"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: <OSKext 0x7f841af110b0 [0x7fff933da5b0]> { URL = "file:///Library/StagedExtensions/Library/Extensions/org.pqrs.driver.Karabiner.VirtualHIDDevice.kext/", ID = "org.pqrs.driver.Karabiner.VirtualHIDDevice.v040800" }
Kext rejected due to system policy: <OSKext 0x7f841af110b0 [0x7fff933da5b0]> { URL = "file:///Library/StagedExtensions/Library/Extensions/org.pqrs.driver.Karabiner.VirtualHIDDevice.kext/", ID = "org.pqrs.driver.Karabiner.VirtualHIDDevice.v040800" }
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 ***@***.***> 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 <#1017 (comment)>, or mute the thread <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/ABN-SRjy4OaRo0Zejgpdv1U9j5YO9dWDks5ss6kTgaJpZM4Ps-87> .

-- 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.

[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]

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
#2473