If you encounter the "Unable to connect to helper tool" error when using the Devious Machines Software Manager on macOS, follow these steps to resolve the issue.

Possible Causes

  • The helper tool installation was skipped or canceled when prompted.

  • The helper tool file may be missing or corrupted.

Solution: Reinstall the Helper Tool

To fix the issue, follow these steps:

  1. Ensure You Are Using the Latest Version of the Software Manager

    • Visit the Devious Machines website and download the latest version of the Software Manager.

    • Download and install the latest version by dragging it to your applications folder (or another suitable location)

  2. Reinstall the Helper Tool

    • Close the Devious Machines Software Manager completely.

Open Finder and navigate to: /Library/PrivilegedHelperTools/


You can find the folder by, in Finder, choosing the Go menu and selecting Go To Folder… and pasting /Library/PrivilegedHelperTools/ into the box that appears


Locate and delete the following file (if present).

com.deviousmachines.devioushelper

Restart your Mac (recommended, but optional).

  1. Reopen the Software Manager

    • Launch the Devious Machines Software Manager again.

    • When prompted, allow the installation of the helper tool and enter your Mac administrator password.  You should see this dialog

Once completed, the helper tool should function correctly, and the error should be resolved.

If the issue persists, please contact Devious Machines Support.