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Clean Lix Install Fails on MacOS 26.6.2 #90

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opened 2026-09-10 17:33:14 +00:00 by jsnelgro · 3 comments
jsnelgro commented 2026-09-10 17:33:14 +00:00
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Hi there, wanted to let y'all know I tried installing Lix on a brand new MacBook Pro (16-inch, M5 Max) and it failed. This was the first thing I tried doing on the computer, since I wanted to set it up clean, so hopefully a useful datapoint for troubleshooting.

I'm pretty new to Nix/Lix, but based on the error message, it looks like it might be trying to set up nix at a read-only location on MacOS?

Error

Error: 
   0: Install failure
   1: Error executing action
   2: Action `create_nix_volume` errored
   3: Action `encrypt_apfs_volume` errored
   4: Failed to execute command `"/usr/sbin/diskutil" "mount" "Nix Store"`
      stdout: 
      stderr: Volume on disk3s7 failed to mount

      exited with status code: 1

Metadata

key value
version 3.95.0
os macos
arch aarch64

Here is the full output of my installation attempt:

Last login: Wed Sep  9 13:57:45 on console
jsnl@Johnnys-MBP ~ % curl -sSf -L https://install.lix.systems/lix | sh -s -- install

info: downloading installer
 INFO nix-installer v3.95.0
`lix-installer` needs to run as `root`, attempting to escalate now via `sudo`...
Password:
 INFO nix-installer v3.95.0


Welcome to the Lix installer! Just a couple of quick questions.

Flakes are an experimental feature, but widely used in the community.
You can change this later in `/etc/nix/nix.conf`.

Enable flakes? ([Y]es/[n]o): Yes

QUICK NOTE: we've enabled the experimental nix command for you!
Be aware that commands starting with `nix ` such as `nix build` may change syntax.

Lix install plan (v3.95.0)
Planner: macos

Configured settings:
* nix_package_url: {"Url":"https://releases.lix.systems/lix/lix-2.95.2/lix-2.95.2-aarch64-darwin.tar.xz"}

Planned actions:
* Create an encrypted APFS volume `Nix Store` for Nix on `disk3` and add it to `/etc/fstab` mounting on `/nix`
* Fetch `https://releases.lix.systems/lix/lix-2.95.2/lix-2.95.2-aarch64-darwin.tar.xz` to `/nix/temp-install-dir`
* Create a directory tree in `/nix`
* Synchronize /nix/var ownership
* Move the downloaded Nix into `/nix`
* Synchronize /nix/store ownership
* Create build users (UID 351-382) and group (GID 350)
* Configure Time Machine exclusions
* Setup the default Nix profile
* Place the Nix configuration in `/etc/nix/nix.conf`
* Configure the shell profiles
* Configuring zsh to support using Nix in non-interactive shells
* Create a `launchctl` plist to put Nix into your PATH
* Configure Nix daemon related settings with launchctl
* Remove directory `/nix/temp-install-dir`


Proceed? ([Y]es/[n]o/[e]xplain): Y
 INFO Step: Create an encrypted APFS volume `Nix Store` for Nix on `disk3` and add it to `/etc/fstab` mounting on `/nix`
ERROR Error saving receipt: RecordingReceipt("/nix", Os { code: 30, kind: ReadOnlyFilesystem, message: "Read-only file system" })
ERROR 
   0: \x1b[91mInstall failure\x1b[0m
   1: \x1b[91mError executing action\x1b[0m
   2: \x1b[91mAction `create_nix_volume` errored\x1b[0m
   3: \x1b[91mAction `encrypt_apfs_volume` errored\x1b[0m
   4: \x1b[91mFailed to execute command `"/usr/sbin/diskutil" "mount" "Nix Store"`
      stdout: 
      stderr: Volume on disk3s7 failed to mount

      exited with status code: 1
      \x1b[0m

Location:
   \x1b[35msrc/cli/subcommand/install/mod.rs\x1b[0m:\x1b[35m287\x1b[0m

Backtrace omitted. Run with RUST_BACKTRACE=1 environment variable to display it.
Run with RUST_BACKTRACE=full to include source snippets.

Consider reporting this error using this URL: https://git.lix.systems/lix-project/lix-installer/issues/new?title=%3Cautogenerated-issue%3E&body=%23%23+Error%0A%60%60%60%0AError%3A+%0A+++0%3A+Install+failure%0A+++1%3A+Error+executing+action%0A+++2%3A+Action+%60create_nix_volume%60+errored%0A+++3%3A+Action+%60encrypt_apfs_volume%60+errored%0A+++4%3A+Failed+to+execute+command+%60%22%2Fusr%2Fsbin%2Fdiskutil%22+%22mount%22+%22Nix+Store%22%60%0A++++++stdout%3A+%0A++++++stderr%3A+Volume+on+disk3s7+failed+to+mount%0A%0A++++++exited+with+status+code%3A+1%0A%0A%60%60%60%0A%0A%23%23+Metadata%0A%7Ckey%7Cvalue%7C%0A%7C--%7C--%7C%0A%7C**version**%7C3.95.0%7C%0A%7C**os**%7Cmacos%7C%0A%7C**arch**%7Caarch64%7C%0A
Installation failure, offering to revert...
Lix uninstall plan (v3.95.0)

Planner: macos

Configured settings:
* nix_package_url: {"Url":"https://releases.lix.systems/lix/lix-2.95.2/lix-2.95.2-aarch64-darwin.tar.xz"}

Planned actions:
* Remove the APFS volume `Nix Store` on `disk3`


Proceed? ([Y]es/[n]o/[e]xplain): Y
 INFO Revert: Remove directory `/nix/temp-install-dir`
 INFO Revert: Configure Nix daemon related settings with launchctl
 INFO Revert: Create a `launchctl` plist to put Nix into your PATH
 INFO Revert: Configuring zsh to support using Nix in non-interactive shells
 INFO Revert: Configure Nix
 INFO Revert: Configure Time Machine exclusions
 INFO Revert: Create build users (UID 351-382) and group (GID 350)
 INFO Revert: Provision Nix
 INFO Revert: Create an encrypted APFS volume `Nix Store` for Nix on `disk3` and add it to `/etc/fstab` mounting on `/nix`

   0: Multiple errors

Location:
   src/cli/subcommand/install/mod.rs:320

Error:
   0: Action `encrypt_apfs_volume` errored
   1: Failed to execute command `"/usr/bin/security" "delete-generic-password" "-a" "Nix Store" "-s" "Nix Store" "-l" "disk3 encryption password" "-D" "Encrypted volume password" "-j" "Added automatically by the Nix installer for use by /Library/LaunchDaemons/org.nixos.darwin-store.plist"`
      stdout: 
      stderr: security: SecKeychainSearchCopyNext: The specified item could not be found in the keychain.

      exited with status code: 44
      

Backtrace omitted. Run with RUST_BACKTRACE=1 environment variable to display it.
Run with RUST_BACKTRACE=full to include source snippets.

Consider reporting this error using this URL: https://git.lix.systems/lix-project/lix-installer/issues/new?title=%3Cautogenerated-issue%3E&body=%23%23+Error%0A%60%60%60%0AError%3A+%0A+++0%3A+Multiple+errors%0A%60%60%60%0A%0A%23%23+Metadata%0A%7Ckey%7Cvalue%7C%0A%7C--%7C--%7C%0A%7C**version**%7C3.95.0%7C%0A%7C**os**%7Cmacos%7C%0A%7C**arch**%7Caarch64%7C%0A

 WARN Lix Installer failed.

jsnl@Johnnys-MBP ~ %
Hi there, wanted to let y'all know I tried installing Lix on a brand new MacBook Pro (16-inch, M5 Max) and it failed. This was the first thing I tried doing on the computer, since I wanted to set it up clean, so hopefully a useful datapoint for troubleshooting. I'm pretty new to Nix/Lix, but based on the error message, it looks like it might be trying to set up nix at a read-only location on MacOS? ## Error ``` Error: 0: Install failure 1: Error executing action 2: Action `create_nix_volume` errored 3: Action `encrypt_apfs_volume` errored 4: Failed to execute command `"/usr/sbin/diskutil" "mount" "Nix Store"` stdout: stderr: Volume on disk3s7 failed to mount exited with status code: 1 ``` ## Metadata |key|value| |--|--| |**version**|3.95.0| |**os**|macos| |**arch**|aarch64| ------ Here is the full output of my installation attempt: ``` Last login: Wed Sep 9 13:57:45 on console jsnl@Johnnys-MBP ~ % curl -sSf -L https://install.lix.systems/lix | sh -s -- install info: downloading installer INFO nix-installer v3.95.0 `lix-installer` needs to run as `root`, attempting to escalate now via `sudo`... Password: INFO nix-installer v3.95.0 Welcome to the Lix installer! Just a couple of quick questions. Flakes are an experimental feature, but widely used in the community. You can change this later in `/etc/nix/nix.conf`. Enable flakes? ([Y]es/[n]o): Yes QUICK NOTE: we've enabled the experimental nix command for you! Be aware that commands starting with `nix ` such as `nix build` may change syntax. Lix install plan (v3.95.0) Planner: macos Configured settings: * nix_package_url: {"Url":"https://releases.lix.systems/lix/lix-2.95.2/lix-2.95.2-aarch64-darwin.tar.xz"} Planned actions: * Create an encrypted APFS volume `Nix Store` for Nix on `disk3` and add it to `/etc/fstab` mounting on `/nix` * Fetch `https://releases.lix.systems/lix/lix-2.95.2/lix-2.95.2-aarch64-darwin.tar.xz` to `/nix/temp-install-dir` * Create a directory tree in `/nix` * Synchronize /nix/var ownership * Move the downloaded Nix into `/nix` * Synchronize /nix/store ownership * Create build users (UID 351-382) and group (GID 350) * Configure Time Machine exclusions * Setup the default Nix profile * Place the Nix configuration in `/etc/nix/nix.conf` * Configure the shell profiles * Configuring zsh to support using Nix in non-interactive shells * Create a `launchctl` plist to put Nix into your PATH * Configure Nix daemon related settings with launchctl * Remove directory `/nix/temp-install-dir` Proceed? ([Y]es/[n]o/[e]xplain): Y INFO Step: Create an encrypted APFS volume `Nix Store` for Nix on `disk3` and add it to `/etc/fstab` mounting on `/nix` ERROR Error saving receipt: RecordingReceipt("/nix", Os { code: 30, kind: ReadOnlyFilesystem, message: "Read-only file system" }) ERROR 0: \x1b[91mInstall failure\x1b[0m 1: \x1b[91mError executing action\x1b[0m 2: \x1b[91mAction `create_nix_volume` errored\x1b[0m 3: \x1b[91mAction `encrypt_apfs_volume` errored\x1b[0m 4: \x1b[91mFailed to execute command `"/usr/sbin/diskutil" "mount" "Nix Store"` stdout: stderr: Volume on disk3s7 failed to mount exited with status code: 1 \x1b[0m Location: \x1b[35msrc/cli/subcommand/install/mod.rs\x1b[0m:\x1b[35m287\x1b[0m Backtrace omitted. Run with RUST_BACKTRACE=1 environment variable to display it. Run with RUST_BACKTRACE=full to include source snippets. Consider reporting this error using this URL: https://git.lix.systems/lix-project/lix-installer/issues/new?title=%3Cautogenerated-issue%3E&body=%23%23+Error%0A%60%60%60%0AError%3A+%0A+++0%3A+Install+failure%0A+++1%3A+Error+executing+action%0A+++2%3A+Action+%60create_nix_volume%60+errored%0A+++3%3A+Action+%60encrypt_apfs_volume%60+errored%0A+++4%3A+Failed+to+execute+command+%60%22%2Fusr%2Fsbin%2Fdiskutil%22+%22mount%22+%22Nix+Store%22%60%0A++++++stdout%3A+%0A++++++stderr%3A+Volume+on+disk3s7+failed+to+mount%0A%0A++++++exited+with+status+code%3A+1%0A%0A%60%60%60%0A%0A%23%23+Metadata%0A%7Ckey%7Cvalue%7C%0A%7C--%7C--%7C%0A%7C**version**%7C3.95.0%7C%0A%7C**os**%7Cmacos%7C%0A%7C**arch**%7Caarch64%7C%0A Installation failure, offering to revert... Lix uninstall plan (v3.95.0) Planner: macos Configured settings: * nix_package_url: {"Url":"https://releases.lix.systems/lix/lix-2.95.2/lix-2.95.2-aarch64-darwin.tar.xz"} Planned actions: * Remove the APFS volume `Nix Store` on `disk3` Proceed? ([Y]es/[n]o/[e]xplain): Y INFO Revert: Remove directory `/nix/temp-install-dir` INFO Revert: Configure Nix daemon related settings with launchctl INFO Revert: Create a `launchctl` plist to put Nix into your PATH INFO Revert: Configuring zsh to support using Nix in non-interactive shells INFO Revert: Configure Nix INFO Revert: Configure Time Machine exclusions INFO Revert: Create build users (UID 351-382) and group (GID 350) INFO Revert: Provision Nix INFO Revert: Create an encrypted APFS volume `Nix Store` for Nix on `disk3` and add it to `/etc/fstab` mounting on `/nix` 0: Multiple errors Location: src/cli/subcommand/install/mod.rs:320 Error: 0: Action `encrypt_apfs_volume` errored 1: Failed to execute command `"/usr/bin/security" "delete-generic-password" "-a" "Nix Store" "-s" "Nix Store" "-l" "disk3 encryption password" "-D" "Encrypted volume password" "-j" "Added automatically by the Nix installer for use by /Library/LaunchDaemons/org.nixos.darwin-store.plist"` stdout: stderr: security: SecKeychainSearchCopyNext: The specified item could not be found in the keychain. exited with status code: 44 Backtrace omitted. Run with RUST_BACKTRACE=1 environment variable to display it. Run with RUST_BACKTRACE=full to include source snippets. Consider reporting this error using this URL: https://git.lix.systems/lix-project/lix-installer/issues/new?title=%3Cautogenerated-issue%3E&body=%23%23+Error%0A%60%60%60%0AError%3A+%0A+++0%3A+Multiple+errors%0A%60%60%60%0A%0A%23%23+Metadata%0A%7Ckey%7Cvalue%7C%0A%7C--%7C--%7C%0A%7C**version**%7C3.95.0%7C%0A%7C**os**%7Cmacos%7C%0A%7C**arch**%7Caarch64%7C%0A WARN Lix Installer failed. jsnl@Johnnys-MBP ~ % ```
jsnelgro commented 2026-09-10 17:34:43 +00:00
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oops, looks like a dupe of #75

My machine shouldn't be locked down in any way though.

oops, looks like a dupe of https://git.lix.systems/lix-project/lix-installer/issues/75 My machine shouldn't be locked down in any way though.
jsnelgro commented 2026-09-10 17:44:33 +00:00
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ok looks like a documentation issue on https://lix.systems/install/#on-any-other-linuxmacos-system

Running the install command from the README here ran successfully:
curl --proto '=https' --tlsv1.2 -sSf -L https://install.lix.systems/lix | sh -s -- install

ok looks like a documentation issue on https://lix.systems/install/#on-any-other-linuxmacos-system Running the install command from the README here ran successfully: `curl --proto '=https' --tlsv1.2 -sSf -L https://install.lix.systems/lix | sh -s -- install`
lunaphied commented 2026-10-29 18:33:40 +00:00
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Dupe

Dupe
lunaphied 2026-10-29 18:33:40 +00:00
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