle this with Ctrl+F7 - you may need to hold down the Fn key as well). It's worth noting that depending on where the focus starts it may not be able to reach the button you need to - I found that clicking on the search field and tabbing from there allowed focus to reach the Allow button by tabbing. Hope this helps someone else!

[szkrd]

Use the tab to jump to the allow button, not your mouse, then press space.

Setting tab focus to "All controls" in "system prefs / keyboard / shortcuts" may be needed.

[gregpardo]

Okay so I was trying the keyboard method... Tab was not going far enough and would stop in the top portion of the pane. I found I could get it to cycle by exiting the security pane, going back in, selecting File Vault tab, and selecting the General tab again but pressing tab very fast within a window. Quite absurd but I eventually got it to land on the Allow button and pressed space.

[aredridel]

Wow, thank you so much @sv3k

[hijewpositive]

For me, it was Chrome causing the issue. Closing it allowed me to press the Allow button. Couldn't tell you why it was Chrome.

[dmitriyK1]

I pressed Allow button, it disappeared, but Karabiner doesn't work and each time I restart it I see notification about approving in System preferences

[cameron-deoliviera]

Just a heads up, it wouldn't allow until I closed Chrome. Apple needs to get their services in order here.

[flynnduism]

Had the same issue with the Caffeine osx app. Disabling caffeine let me click allow.

[slyone420]

I spent forever on this. none of the things that other people had were relevant until someone said they found out chrome was the culprit. I can't say it was chrome but I closed all open apps except sys pref the app i was installing and thats it. chrome was open though

[warmitu]

What worked for me is turning the Bluetooth function off (which in turn disconnected my Magic Mouse ).

[ankiit]

I used mouse keys accessibility feature to avoid figuring out which app is causing issue.
https://support.apple.com/kb/PH18381?locale=en_US

[MaksymDolia]

_Backup and Sync from Google_ app was causing the issue in my case.

[sfesfizh]

Closing Chrome is working for me

[quanglam2807]

@sfesfizh Closing Chrome also worked for me.

[dashony]

disabling CrashPlan client from the top bar beside volume and bluetooth icons did it for me.

[escapist]

I found a solution. Some of the comments here mentioned that any app that might interrupt mouse clicks to add functionality can break the "Allow" button in System Preferences > Security > General. To avoid having to click I installed Shortcat, which gives keyboard access to any interactive element on the screen. I fired it up, moved my focus down to "Allow", and hit return and it worked fine.

[SeanHayes]

After enabling full keyboard access and tabbing down, Return still wasn't working, but the space bar did.

[nelsonjchen]

If anybody is wondering how they can see the coordinates through Screen Sharing with Cmd Shift 4, well, you can't. There's no coordinates showing up.

Oh no! What can you do?

Well, forget targeting a wild window _somewhere_ on the screen. Just move the System Preferences window to a known location like the top left corner since that's the origin (0,0). Make sure none of it is off-screen. Now you can run something very, very similar to this in Script editor because the Allow button location is known and the System Preferences Window and menu bar is a static size.

tell application "System Events" to click at {560, 473}

osascript -e 'tell application "System Events" to click at {560, 473}'

[HRLTY]

Alternatively you can use the keyboard, if you have full keyboard access enabled:

Then just press tab several times until the "Allow" button is highlighted, then press space to activate it.

OMG..this saves me.

[satblip]

This is really a non sense....

[gunnzolder]

Opening System preferences in another desktop worked for me

Easy Fix : worked for me

1. Open System Preferences
2. Right click on System Preferences icon on Dock -> Options -> Assign to -> All Desktops
3. If you have any other Desktop tab to it ( or Create new Desktop and switch to it )
4. Open System Preferences on the new Desktop and click allow

[wasserholz]

I had to close ITerm2 to get it working.

[jessegyger]

Closed Google Chrome and now the allow button works.

[natterstefan]

Closing MagicPrefs solved the issue for me. Thank you @patkoscsaba!

[ZaNa02]

I will give you a crazier scenario... I tried EVERYTHING... the install message was showing FAILED every time, yet, when I checked applications folder, IT WAS INSTALLED and fully working :O what the... So, check your Applications folder despite failing install :D

[gaochengyidlmu]

I close other applications, then I can press the button.

[KeDaQHR]

Eudic does it, too. If it should help.

Saved my day

[mekarthedev]

Uninstalling VOX Preferences solved the issue for me.

[belroyale]

For me it was disabling MagicPerf - Thank you everyone for contributing to this thread!

[sberriman]

For me, no mouse/touchpad would allow the click. I had to do it using my MacBook's builtin keyboard only, and hit 'tab' till I highlighted the 'Allow' button and then press space to select it!

[johnsonra]

Alternatively you can use the keyboard, if you have full keyboard access enabled:

Then just press tab several times until the "Allow" button is highlighted, then press space to activate it.

Note that this may not work unless you restart System Preferences first.

[piyushbajaj0704]

@sfesfizh Closing Chrome also worked for me.

Yes. Thanks! Finally worked for me.

[thom-nic]

Mac Media Key Forwarder also causes this: milgra/macmediakeyforwarder#42

[MrJonhnny]

Another solution:

1. Go to the Preferences>Universal Access
2. Open the 'Mouse and trackpad' tab
3. Check the 'Enable Mouse Keys' box
4. Open 'Options'
5. Check 'Press the Option key five times to toggle Mouse keys'
6. Go to the 'Security and Privacy'
7. Point the 'Allow' button using trackpad or mouse
8. Press the Option key five times, this will turn on 'Mouse keys' mode.
9. Press the 'i' key at the keyboard (this will perform left click)
10. Enjoy)))
11. Press the Option key five times to turn off the 'Mouse Keys' mode

[onlineatwork]

1. Boot into recovery using command+R
2. Open terminal when in recovery
3. Run csrutil disable; reboot
4. Install VirtualBox again

This worked for me after trying every other option, I've read about.
6.0.8 Virtual Box on High Sierra

After finished installation, enable csrutil again for safety.

[stale[bot]]

This issue has been automatically marked as stale because it has not had recent activity. It will be closed if no further activity occurs. Thank you for your contributions.

[robscherer]

Closing Chrome worked for me too.

[waldi1992]

sorry - wrong thread

[antongorshkov]

Downgrading to 12.10.0 works on 10.15 OSX
https://github.com/pqrs-org/Karabiner-Elements/issues/2473