Hi all, this has been an issue for me for a while and it is just aggravating and am hoping there is an easy fix to it. Either that or I'm missing something completely when interacting with package installers when they ask for a system password to continue on with the installation.
I'm in MacOS High Sierra, and every time I run a package installer for some software that requires me to enter my system password upon installation, VoiceOver seems to completely ignore the Security Agent dialog where I'm to enter my password. I'm always unable to interact with the dialog, option-tabbing away from the installer and coming back to it focuses VO on the Installer window itself and constantly announces that the installer is busy. I'm unable to switch or toggle between any windows or dialog boxes, and always need someone with vision to come in to focus the password entry window for me to continue.
I always end up having to force Quit the Installer since I just can't get the damned password dialog to focus. I once tapped my trackpad and it somehow managed to focus VO into the password entry field, but trying this seems to be a total crapshoot and more often than not will just toggle into another app running in the background.
Any tips for software installation with system passwords? Am I missing something completely obvious?
Cheers,
Marco
Edit: I can successfully bypass the GUI installer and this focus issue by installing packages with Terminal, just wanted to know if there was a way to fix this VO focusing issue.
Comments
Hi
Hi
You can use VoiceOver+f2 twice to navigate to the window from the window chooser. The window name is "security"
Best
Malthe
Doesn't work
Yes, I know that command. Security never shows up when I do that, plus when I encounter this issue and option-tab away from the Installer and then go back to it, I can't run any VO commands since it just constantly says that it is busy. When the Security Agent window pops up it isn't directly focused and says it has no windows. Just tried it again and the Installer just remains in a busy state while waiting for the password to be entered, hence my problem since VO can't get into the security agent window when it pops up.
You need to access the
You need to access the security window from outside the installer window. E.G. command tab to finder, then access it with window chooser. That works for me.
Still not appearing in Window Chooser
Thanks for the help. Unfortunately, this still isn't working. Just tried the installer again, I hear the security agent pop up followed by VO saying that it doesn't have any windows, and heading back to the Finder and opening the Window Chooser does not reveal the Security Agent. Going back to the Installer is no help since it just keeps saying that it is busy and no VO commands work. I've gotten it confirmed visually that the security password window is indeed open, just no way to navigate to it using VO without sighted help.
Hi
Hi
That is super weird. Just as an experiment, what happens if you bring up the application chooser instead (VO+f1 twice) and choose the window from the sub menu of the installer?
An other idea might be writing an apple script that tells the window to focus.
Best
Malthe
No dice
Nope, that didn't work either. The Installer appears in the Application Chooser, but also seems to be stalled out and nothing appears in its window menu except for the option to go to the installer. It's like the whole process hangs once the Security Agent opens up, and I just confirmed again that the password entry field is indeed coming up and can be focused by clicking into the field with sighted assistance, so it's not like the installer itself is broken or freezing. This is super annoying, but I guess I'll just have to sudo everything through Terminal from now on. Could try an AppleScript as well, any recommendations on how to focus the Security Agent window that way?
Apple script
This might work. I just tested it, and it worked for me:
tell application "System Events" to tell process "SecurityAgent" to ¬
set frontmost to true
Keep getting error
Thanks for the script. I popped it into Script Editor and saved out an application, bound it to a key in the VO keyboard commander, but am not having any luck in running it. I got all the way to the same point with the Installer and tried running the script as the Security Agent launched, but the Installer is busy and it can't run the script. I tried running it before hitting the final install button, and get this error:
Can’t set «class prcs» "SecurityAgent" of application "System Events" to true.
System Events got an error: Can’t set process "SecurityAgent" to true. (-10006)
Am I missing something in the process?
Okay, so what are you trying
Okay, so what are you trying to install? is it a new version of MacOs? You didn't say in the post, so I have no idea of what you're trying to run on your mac.
First off, what I would do is if you're trying to install a certain app, not macOs, then CMD, command tab to another application, tab back to the installer. If it says busy, then wait a few minutes or so, and see what happens. Also, maybe try using the track pad without the commander on, and just click it and see what it does. It's worth a shot. Anything is worth a shot at this point
Sigh
Sorry about that, I was installing python 2.7.14 with a .pkg installer. I've been having this issue on multiple systems when installing software that requires the system admin password to continue, and I either get lucky spamming the trackpad on my MBP and finding the field, or have to get sighted assistance.
Cmd-tabbing once I hit Install makes VO say that the Security Agent has no windows, then tabbing to another app and back to the Installer makes it say the Installer is busy. I've left it alone for hours once to no avail, the focus is just on the Installer spinning its wheels while waiting for the password to be entered. I don't have the trackpad commander on, so this is just frustrating. Unless there is anything else, anytime I need to install via a .pkg I'll just use Terminal.
Hmm, strange. I've never
Hmm, strange. I've never actually had this come up where it doesn't work when installing .PKG files. What if you just start typing the password, hit the return key, and see what happens after that? Other than that, I'm spinning in the dirt!
Steps to replicate 3 examples
I've been experiencing this issue sporadically when installing, updating, or trashing some apps under 10.13, including under the current 10.13.3. It seems to happen with apps purchased outside of the Mac App Store. Here are three examples with steps to replicate.
Steps to replicate the issue when attempting to update Microsoft Office 2016.
1. Launch Microsoft Word 2016.
2. Choose Help > Check for Updates.
3. In the autoupdate dialog, set update checking to manual and activate the "Check for updates" button.
4. Assuming updates are available, Tick the checkboxes of any apps to update, then activate the "Install" button.
5. The download, verification and update process will begin, but sometimes will appear to stall without any apparent reason, or with a message "Security Agent has no windows" or "Application, Installer busy." Attempting to locate an open system dialog or other window using standard OS and VO keyboard methods fails.
6. Criss-crossing the screen with the mouse pointer set to speak without delay will eventually stumble upon a "Security Agent" window prompting for a password. Clicking the mouse/trackpad on this dialog enables VO keyboard navigation and proper access to the password field.
Steps to replicate the issue when installing or updating Kurzweil 3000 Web license edition.
1. Download the Kurzweil 3000 Version 15 Web License installer from www.kurzweiledu.com/k3mac.
2. Open the disk image and then launch the installer package.
3. Step through the standard install process.
4. At some point VO will announce either "Security Agent has no windows" or "Application, Installer busy." At this point the installation process will stall.
5. Criss-crossing the screen with the mouse pointer set to speak without delay will eventually stumble upon a "Security Agent" window prompting for a password. Clicking the mouse/trackpad on this dialog enables VO keyboard navigation and proper access to the password field.
Steps to replicate the issue when attempting to trash the Adobe Acrobat Reader DC App.
1. Go to the Finder and press Command+Shift+A to open the Applications folder.
2. Focus on the Adobe Acrobat Reader DC.app and press Command+Delete to trash it.
3. There is either no spoken confirmation or VO says "Application, Finder busy." Attempting to locate an open system dialog or other window using standard OS and VO keyboard methods fails.
4. Criss-crossing the screen with the mouse pointer set to speak without delay will eventually stumble upon a Security window containing the text "Finder wants to move “Adobe Acrobat Reader DC.app” to the Trash" and prompting for a password. Clicking the mouse/trackpad on this dialog enables VO keyboard navigation and proper access to the password field.
MacBook Air 11 inch Mid-2013
macOS 10.13.3
security agent has no windows: continuing problem
I have had this same problem. It first showed up when trying to update the Ace extra for Airfoil and Audio Hijack from rogue amoeba. I even tried reinstalling over present install. I did a clean install on another drive and at first the issue did not appear but now has. But thanks for reassuring me that at least I am not missing something key. I hav been posting to the macvoiceover list and I seem to be the only one with this issue. Completely frustrating.
Security agent has no windows: solved in at least one instance
I just solved this in one instance when trying yet again to install the Ace extra for airfoil. On the update button instead of doing vo-space I just did a space. This worked and the window opened with the password field as it should. This makes sense as the update button had keyboard focus. This requires you to suspect ahead of time you are going to have a problem or else to quit the application after the first instance of (security agent has no window" and then use the space bar on the update or install button that would be right before the problem window. I can't guarantee it will work in all instances but I had struggled with this over and over and the use of the spacebar is the only thing that finally worked. Will post again if I have another instance that is solved in the same way. I will add that after I did this I didn't have voiceover talking though I heard clicks when I did command-tab. I just left it alone for a minute, then turned voiceover off and after a few seconds turned voiceover on again and speech was restored. Hth.