Driver Update fails on macOS 27.0 (26A428) despite HAL driver 2.6.0 on disk — helper still quarantined

[breechlock]

Existing issues

• I have checked for a similar issue and sure it hasn't been reported before.
• Related but different from Helper fails to launch with quarantine attribute on macOS 27 Developer Beta (high launchd CPU) #1026 (quarantine / launchd helper spam on macOS 27). That one was about the helper not launching under quarantine; this report is about Driver Update / install failing even after multiple reboots, while a new HAL driver is already on disk.

Describe the bug

On macOS 27.0 (build 26A428), eqMac 1.9.0 shows:

Driver Install failed. Please restart your Mac and try again.

and

Seems like the System Audio Capture Driver is outdated and needs updating

Driver: Update was tried repeatedly, including two full restarts. The UI still reports failure.

Interestingly, after the failed “install,” a driver bundle is present at /Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/HAL/eqMac.driver with:

• CFBundleShortVersionString / CFBundleVersion: 2.6.0
• Signed: Developer ID Application: Bitgapp Ltd. (JZA6C97KJA)
• Timestamp: Sep 11, 2026

So files appear to land, but eqMac still treats the driver as outdated / install-failed.

Permissions / helper notes checked

This is not a missing System Settings “+” calendar-style issue; checks done on this Mac:

1. Privileged helper still quarantined (stale from an older install; Driver Update did not clear it):
   • /Library/PrivilegedHelperTools/com.bitgapp.eqmac.helper (and its Contents/MacOS/com.bitgapp.eqmac.helper) still has com.apple.quarantine (01c1;6a2b0677;;…), dated Jul 8 install era.
   • LaunchDaemon plist /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.bitgapp.eqmac.helper.plist no longer shows quarantine (only com.apple.provenance), but the helper binary/bundle does.
2. On macOS 27, quarantined launchd/helper pieces are known-bad (Helper fails to launch with quarantine attribute on macOS 27 Developer Beta (high launchd CPU) #1026 / Apple “intended” quarantine rejection). A Driver Update that copies HAL but leaves a quarantined helper could explain “files present, app still says failed.”
3. No eqMac Audio system extension appears under systemextensionsctl list (only an unrelated camera extension). HAL plugin path is what’s in use.
4. App / driver code signatures verify as Bitgapp Developer ID; app has hardened runtime.

Steps to Reproduce

1. macOS 27.0 Developer Beta (26A428), Apple silicon (Mac16,10).
2. Run eqMac 1.9.0.
3. When prompted that the System Audio Capture Driver is outdated, click Driver: Update (admin password as required).
4. Observe red banner: Driver Install failed. Please restart…
5. Restart Mac (tried twice), open eqMac again, click Driver: Update again — same failure.
6. Meanwhile confirm /Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/HAL/eqMac.driver exists at version 2.6.0.

Expected behaviour

Driver Update completes successfully (or clearly reports why it failed), clears stale quarantine on the privileged helper if needed, and eqMac stops prompting for an outdated driver.

Setup information

• Audio device used for playback: (system default / eqMac virtual device — UI also lists “MacBook Air Speakers (eqMac)” style routing in the driver sheet)
• Audio transmission interface: built-in / USB as applicable
• macOS Version: 27.0 Golden Gate Developer Beta (26A428)
• eqMac Version: 1.9.0
• eqMac Driver Version on disk after failed update: 2.6.0 (com.bitgapp.eqmac.driver)
• Hardware: Mac16,10 (Mac mini M4)

Screenshots or Console.app logs

App UI: red “Driver Install failed…” banner + “System Audio Capture Driver is outdated…” with Driver: Update.

Helper quarantine still present (abbreviated):

/Library/PrivilegedHelperTools/com.bitgapp.eqmac.helper
com.apple.quarantine: 01c1;6a2b0677;;…

Additional information

• Prior report from me (breechlock): Helper fails to launch with quarantine attribute on macOS 27 Developer Beta (high launchd CPU) #1026 — helper/quarantine/launchd on macOS 27. Dev notes there that Apple won’t change launchd quarantine behavior and the product fix is updating the driver/helper to strip quarantine. This bug is that the update path itself is failing, so users can get stuck: need an update to clear quarantine, but Update fails.
• Happy to attach Console logs from an Update attempt if useful; can also test a manual quarantine strip on the helper if you want that as a diagnostic step (did not sudo-strip yet for this filing).

[nodeful]

Hi, thank you for the report.

Could you please try out this release:
https://github.com/bitgapp/eqMac/releases/tag/v1.9.1

[breechlock]

Hi, this version installs and seems to work perfectly well. Thanks for the fast response. jw

…

On Sep 13, 2026, at 11:52 AM, Roman Kisil ***@***.***> wrote: nodeful left a comment (bitgapp/eqMac#1035) <#1035 (comment)> Hi, thank you for the report. Could you please try out this release: https://github.com/bitgapp/eqMac/releases/tag/v1.9.1 — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#1035?email_source=notifications&email_token=AQQDRUWKST4EQR6JCBH2DIT5O3GFRA5CNFSNUABFM5UWIORPF5TWS5BNNB2WEL2JONZXKZKDN5WW2ZLOOQXTKNRVGQ3DMMRZHA22M4TFMFZW63VGMF2XI2DPOKSWK5TFNZ2KYZTPN52GK4S7MNWGSY3L#issuecomment-5654662985>, or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AQQDRUQPNKUPPGHFDO776GD5O3GFRAVCNFSNUABEKJSXA33TNF2G64TZHM4TQMBZGUYDMMJ3JFZXG5LFHM2TIMZVGI3TGMZWGOQXMAQ>. Triage notifications, keep track of coding agent tasks and review pull requests on the go with GitHub Mobile for iOS <https://github.com/notifications/mobile/ios/AQQDRUROGPVGJKA7HHVN4GL5O3GFRA5CNFSNUABFM5UWIORPF5TWS5BNNB2WEL2JONZXKZKDN5WW2ZLOOQXTKNRVGQ3DMMRZHA22M4TFMFZW63VGMF2XI2DPOKSWK5TFNZ2KUZTPN52GK4S7NFXXG> and Android <https://github.com/notifications/mobile/android/AQQDRUUVSOWPIMB3BRBNCUD5O3GFRA5CNFSNUABFM5UWIORPF5TWS5BNNB2WEL2JONZXKZKDN5WW2ZLOOQXTKNRVGQ3DMMRZHA22M4TFMFZW63VGMF2XI2DPOKSWK5TFNZ2K4ZTPN52GK4S7MFXGI4TPNFSA>. Download it today! You are receiving this because you authored the thread.

[SlightOmission]

Also confirming v1.1.9.1 worked for me

[BrainstormStudios]

Hi, I have 1.9.1 installed and driver 2.6. Mac Studio M1. Works when selecting external headphone output. When selecting HDMI output, there is a freeze and an error pops up briefly regarding something timed out. This is with the official channel release of MacOS 27.

[nodeful]

Hi, I have 1.9.1 installed and driver 2.6. Mac Studio M1. Works when selecting external headphone output. When selecting HDMI output, there is a freeze and an error pops up briefly regarding something timed out. This is with the official channel release of MacOS 27.

I had this happen to me during development but it had nothing to do with eqMac. This happened even without eqMac running. The only way I was able to resolve it is with a restart of the whole Mac, maybe give that a go.