Automation privacy preferences unavailable at times

Question

Automation privacy preferences unavailable at times

I have this strange symptom in which all of the apps registered under the automation privacy & security preferences sometimes are non-existent after unlocking my MacBook. I have similar problems with SecureInput messing with keystroke-based utilities such as 1Password or Keyboard Maestro, and I'm guessing this relates to it because what happens is that I cannot run anything depending upon System Events. I must log out and back in again for the SecureInput issue to resolve, and I need to restart for the automation preferences to come back.

(Before and after screenshots above)

I have an installation of macOS Monterey 12.5.1, which is almost new and fresh (a 100% clean installation), with no unique add-ons that could mess with the system in such a manner, so I am not 100% convinced that my apps should be the problem, rather than the system messing up since I have had the same problems in my previous installation.

Any thoughts regarding this could be helpful since it is pretty annoying.

Posted on Aug 29, 2022 11:34 PM

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Answer 1

NelsC7

Community Specialist

Aug 30, 2022 5:51 PM in response to Massimo Fiorentino

Hi Massimo Fiorentino,

We understand that apps configured under automation privacy & security preferences aren't responding as expected. If you remove one of the apps and add it back, what are the results? Try staring the Mac in Safe Mode to determine if the issue is still present.

Start up your Mac in safe mode

Keep us updated.

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Answer 2

Aug 31, 2022 12:28 AM in response to NelsC7

Thank you for taking the time to get back to me. Unfortunately, I cannot replicate the problem consistently enough to be able to use safe mode for troubleshooting. The problems occur 4-5 times a week, so I would have to spend a lot of time there, which I cannot do since I am using my MacBook for work. Removing and adding apps there does not seem to work.

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Answer 3

ryane77

Community Specialist

Aug 31, 2022 7:32 AM in response to Massimo Fiorentino

Massimo Fiorentino,

Understood, thanks for trying removing those apps and testing. To check a few other things and see if we can further narrow this down, does this happen with any other sections of System Preferences > Privacy, or System Preferences in general?

Also, you mentioned you use the Mac for work. Are there any profiles running, or Mobile Device Management? If so, this could be a potential cause for the settings behaviors you're noticing. Try clicking System Preferences > Profiles. Do you have anything there? Use configuration profiles to standardize settings on Mac computers - Apple Support

Let us know, and have a good one.

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Answer 4

Aug 31, 2022 8:41 AM in response to ryane77

Thank you for your help here. No, I do not have any profiles or device management running. And neither do I have other sections of the System Preferences with issues.

Just to clarify further: At times, LoginWindow somehow triggers SecureInput, which renders the ability to use accessibility-driven shortcuts or inputs/outputs impossible. That is why I think the problem is related to the System Preferences issues, even though it isn’t SecureInput that messes with the Automation settings, as far as I know. Both get triggered by a login and relate to automatisation.

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Answer 5

LeleN1

Community Specialist

Aug 31, 2022 9:28 AM in response to Massimo Fiorentino

Massimo Fiorentino,

Thanks for providing those details. From here, we recommend contacting Apple Support to look into this further: Apple Support

Cheers!

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Automation privacy preferences unavailable at times

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