Cannot grant "Input Monitoring" Permission in Catalina 10.15.7

[scottlaurent]

Describe the bug
On approximately 50% of certain keys pressed (in my case E and I) -- I've set the ms to 1000+ and there is zero effect. This just started on my recent update to Catalina 10.15.7

Desktop (please complete the following information):

• Catalina 10.15.7

Additional context
I've tested using Unshaky .60 and 0.63, and have tested the workarounds posted for Catalina 10.15.6 with no success

[aahung]

do you have external keyboard turned on? How about delay like 500ms (I remember someone mentioning 1000+ has the same effect as 0)

[Dhilan001]

Describe the bug
On approximately 50% of certain keys pressed (in my case E and I) -- I've set the ms to 1000+ and there is zero effect. This just started on my recent update to Catalina 10.15.7

Desktop (please complete the following information):

• Catalina 10.15.7

Additional context
I've tested using Unshaky .60 and 0.63, and have tested the workarounds posted for Catalina 10.15.6 with no success

This happened to me also, I fixed by enabling aggressive mode and setting delay to 40ms. This might work for you try it out and lmk

[simmac]

I have the same problem. Sometimes (probably directly after a reboot) it works until the next sleep. I tried enabling aggressive mode, didn't help :/

[aahung]

I have the same problem. Sometimes (probably directly after a reboot) it works until the next sleep. I tried enabling aggressive mode, didn't help :/

what's in the debug window

[simmac]

what's in the debug window

When it's working correctly, every keypress appears in the debug window. When it doesn't work, only keypresses on special keys (eg cmd or alt) appear.

[aahung]

Only modifier keys show up? That's odd. Can you paste a small snippet of log here so I can have something more concrete?

Also, what's your configuration (the checkboxes below delay config)

[simmac]

My machine is currently at Apple service (for keyboard replacement, so I guess this fixes the issue for me :P), but I will get back to you when I have my machine again (feel free to remind me when I don't get back to you within two weeks)

Regarding the configuration, I left it at default values (I believe that's everything unchecked?) apart from aggressive mode, which didn't change the behaviour at all (I observed it with and without aggressive mode)

[aahung]

There is another bug report on 10.15.7 #176. I managed to test Unshaky on a 10.15.7 macbook and it works fine. Cannot reproduce it now.

[duselbaer]

Same here, Unshaky works fine after rebooting the machine. But after a while (stand-by's) included - it stops working. The debug window only shows some special keys. Attached is the content of the log window after typing this comment.

1611611051.289417 Key( 59| 56|       Unknown|    131072| 40) E(12)
1611611051.668953 Key( 59| 56|       Unknown|         0| 40) E(12)
1611611056.950138 Key( 59| 56|       Unknown|    131072| 40) E(12)
1611611057.210571 Key( 59| 56|       Unknown|         0| 40) E(12)
1611611064.883992 Key( 59| 56|       Unknown|    131072| 40) E(12)
1611611065.444023 Key( 59| 56|       Unknown|         0| 40) E(12)
1611611068.866654 Key( 59| 56|       Unknown|    131072| 40) E(12)
1611611069.371118 Key( 59| 56|       Unknown|         0| 40) E(12)
1611611081.720370 Key( 59| 56|       Unknown|    131072| 40) E(12)
1611611081.968347 Key( 59| 56|       Unknown|         0| 40) E(12)
1611611085.157342 Key( 59| 56|       Unknown|    131072| 40) E(12)
1611611085.405356 Key( 59| 56|       Unknown|         0| 40) E(12)
1611611085.524058 Key( 59| 56|       Unknown|    131072| 40) E(12)
1611611085.832650 Key( 59| 56|       Unknown|         0| 40) E(12)
1611611086.272176 Key( 59| 56|       Unknown|    131072| 40) E(12)
1611611086.680566 Key( 59| 56|       Unknown|         0| 40) E(12)
1611611094.669889 Key( 59| 56|       Unknown|    131072| 40) E(12)
1611611095.005575 Key( 59| 56|       Unknown|         0| 40) E(12)
1611611110.254395 Key( 59| 56|       Unknown|    131072| 40) E(12)
1611611110.810675 Key( 59| 56|       Unknown|         0| 40) E(12)
1611611111.558348 Key( 59| 56|       Unknown|    131072| 40) E(12)
1611611111.790121 Key( 59| 56|       Unknown|         0| 40) E(12)
1611611130.314768 Key( 59| 55|       Unknown|   1048576| 40) E(12)
1611611130.670779 Key( 59| 55|       Unknown|         0| 40) E(12)

Can I support somehow in debugging this issue?

[duselbaer]

And this is what it looks like after reboot - typing "Hello World ..."

1611672135.102851 Key( 59| 55|       Unknown|   1048576| 40) E(12)
1611672135.243381 Key( 59| 48|           Tab|   1048576| 40) E(10)
1611672135.403145 Key( 59| 48|           Tab|   1048576| 40) E(11)
1611672136.194595 Key( 59| 55|       Unknown|         0| 40) E(12)
1611672136.449846 Key(198|  0|             A|         0| 40) E(12)
1611672141.238592 Key( 59| 56|       Unknown|    131072| 40) E(12)
1611672142.846658 Key( 59|  4|             H|    131072| 40) E(10)
1611672142.938518 Key( 59|  4|             H|    131072| 40) E(11)
1611672142.950529 Key( 59| 56|       Unknown|         0| 40) E(12)
1611672143.039209 Key( 59| 14|             E|         0| 40) E(10)
1611672143.143625 Key( 59| 14|             E|         0| 40) E(11)
1611672143.181909 Key( 59| 37|             L|         0| 40) E(10)
1611672143.270709 Key( 59| 37|             L|         0| 40) E(11)
1611672143.321218 Key( 59| 37|             L|         0| 40) E(10)
1611672143.398481 Key( 59| 37|             L|         0| 40) E(11)
1611672143.525960 Key( 59| 31|             O|         0| 40) E(10)
1611672143.628567 Key( 59| 31|             O|         0| 40) E(11)
1611672144.480587 Key( 59| 49|         Space|         0| 40) E(10)
1611672144.576930 Key( 59| 56|       Unknown|    131072| 40) E(12)
1611672144.616323 Key( 59| 49|         Space|    131072| 40) E(11)
1611672144.712487 Key( 59| 13|             W|    131072| 40) E(10)
1611672144.768675 Key( 59| 56|       Unknown|         0| 40) E(12)
1611672144.824488 Key( 59| 13|             W|         0| 40) E(11)
1611672144.842026 Key( 59| 31|             O|         0| 40) E(10)
1611672144.930599 Key( 59| 15|             R|         0| 40) E(10)
1611672144.950674 Key( 59| 31|             O|         0| 40) E(11)
1611672145.046280 Key( 59| 15|             R|         0| 40) E(11)
1611672145.112398 Key( 59| 37|             L|         0| 40) E(10)
1611672145.232691 Key( 59| 37|             L|         0| 40) E(11)
1611672145.509644 Key( 59|  2|             D|         0| 40) E(10)
1611672145.666630 Key( 59|  2|             D|         0| 40) E(11)

[cdce8p]

Same here.

@aahung I noticed that even with Catalina there is the Input Monitoring section inside Security & Privacy -> Privacy. It appears as though it has been recently added, since I haven't noticed it before. I can't add Unshaky to it if that would be required however.

[aahung]

Interesting. I never managed to reproduce this. Do you have other apps that might modify keyboard events such as karabiner?

[aahung]

Same here.

@aahung I noticed that even with Catalina there is the Input Monitoring section inside Security & Privacy -> Privacy. It appears as though it has been recently added, since I haven't noticed it before. I can't add Unshaky to it if that would be required however.

What do you mean "can't add Unshaky to it?" Is that preference pane not accessible?

[cdce8p]

Do you have other apps that might modify keyboard events such as karabiner?

No

What do you mean "can't add Unshaky to it?" Is that preference pane not accessible?

I could only add Unshaky to the Accessibility tab. In the Input Monitoring tab I only see a message that no apps have requested this permission. That was a surprise to me since the readme states that you should add it there too, Readme. The App itself starts normally though without complains. If I remove the Accessibility permission, it wouldn't even start.

[jwaddle]

In Catalina 10.15.7, I have the same issue as cdce8p. I can add and enable Unshaky in the Accessibility tab, but when I try the "Input Monitoring" tab, I get the same "Apps that have requested access to monitor input..." with no way to add or enable anything.

[aahung]

@cdce8p and @jwaddle, looks like this is a known issue in macOS. https://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/379452/cannot-add-new-apps-to-mac-catalina-input-monitoring-on-security-privacy

It looks like there is no way to add new app if no other app asked for this permision - there is no list with +/- buttons.

I think Unshaky needs to ask this permission explicitly in next version, but before that, install some other app that requests input monitor could be a workaround. Some known apps that might request such permission:

• logitich option
• discord

[jwaddle]

Thank you, that is exactly what I ended up doing. First I tried the ColorSnapper2 app, but it appeared to have the same issue re: never asking for Input Monitoring. Next I tried something called Cheat Sheet, and it worked well! After it was there populating the list, I was able to add Unshaky with the + button in Input Monitoring. 4 shaky keypresses blocked in the last 5 minutes, thanks.

[aahung]

I did some testing and found only 10.15.7 seems require input monitoring to be turned on. I tested it on big sur (11.2.2) and Unshaky works without input monitoring. I think it is a bug in 10.15.7, therefore, closing this issue for now.

[aahung]

BTW, I tried to let Unshaky to request input monitoring, however, I found the only way to request it is to not to request Accessibility permission at the same time, which is not very feasible.

IOHIDRequestAccess(kIOHIDRequestTypeListenEvent) -> request input monitor, but Unshaky won't work
IOHIDRequestAccess(kIOHIDRequestTypePostEvent) -> request accessibility, Unshaky work in big sur, but may not be adequate in 10.15.7

[cdce8p]

I understand the limitation. Thanks for taking the time to investigate it.

[AndreaCallia]

Thank you, that is exactly what I ended up doing. First I tried the ColorSnapper2 app, but it appeared to have the same issue re: never asking for Input Monitoring. Next I tried something called Cheat Sheet, and it worked well! After it was there populating the list, I was able to add Unshaky with the + button in Input Monitoring. 4 shaky keypresses blocked in the last 5 minutes, thanks.

Thanks for this! Where did you get this Cheat Sheet app? When I google "Cheat Sheet app macos" I get completely unrelated results...