`purchase`/`install`/`upgrade` fail with `PKInstallErrorDomain 201` on macOS 26.1, 15.7.2 & 14.8.2

[skarvall]

Instructions for commenters:

We have a diagnosis of the problem & a proposed solution on which I am working.

If you report any installation failures or successes, please include:

• output of mas config
• if your macOS is a prerelease, its prerelease name (e.g., "beta 3")
• if mas purchase, mas install, mas lucky, or mas upgrade ever worked on the same version of macOS.

Thanks.

Original issue:

Configuration

mas ▁▁▁▁ 2.3.0
arch ▁▁▁ arm64
from ▁▁▁ homebrew/core/mas
origin ▁ https://github.com/mas-cli/mas.git
rev ▁▁▁▁ c93a4fca67cc56585bea1650ba268503ea1883a6
driver ▁ 1.127.14.1
swift ▁▁ 6.2 (swiftlang-6.2.0.19.9 clang-1700.3.19.1)
region ▁ CH
macos ▁▁ 26.1 (25B5062e)
mac ▁▁▁▁ MacBookPro18,3
cpu ▁▁▁▁ Apple M1 Pro

Bug description

Attempting to upgrade outdated applications using mas

$ mas upgrade
Upgrading 4 outdated applications:
Microsoft Excel (16.101.3) -> (16.102)
Microsoft PowerPoint (16.101.3) -> (16.102)
Sink It for Reddit (7.100.0) -> (7.101.0)
SponsorBlock für YouTube (6.0.1) -> (6.0.3)
==> Downloading Microsoft Excel (16.102)

Error occurred while installing Microsoft Excel

Error: Error Domain=PKInstallErrorDomain Code=201 "The installation could not be started." UserInfo={NSLocalizedDescription=The installation could not be started., NSUnderlyingError=0x8cacf8720 {Error Domain=PKInstallErrorDomain Code=201 "An error occurred establishing a connection to the installation service." UserInfo={NSLocalizedDescription=An error occurred establishing a connection to the installation service.}}}
==> Downloading Microsoft PowerPoint (16.102)

Error occurred while installing Microsoft PowerPoint

Error: Error Domain=PKInstallErrorDomain Code=201 "The installation could not be started." UserInfo={NSLocalizedDescription=The installation could not be started., NSUnderlyingError=0x8cacf88d0 {Error Domain=PKInstallErrorDomain Code=201 "An error occurred establishing a connection to the installation service." UserInfo={NSLocalizedDescription=An error occurred establishing a connection to the installation service.}}}
==> Downloading Sink It for Reddit (7.101.0)

Error occurred while installing Sink It for Reddit

Error: Error Domain=PKInstallErrorDomain Code=201 "The installation could not be started." UserInfo={NSLocalizedDescription=The installation could not be started., NSUnderlyingError=0x8cacf8750 {Error Domain=PKInstallErrorDomain Code=201 "An error occurred establishing a connection to the installation service." UserInfo={NSLocalizedDescription=An error occurred establishing a connection to the installation service.}}}
==> Downloading SponsorBlock for Safari (6.0.3)

Error occurred while installing SponsorBlock for Safari

Error: Error Domain=PKInstallErrorDomain Code=201 "The installation could not be started." UserInfo={NSLocalizedDescription=The installation could not be started., NSUnderlyingError=0x8cacf85a0 {Error Domain=PKInstallErrorDomain Code=201 "An error occurred establishing a connection to the installation service." UserInfo={NSLocalizedDescription=An error occurred establishing a connection to the installation service.}}}

Steps to reproduce

Apologies if anything is unclear - I’m not super well-versed in this.

– Steps to Reproduce:

1. Execute the command: mas upgrade.
2. The update begins downloading.
3. When download is complete, the process fails with the error:
   Error Domain=PKInstallErrorDomain Code=201.

– Attempted Solutions (Unsuccessful):

• Uninstalled and reinstalled mas via Homebrew.
• Signed out of mas using mas signout and then signed back in.
• Restarted device.

[ylluminate]

This is happening with many apps now and when in use with Topgrade.

[rgoldberg]

@ylluminate @skarvall is this on macOS 26.1 beta?

If so, has mas never worked on that beta version of macOS?

If so, it might be the end of mas.

[ylluminate]

This is 26.1 build 25B5062e, but it did work some last week in a prior beta as far as I was seeing. This has been quite a roller coaster.

[menvol3]

Facing the same issue during Xcode download on Sequia 15.7.1 (24G231)

Error Domain=PKInstallErrorDomain Code=200 "An error occurred connecting to the installation service." UserInfo={NSLocalizedDescription=An error occurred connecting to the installation service.

[rgoldberg]

@menvol3 thanks for info.

Is 15.7.1 a beta?

Did any mas purchase / install / upgrade / lucky ever work on 15.7.1?

[skarvall]

@ylluminate @skarvall is this on macOS 26.1 beta?

If so, has mas never worked on that beta version of macOS?

If so, it might be the end of mas.

Hi, yes this is public beta 3 of 26.1.

I believe it worked on beta 1, but not 2.

[jerryc127]

I also encountered this situation and can't update it. macOS 26.1 beta 3

❯ mas upgrade
Upgrading 1 outdated application:
1Password for Safari (8.11.14) -> (8.11.15)
==> Downloading 1Password for Safari (8.11.15)
Error: Error Domain=PKInstallErrorDomain Code=201 "無法開始安裝。" UserInfo={NSLocalizedDescription=無法開始安裝。, NSUnderlyingError=0x6000031ffed0 {Error Domain=PKInstallErrorDomain Code=201 "建立與安裝服務的連線時發生錯誤。" UserInfo={NSLocalizedDescription=建立與安裝服務的連線時發生錯誤。}}}

[tomrfitz]

@ylluminate @skarvall is this on macOS 26.1 beta?
If so, has mas never worked on that beta version of macOS?
If so, it might be the end of mas.

Hi, yes this is public beta 3 of 26.1.

I believe it worked on beta 1, but not 2.

For me, mas worked on Developer Beta 1 (I think build 25B5042k) but is not working as of DB 2. I'm currently on DB 3 and have the same error message even after signing out, restarting, restarting etc.; both inside and outside of topgrade; and with and without sudo.

$ mas config
mas ▁▁▁▁ 2.3.0
arch ▁▁▁ arm64
from ▁▁▁ homebrew/core/mas
origin ▁ https://github.com/mas-cli/mas.git
rev ▁▁▁▁ c93a4fca67cc56585bea1650ba268503ea1883a6
driver ▁ 1.127.14.1
swift ▁▁ 6.2 (swiftlang-6.2.0.19.9 clang-1700.3.19.1)
region ▁ US
macos ▁▁ 26.1 (25B5062e)
mac ▁▁▁▁ MacBookPro18,3
cpu ▁▁▁▁ Apple M1 Pro

$ mas upgrade
Upgrading 1 outdated application:
TickTick:To-Do List, Calendar (6.3.80) -> (6.3.81)
==> Downloading TickTick:To-Do List, Calendar (6.3.81)
Error: Error Domain=PKInstallErrorDomain Code=201 "The installation could not be started." \
UserInfo={NSLocalizedDescription=The installation could not be started., \
NSUnderlyingError=0x86b05e1f0 {Error Domain=PKInstallErrorDomain Code=201 "An error occurred \
establishing a connection to the installation service." UserInfo={NSLocalizedDescription=An \
error occurred establishing a connection to the installation service.}}}

[rgoldberg]

I do not have an extra Mac on which to test beta macOS versions.

Once 26.1 is released, I will install it & try mas.

It sounds like the private frameworks used by mas will be rendered nonfunctional by macOS 26.1.

The newer private frameworks that I've tried that seem like they might be possible replacements require unspecified entitlements to use.

It seems like the entitlements that will be required are only useable by code signed by Apple's own certificates, so mas probably won't be able to use the newer private frameworks.

All this makes it seem likely that mas will not be able to get/purchase, install, or upgrade on macOS 26.1+.

If anyone knows public frameworks or APIs that can be used to get/install/update apps, or knows how to use alternative private frameworks to do so, please let me know.

If anyone knows much about app entitlements, reverse engineering Objective-C libraries, snooping on your own secure network sessions, etc., please let me know.

Thanks for all the provided info.

[rgoldberg]

Do any of purchase, install, or lucky work?

[tomrfitz]

It doesn't seem so. They each fail with the same error above. I tested the following with lightroom and the first result of mas search notes:

mas lucky lightroom
mas lucky lightroom --force
mas purchase 1444383602
mas install 1444383602
mas install 1444383602 --force

purchase seems to have partially worked since it now appears as a re-download in 'My Apps', but the subsequent install failed.

Each of these produced the same error (except the address in NSUnderlyingError):

$ mas lucky lightroom --force
==> Downloading Adobe Lightroom (8.5.1)
Error: Error Domain=PKInstallErrorDomain Code=201 "The installation could not be started." \
UserInfo={NSLocalizedDescription=The installation could not be started., \
NSUnderlyingError=0x99f05e400 {Error Domain=PKInstallErrorDomain Code=201 "An error occurred \
establishing a connection to the installation service." UserInfo={NSLocalizedDescription=An \
error occurred establishing a connection to the installation service.}}}

$ mas config
mas ▁▁▁▁ 2.3.0
arch ▁▁▁ arm64
from ▁▁▁ homebrew/core/mas
origin ▁ https://github.com/mas-cli/mas.git
rev ▁▁▁▁ c93a4fca67cc56585bea1650ba268503ea1883a6
driver ▁ 1.127.14.1
swift ▁▁ 6.2 (swiftlang-6.2.0.19.9 clang-1700.3.19.1)
region ▁ US
macos ▁▁ 26.1 (25B5062e)
mac ▁▁▁▁ MacBookPro18,3
cpu ▁▁▁▁ Apple M1 Pro

[tomrfitz]

Beta 4 was just released and the issue is still persisting for me.

$ mas config                                                                                                               
mas ▁▁▁▁ 2.3.0
arch ▁▁▁ arm64
from ▁▁▁ homebrew/core/mas
origin ▁ https://github.com/mas-cli/mas.git
rev ▁▁▁▁ c93a4fca67cc56585bea1650ba268503ea1883a6
driver ▁ 1.127.14.1
swift ▁▁ 6.2 (swiftlang-6.2.0.19.9 clang-1700.3.19.1)
region ▁ US
macos ▁▁ 26.1 (25B5072a)
mac ▁▁▁▁ MacBookPro18,3
cpu ▁▁▁▁ Apple M1 Pro

$ mas lucky lightroom
==> Downloading Adobe Lightroom (8.5.1)
Error: Error Domain=PKInstallErrorDomain Code=201 "The installation could not be started." UserInfo={NSLocalizedDescription=The installation could not be started., NSUnderlyingError=0x7f8c31980 {Error Domain=PKInstallErrorDomain Code=201 "An error occurred establishing a connection to the installation service." UserInfo={NSLocalizedDescription=An error occurred establishing a connection to the installation service.}}}                                                                                                      

$ mas lucky lightroom --force
==> Downloading Adobe Lightroom (8.5.1)
Error: Error Domain=PKInstallErrorDomain Code=201 "The installation could not be started." UserInfo={NSLocalizedDescription=The installation could not be started., NSUnderlyingError=0x956c2e070 {Error Domain=PKInstallErrorDomain Code=201 "An error occurred establishing a connection to the installation service." UserInfo={NSLocalizedDescription=An error occurred establishing a connection to the installation service.}}}

$ mas purchase 1444383602
==> Downloading Goodnotes: AI Notes, Docs, PDF (7.0.8)
Error: Error Domain=PKInstallErrorDomain Code=201 "The installation could not be started." UserInfo={NSLocalizedDescription=The installation could not be started., NSUnderlyingError=0x8f8c2dec0 {Error Domain=PKInstallErrorDomain Code=201 "An error occurred establishing a connection to the installation service." UserInfo={NSLocalizedDescription=An error occurred establishing a connection to the installation service.}}}

$ mas install 1444383602
==> Downloading Goodnotes: AI Notes, Docs, PDF (7.0.8)
Error: Error Domain=PKInstallErrorDomain Code=201 "The installation could not be started." UserInfo={NSLocalizedDescription=The installation could not be started., NSUnderlyingError=0xb52c2a340 {Error Domain=PKInstallErrorDomain Code=201 "An error occurred establishing a connection to the installation service." UserInfo={NSLocalizedDescription=An error occurred establishing a connection to the installation service.}}}

$ mas install 1444383602 --force
==> Downloading Goodnotes: AI Notes, Docs, PDF (7.0.8)
Error: Error Domain=PKInstallErrorDomain Code=201 "The installation could not be started." UserInfo={NSLocalizedDescription=The installation could not be started., NSUnderlyingError=0x7dec36250 {Error Domain=PKInstallErrorDomain Code=201 "An error occurred establishing a connection to the installation service." UserInfo={NSLocalizedDescription=An error occurred establishing a connection to the installation service.}}}