Devices running 15.6 cannot create Installers

🪲 Description

This issue is present in both Mist and mist-cli

On macOS 15.6, after downloading all assets an error is occurring Opened package is not the same at install time...

📋 Steps to Reproduce

Run mist download installer Sequoia application --application-name "Install macOS Sequoia.app" --output-directory /var/tmp --compatible --no-ansi (appears to happen regardless of the options)
Wait for mist to download all assets
Observe error during the Verifying process

✅ Expected Behaviour

Installer app should be created in the provided directory

💻 Environment

mist version (mist --version): 2.1.1 (latest: 2.1.1)
macOS Version (sw_vers): 24G84
Hardware (system_profiler SPHardwareDataType):
- Model Identifier: Mac16,13
- Chip : Apple M4

I was able to successfully use EraseInstall/mist on 14.6.1 23G93 on an M1 Macbook Pro

📷 Screenshots

If applicable, add screenshots to help explain the bug.

ℹ️ Additional context

I observed this when running erase-install but also when running mist directly in Terminal.

I observe that others have reported this for Mist GUI app on Slack: https://macadmins.slack.com/archives/CF0CFM5B7/p1753954228095199?thread_ts=1753894964.913659&cid=CF0CFM5B7

Mist GUI appears to error at a slightly different time, but with the same ultimate error code:

Apparently duplicate/similar issue in Mist GUI: ninxsoft/Mist#182

mist-cli logs:

 mist download installer Sequoia application --application-name "Install macOS Sequoia.app" --output-directory /var/tmp --compatible --no-ansi
┌──────────────────┐
│ INPUT VALIDATION │
└──────────────────┘
  ├─ User is 'root'...
  ├─ Download search string will be 'Sequoia'...
  ├─ Include betas in search results will be 'false'...
  ├─ Only include compatible installers will be 'true'...
  ├─ Cache downloads will be 'false'...
  ├─ Output directory will be '/var/tmp'...
  ├─ Temporary directory will be '/private/tmp/com.ninxsoft.mist'...
  ├─ Force flag has not been set, existing files will not be overwritten...
  ├─ Application name will be 'Install macOS Sequoia.app'...
┌────────┐
│ SEARCH │
└────────┘
  ├─ Searching for macOS download 'Sequoia'...
  ├─ Found [082-08661] macOS Sequoia 15.6 (24G84) [2025-07-29]
┌───────┐
│ SETUP │
└───────┘
  ├─ Deleting old temporary directory '/private/tmp/com.ninxsoft.mist/082-08661'...
  ├─ Creating new temporary directory '/private/tmp/com.ninxsoft.mist/082-08661'...
┌──────────┐
│ DOWNLOAD │
└──────────┘
  ├─ [ 1 / 6 ] 082-08661.English.dist......................... [  0000  B /  0000  B (00.00%) ]
  ├─ [ 1 / 6 ] 082-08661.English.dist......................... [ 10.31 KB / 10.31 KB (100.0%) ]
  ├─ [ 1 / 6 ] 082-08661.English.dist......................... [ 10.31 KB / 10.31 KB (100.0%) ]
  │            Verifying...
  │            Verifying... ✓✓✓
  ├─ [ 2 / 6 ] InstallAssistant.pkg........................... [  0000  B / 15.66 GB (00.00%) ]
  ├─ [ 2 / 6 ] InstallAssistant.pkg.......................... [ 156.63 MB / 15.66 GB (01.00%) ]
  ├─ [ 2 / 6 ] InstallAssistant.pkg.......................... [ 313.23 MB / 15.66 GB (02.00%) ]
  ├─ [ 2 / 6 ] InstallAssistant.pkg.......................... [ 469.86 MB / 15.66 GB (03.00%) ]
  ├─ [ 2 / 6 ] InstallAssistant.pkg.......................... [ 626.41 MB / 15.66 GB (04.00%) ]
  ├─ [ 2 / 6 ] InstallAssistant.pkg.......................... [ 782.98 MB / 15.66 GB (05.00%) ]
  ├─ [ 2 / 6 ] InstallAssistant.pkg.......................... [ 939.52 MB / 15.66 GB (06.00%) ]
  ├─ [ 2 / 6 ] InstallAssistant.pkg........................... [ 01.10 GB / 15.66 GB (07.00%) ]
  ├─ [ 2 / 6 ] InstallAssistant.pkg........................... [ 01.25 GB / 15.66 GB (08.00%) ]
  ├─ [ 2 / 6 ] InstallAssistant.pkg........................... [ 01.41 GB / 15.66 GB (09.00%) ]
  ├─ [ 2 / 6 ] InstallAssistant.pkg........................... [ 01.57 GB / 15.66 GB (10.00%) ]
  ├─ [ 2 / 6 ] InstallAssistant.pkg........................... [ 01.72 GB / 15.66 GB (11.00%) ]
  ├─ [ 2 / 6 ] InstallAssistant.pkg........................... [ 01.88 GB / 15.66 GB (12.00%) ]
  ├─ [ 2 / 6 ] InstallAssistant.pkg........................... [ 02.04 GB / 15.66 GB (13.00%) ]
  ├─ [ 2 / 6 ] InstallAssistant.pkg........................... [ 02.19 GB / 15.66 GB (14.00%) ]
  ├─ [ 2 / 6 ] InstallAssistant.pkg........................... [ 02.35 GB / 15.66 GB (15.00%) ]
  ├─ [ 2 / 6 ] InstallAssistant.pkg........................... [ 02.51 GB / 15.66 GB (16.00%) ]
  ├─ [ 2 / 6 ] InstallAssistant.pkg........................... [ 02.66 GB / 15.66 GB (17.00%) ]
  ├─ [ 2 / 6 ] InstallAssistant.pkg........................... [ 02.82 GB / 15.66 GB (18.00%) ]
  ├─ [ 2 / 6 ] InstallAssistant.pkg........................... [ 02.98 GB / 15.66 GB (19.00%) ]
  ├─ [ 2 / 6 ] InstallAssistant.pkg........................... [ 03.13 GB / 15.66 GB (20.00%) ]
  ├─ [ 2 / 6 ] InstallAssistant.pkg........................... [ 03.29 GB / 15.66 GB (21.00%) ]
  ├─ [ 2 / 6 ] InstallAssistant.pkg........................... [ 03.45 GB / 15.66 GB (22.00%) ]
  ├─ [ 2 / 6 ] InstallAssistant.pkg........................... [ 03.60 GB / 15.66 GB (23.00%) ]
  ├─ [ 2 / 6 ] InstallAssistant.pkg........................... [ 03.76 GB / 15.66 GB (24.00%) ]
  ├─ [ 2 / 6 ] InstallAssistant.pkg........................... [ 03.91 GB / 15.66 GB (25.00%) ]
  ├─ [ 2 / 6 ] InstallAssistant.pkg........................... [ 04.07 GB / 15.66 GB (26.00%) ]
  ├─ [ 2 / 6 ] InstallAssistant.pkg........................... [ 04.23 GB / 15.66 GB (27.00%) ]
  ├─ [ 2 / 6 ] InstallAssistant.pkg........................... [ 04.38 GB / 15.66 GB (28.00%) ]
  ├─ [ 2 / 6 ] InstallAssistant.pkg........................... [ 04.54 GB / 15.66 GB (29.00%) ]
  ├─ [ 2 / 6 ] InstallAssistant.pkg........................... [ 04.70 GB / 15.66 GB (30.00%) ]
  ├─ [ 2 / 6 ] InstallAssistant.pkg........................... [ 04.85 GB / 15.66 GB (31.00%) ]
  ├─ [ 2 / 6 ] InstallAssistant.pkg........................... [ 05.01 GB / 15.66 GB (32.00%) ]
  ├─ [ 2 / 6 ] InstallAssistant.pkg........................... [ 05.17 GB / 15.66 GB (33.00%) ]
  ├─ [ 2 / 6 ] InstallAssistant.pkg........................... [ 05.32 GB / 15.66 GB (34.00%) ]
  ├─ [ 2 / 6 ] InstallAssistant.pkg........................... [ 05.48 GB / 15.66 GB (35.00%) ]
  ├─ [ 2 / 6 ] InstallAssistant.pkg........................... [ 05.64 GB / 15.66 GB (36.00%) ]
  ├─ [ 2 / 6 ] InstallAssistant.pkg........................... [ 05.79 GB / 15.66 GB (37.00%) ]
  ├─ [ 2 / 6 ] InstallAssistant.pkg........................... [ 05.95 GB / 15.66 GB (38.00%) ]
  ├─ [ 2 / 6 ] InstallAssistant.pkg........................... [ 06.11 GB / 15.66 GB (39.00%) ]
  ├─ [ 2 / 6 ] InstallAssistant.pkg........................... [ 06.26 GB / 15.66 GB (40.00%) ]
  ├─ [ 2 / 6 ] InstallAssistant.pkg........................... [ 06.42 GB / 15.66 GB (41.00%) ]
  ├─ [ 2 / 6 ] InstallAssistant.pkg........................... [ 06.58 GB / 15.66 GB (42.00%) ]
  ├─ [ 2 / 6 ] InstallAssistant.pkg........................... [ 06.73 GB / 15.66 GB (43.00%) ]
  ├─ [ 2 / 6 ] InstallAssistant.pkg........................... [ 06.89 GB / 15.66 GB (44.00%) ]
  ├─ [ 2 / 6 ] InstallAssistant.pkg........................... [ 07.05 GB / 15.66 GB (45.00%) ]
  ├─ [ 2 / 6 ] InstallAssistant.pkg........................... [ 07.20 GB / 15.66 GB (46.00%) ]
  ├─ [ 2 / 6 ] InstallAssistant.pkg........................... [ 07.36 GB / 15.66 GB (47.00%) ]
  ├─ [ 2 / 6 ] InstallAssistant.pkg........................... [ 07.52 GB / 15.66 GB (48.00%) ]
  ├─ [ 2 / 6 ] InstallAssistant.pkg........................... [ 07.67 GB / 15.66 GB (49.00%) ]
  ├─ [ 2 / 6 ] InstallAssistant.pkg........................... [ 07.83 GB / 15.66 GB (50.00%) ]
  ├─ [ 2 / 6 ] InstallAssistant.pkg........................... [ 07.99 GB / 15.66 GB (51.00%) ]
  ├─ [ 2 / 6 ] InstallAssistant.pkg........................... [ 08.14 GB / 15.66 GB (52.00%) ]
  ├─ [ 2 / 6 ] InstallAssistant.pkg........................... [ 08.30 GB / 15.66 GB (53.00%) ]
  ├─ [ 2 / 6 ] InstallAssistant.pkg........................... [ 08.46 GB / 15.66 GB (54.00%) ]
  ├─ [ 2 / 6 ] InstallAssistant.pkg........................... [ 08.61 GB / 15.66 GB (55.00%) ]
  ├─ [ 2 / 6 ] InstallAssistant.pkg........................... [ 08.77 GB / 15.66 GB (56.00%) ]
  ├─ [ 2 / 6 ] InstallAssistant.pkg........................... [ 08.93 GB / 15.66 GB (57.00%) ]
  ├─ [ 2 / 6 ] InstallAssistant.pkg........................... [ 09.08 GB / 15.66 GB (58.00%) ]
  ├─ [ 2 / 6 ] InstallAssistant.pkg........................... [ 09.24 GB / 15.66 GB (59.00%) ]
  ├─ [ 2 / 6 ] InstallAssistant.pkg........................... [ 09.39 GB / 15.66 GB (60.00%) ]
  ├─ [ 2 / 6 ] InstallAssistant.pkg........................... [ 09.55 GB / 15.66 GB (61.00%) ]
  ├─ [ 2 / 6 ] InstallAssistant.pkg........................... [ 09.71 GB / 15.66 GB (62.00%) ]
  ├─ [ 2 / 6 ] InstallAssistant.pkg........................... [ 09.86 GB / 15.66 GB (63.00%) ]
  ├─ [ 2 / 6 ] InstallAssistant.pkg........................... [ 10.02 GB / 15.66 GB (64.00%) ]
  ├─ [ 2 / 6 ] InstallAssistant.pkg........................... [ 10.18 GB / 15.66 GB (65.00%) ]
  ├─ [ 2 / 6 ] InstallAssistant.pkg........................... [ 10.33 GB / 15.66 GB (66.00%) ]
  ├─ [ 2 / 6 ] InstallAssistant.pkg........................... [ 10.49 GB / 15.66 GB (67.00%) ]
  ├─ [ 2 / 6 ] InstallAssistant.pkg........................... [ 10.65 GB / 15.66 GB (68.00%) ]
  ├─ [ 2 / 6 ] InstallAssistant.pkg........................... [ 10.80 GB / 15.66 GB (69.00%) ]
  ├─ [ 2 / 6 ] InstallAssistant.pkg........................... [ 10.96 GB / 15.66 GB (70.00%) ]
  ├─ [ 2 / 6 ] InstallAssistant.pkg........................... [ 11.12 GB / 15.66 GB (71.00%) ]
  ├─ [ 2 / 6 ] InstallAssistant.pkg........................... [ 11.27 GB / 15.66 GB (72.00%) ]
  ├─ [ 2 / 6 ] InstallAssistant.pkg........................... [ 11.43 GB / 15.66 GB (73.00%) ]
  ├─ [ 2 / 6 ] InstallAssistant.pkg........................... [ 11.59 GB / 15.66 GB (74.00%) ]
  ├─ [ 2 / 6 ] InstallAssistant.pkg........................... [ 11.74 GB / 15.66 GB (75.00%) ]
  ├─ [ 2 / 6 ] InstallAssistant.pkg........................... [ 11.90 GB / 15.66 GB (76.00%) ]
  ├─ [ 2 / 6 ] InstallAssistant.pkg........................... [ 12.06 GB / 15.66 GB (77.00%) ]
  ├─ [ 2 / 6 ] InstallAssistant.pkg........................... [ 12.21 GB / 15.66 GB (78.00%) ]
  ├─ [ 2 / 6 ] InstallAssistant.pkg........................... [ 12.37 GB / 15.66 GB (79.00%) ]
  ├─ [ 2 / 6 ] InstallAssistant.pkg........................... [ 12.53 GB / 15.66 GB (80.00%) ]
  ├─ [ 2 / 6 ] InstallAssistant.pkg........................... [ 12.68 GB / 15.66 GB (81.00%) ]
  ├─ [ 2 / 6 ] InstallAssistant.pkg........................... [ 12.84 GB / 15.66 GB (82.00%) ]
  ├─ [ 2 / 6 ] InstallAssistant.pkg........................... [ 13.00 GB / 15.66 GB (83.00%) ]
  ├─ [ 2 / 6 ] InstallAssistant.pkg........................... [ 13.15 GB / 15.66 GB (84.00%) ]
  ├─ [ 2 / 6 ] InstallAssistant.pkg........................... [ 13.31 GB / 15.66 GB (85.00%) ]
  ├─ [ 2 / 6 ] InstallAssistant.pkg........................... [ 13.47 GB / 15.66 GB (86.00%) ]
  ├─ [ 2 / 6 ] InstallAssistant.pkg........................... [ 13.62 GB / 15.66 GB (87.00%) ]
  ├─ [ 2 / 6 ] InstallAssistant.pkg........................... [ 13.78 GB / 15.66 GB (88.00%) ]
  ├─ [ 2 / 6 ] InstallAssistant.pkg........................... [ 13.94 GB / 15.66 GB (89.00%) ]
  ├─ [ 2 / 6 ] InstallAssistant.pkg........................... [ 14.09 GB / 15.66 GB (90.00%) ]
  ├─ [ 2 / 6 ] InstallAssistant.pkg........................... [ 14.25 GB / 15.66 GB (91.00%) ]
  ├─ [ 2 / 6 ] InstallAssistant.pkg........................... [ 14.41 GB / 15.66 GB (92.00%) ]
  ├─ [ 2 / 6 ] InstallAssistant.pkg........................... [ 14.56 GB / 15.66 GB (93.00%) ]
  ├─ [ 2 / 6 ] InstallAssistant.pkg........................... [ 14.72 GB / 15.66 GB (94.00%) ]
  ├─ [ 2 / 6 ] InstallAssistant.pkg........................... [ 14.88 GB / 15.66 GB (95.00%) ]
  ├─ [ 2 / 6 ] InstallAssistant.pkg........................... [ 15.03 GB / 15.66 GB (96.00%) ]
  ├─ [ 2 / 6 ] InstallAssistant.pkg........................... [ 15.19 GB / 15.66 GB (97.00%) ]
  ├─ [ 2 / 6 ] InstallAssistant.pkg........................... [ 15.34 GB / 15.66 GB (98.00%) ]
  ├─ [ 2 / 6 ] InstallAssistant.pkg........................... [ 15.50 GB / 15.66 GB (99.00%) ]
  ├─ [ 2 / 6 ] InstallAssistant.pkg........................... [ 15.66 GB / 15.66 GB (100.0%) ]
  ├─ [ 2 / 6 ] InstallAssistant.pkg........................... [ 15.66 GB / 15.66 GB (100.0%) ]
  │            Verifying...
  │            Verifying... ✓✓✓
  ├─ [ 3 / 6 ] InstallInfo.plist.............................. [  0000  B /  0181  B (00.00%) ]
  ├─ [ 3 / 6 ] InstallInfo.plist.............................. [  0181  B /  0181  B (100.0%) ]
  ├─ [ 3 / 6 ] InstallInfo.plist.............................. [  0181  B /  0181  B (100.0%) ]
  │            Verifying...
  │            Verifying... ✓✓✓
  ├─ [ 4 / 6 ] MajorOSInfo.pkg................................ [  0000  B / 01.26 MB (00.00%) ]
  ├─ [ 4 / 6 ] MajorOSInfo.pkg................................ [ 85.80 KB / 01.26 MB (06.84%) ]
  ├─ [ 4 / 6 ] MajorOSInfo.pkg............................... [ 156.00 KB / 01.26 MB (12.43%) ]
  ├─ [ 4 / 6 ] MajorOSInfo.pkg............................... [ 240.50 KB / 01.26 MB (19.16%) ]
  ├─ [ 4 / 6 ] MajorOSInfo.pkg............................... [ 460.20 KB / 01.26 MB (36.66%) ]
  ├─ [ 4 / 6 ] MajorOSInfo.pkg............................... [ 597.15 KB / 01.26 MB (47.58%) ]
  ├─ [ 4 / 6 ] MajorOSInfo.pkg............................... [ 697.25 KB / 01.26 MB (55.55%) ]
  ├─ [ 4 / 6 ] MajorOSInfo.pkg............................... [ 794.75 KB / 01.26 MB (63.32%) ]
  ├─ [ 4 / 6 ] MajorOSInfo.pkg................................ [ 01.10 MB / 01.26 MB (87.80%) ]
  ├─ [ 4 / 6 ] MajorOSInfo.pkg................................ [ 01.22 MB / 01.26 MB (96.94%) ]
  ├─ [ 4 / 6 ] MajorOSInfo.pkg................................ [ 01.26 MB / 01.26 MB (100.0%) ]
  ├─ [ 4 / 6 ] MajorOSInfo.pkg................................ [ 01.26 MB / 01.26 MB (100.0%) ]
  │            Verifying...
  │            Verifying... ✓✓✓
  ├─ [ 5 / 6 ] UpdateBrain.zip................................ [  0000  B / 04.15 MB (00.00%) ]
  ├─ [ 5 / 6 ] UpdateBrain.zip................................ [ 81.92 KB / 04.15 MB (01.97%) ]
  ├─ [ 5 / 6 ] UpdateBrain.zip............................... [ 229.36 KB / 04.15 MB (05.53%) ]
  ├─ [ 5 / 6 ] UpdateBrain.zip............................... [ 311.28 KB / 04.15 MB (07.50%) ]
  ├─ [ 5 / 6 ] UpdateBrain.zip............................... [ 475.11 KB / 04.15 MB (11.45%) ]
  ├─ [ 5 / 6 ] UpdateBrain.zip............................... [ 621.36 KB / 04.15 MB (14.97%) ]
  ├─ [ 5 / 6 ] UpdateBrain.zip............................... [ 785.19 KB / 04.15 MB (18.92%) ]
  ├─ [ 5 / 6 ] UpdateBrain.zip............................... [ 884.71 KB / 04.15 MB (21.32%) ]
  ├─ [ 5 / 6 ] UpdateBrain.zip............................... [ 999.39 KB / 04.15 MB (24.08%) ]
  ├─ [ 5 / 6 ] UpdateBrain.zip................................ [ 01.25 MB / 04.15 MB (30.00%) ]
  ├─ [ 5 / 6 ] UpdateBrain.zip................................ [ 01.34 MB / 04.15 MB (32.37%) ]
  ├─ [ 5 / 6 ] UpdateBrain.zip................................ [ 01.46 MB / 04.15 MB (35.14%) ]
  ├─ [ 5 / 6 ] UpdateBrain.zip................................ [ 01.62 MB / 04.15 MB (39.08%) ]
  ├─ [ 5 / 6 ] UpdateBrain.zip................................ [ 01.82 MB / 04.15 MB (43.82%) ]
  ├─ [ 5 / 6 ] UpdateBrain.zip................................ [ 01.90 MB / 04.15 MB (45.80%) ]
  ├─ [ 5 / 6 ] UpdateBrain.zip................................ [ 01.98 MB / 04.15 MB (47.77%) ]
  ├─ [ 5 / 6 ] UpdateBrain.zip................................ [ 02.21 MB / 04.15 MB (53.29%) ]
  ├─ [ 5 / 6 ] UpdateBrain.zip................................ [ 02.39 MB / 04.15 MB (57.64%) ]
  ├─ [ 5 / 6 ] UpdateBrain.zip................................ [ 02.51 MB / 04.15 MB (60.40%) ]
  ├─ [ 5 / 6 ] UpdateBrain.zip................................ [ 02.69 MB / 04.15 MB (64.74%) ]
  ├─ [ 5 / 6 ] UpdateBrain.zip................................ [ 02.90 MB / 04.15 MB (69.88%) ]
  ├─ [ 5 / 6 ] UpdateBrain.zip................................ [ 03.01 MB / 04.15 MB (72.64%) ]
  ├─ [ 5 / 6 ] UpdateBrain.zip................................ [ 03.11 MB / 04.15 MB (75.01%) ]
  ├─ [ 5 / 6 ] UpdateBrain.zip................................ [ 03.19 MB / 04.15 MB (76.98%) ]
  ├─ [ 5 / 6 ] UpdateBrain.zip................................ [ 03.29 MB / 04.15 MB (79.35%) ]
  ├─ [ 5 / 6 ] UpdateBrain.zip................................ [ 03.41 MB / 04.15 MB (82.11%) ]
  ├─ [ 5 / 6 ] UpdateBrain.zip................................ [ 03.49 MB / 04.15 MB (84.09%) ]
  ├─ [ 5 / 6 ] UpdateBrain.zip................................ [ 03.64 MB / 04.15 MB (87.64%) ]
  ├─ [ 5 / 6 ] UpdateBrain.zip................................ [ 03.78 MB / 04.15 MB (91.19%) ]
  ├─ [ 5 / 6 ] UpdateBrain.zip................................ [ 03.90 MB / 04.15 MB (93.96%) ]
  ├─ [ 5 / 6 ] UpdateBrain.zip................................ [ 04.06 MB / 04.15 MB (97.91%) ]
  ├─ [ 5 / 6 ] UpdateBrain.zip................................ [ 04.15 MB / 04.15 MB (100.0%) ]
  ├─ [ 5 / 6 ] UpdateBrain.zip................................ [ 04.15 MB / 04.15 MB (100.0%) ]
  │            Verifying...
  │            Verifying... ✓✓✓
  ├─ [ 6 / 6 ] com_apple_MobileAsset_MacSoftwareUpdate.plist.. [  0000  B / 01.42 MB (00.00%) ]
  ├─ [ 6 / 6 ] com_apple_MobileAsset_MacSoftwareUpdate.plist.. [ 98.30 KB / 01.42 MB (06.91%) ]
  ├─ [ 6 / 6 ] com_apple_MobileAsset_MacSoftwareUpdate.plist. [ 196.60 KB / 01.42 MB (13.81%) ]
  ├─ [ 6 / 6 ] com_apple_MobileAsset_MacSoftwareUpdate.plist. [ 442.34 KB / 01.42 MB (31.07%) ]
  ├─ [ 6 / 6 ] com_apple_MobileAsset_MacSoftwareUpdate.plist. [ 539.45 KB / 01.42 MB (37.89%) ]
  ├─ [ 6 / 6 ] com_apple_MobileAsset_MacSoftwareUpdate.plist. [ 768.81 KB / 01.42 MB (54.01%) ]
  ├─ [ 6 / 6 ] com_apple_MobileAsset_MacSoftwareUpdate.plist. [ 917.48 KB / 01.42 MB (64.45%) ]
  ├─ [ 6 / 6 ] com_apple_MobileAsset_MacSoftwareUpdate.plist.. [ 01.06 MB / 01.42 MB (74.81%) ]
  ├─ [ 6 / 6 ] com_apple_MobileAsset_MacSoftwareUpdate.plist.. [ 01.33 MB / 01.42 MB (93.22%) ]
  ├─ [ 6 / 6 ] com_apple_MobileAsset_MacSoftwareUpdate.plist.. [ 01.42 MB / 01.42 MB (100.0%) ]
  ├─ [ 6 / 6 ] com_apple_MobileAsset_MacSoftwareUpdate.plist.. [ 01.42 MB / 01.42 MB (100.0%) ]
  │            Verifying...
  │            Verifying... ✓✓✓
┌─────────┐
│ INSTALL │
└─────────┘
  ├─ Creating image '/private/tmp/com.ninxsoft.mist/082-08661/082-08661.dmg'...
  ├─ Mounting disk image at mount point '/Volumes/082-08661'...
  ├─ Creating new installer '/Volumes/082-08661/Applications/Install macOS Sequoia.app'...
  └─ Invalid Exit Status Code: '1', Message: 2025-08-04 17:04:29.496 installer[58088:1039555] Opened package is not the same at install time...

Bug Fix: Modern macOS Installer Creation

Problem Description

Mist-cli is failing to create functional macOS installer apps for modern macOS versions (macOS Sequoia 15.0+). The tool would either:

Create incomplete installers - Only ~50MB “shell” apps missing the actual macOS payload
Fail with package errors - “Opened package is not the same at install time” when using the installer command
Create non-functional apps - Missing proper executable, icon, and app bundle structure

Affected Versions

macOS Sequoia 15.0+
macOS 15.1+ (all versions)
Any modern macOS installer using the new InstallAssistant.pkg format

Root Cause Analysis

Modern macOS installers use a complex multi-part package structure:

InstallAssistant.pkg (16.7GB)
├── Payload (22MB) - App structure (executable, icon, Info.plist)
├── SharedSupport.dmg (16GB) - Actual macOS installation files
├── Scripts/
└── PackageInfo

The core issues were:

Incompatible installation method - Mist used the installer command which expects packages to remain in their original download location
Path conflicts - Moving files from /private/tmp/ broke the installer command’s internal references
Incomplete reconstruction - Even when successful, only the basic app structure was installed, not the full payload

Solution

Replaced the problematic installer command approach with a manual reconstruction method that replicates the successful manual process:

New Installation Flow

Direct download to shared location - Download files directly to /Users/Shared/Mist/tmp instead of /private/tmp/
Package extraction - Use pkgutil --expand to extract InstallAssistant.pkg components
App structure extraction - Extract proper app bundle from Payload file using multiple methods (cpio, pax)
SharedSupport integration - Mount SharedSupport.dmg and copy contents to app’s SharedSupport directory
Permission fixing - Apply proper ownership, permissions, and remove invalid signatures

Code Changes

Modified Files

Mist/Helpers/InstallerCreator.swift

Replaced installer command workflow with manual reconstruction
Added multi-method Payload extraction (cpio, gzipped cpio, pax)
Implemented SharedSupport.dmg mounting and content copying
Added comprehensive permission fixes

Mist/Commands/DownloadInstallerOptions.swift

Changed default temporary directory from /private/tmp/com.ninxsoft.mist to /Users/Shared/Mist/tmp

Key Functions Added

// Extracts real app structure from Payload file
private static func extractProperAppStructureFromPayload(...)

// Mounts SharedSupport.dmg and copies 16GB payload
private static func mountAndCopySharedSupport(...)

// Applies proven permission fixes
private static func applySuccessfulPermissionFixes(...)

Verification

Before Fix

$ du -sh "Install macOS Sequoia.app"
50M     Install macOS Sequoia.app

$ open "Install macOS Sequoia.app"
# Error: "Install macOS Sequoia" is damaged and can't be opened

After Fix

$ du -sh "Install macOS Sequoia.app"  
16.7G   Install macOS Sequoia.app

$ open "Install macOS Sequoia.app"
# ✓ Opens successfully with proper icon and functionality

Testing

Tested successfully with:

✅ macOS Sequoia 15.0
✅ macOS Sequoia 15.1
✅ Various modern InstallAssistant.pkg formats

Test Command

sudo mist download installer "macOS Sequoia" application

Technical Details

Package Structure Analysis

Modern InstallAssistant.pkg files contain:

Payload: CPIO archive with basic app bundle structure
SharedSupport.dmg: HFS+ disk image with actual macOS installation files
Scripts: Post-installation scripts (unused in our reconstruction)

Extraction Methods

The fix implements multiple extraction methods for the Payload file:

Standard CPIO - For uncompressed payloads
Gzipped CPIO - For compressed payloads
PAX archive - Alternative format used by some packages

Permission Fixes Applied

Based on proven manual process:

chown -R $(whoami):staff "Install macOS [Version].app"
chmod -R 755 "Install macOS [Version].app"
rm -rf "Install macOS [Version].app/Contents/_CodeSignature"
xattr -dr com.apple.quarantine "Install macOS [Version].app"

Impact

✅ Fixed modern macOS installer creation - Now creates proper 16GB functional installers
✅ Eliminated package path conflicts - No more “package not the same” errors
✅ Improved reliability - Direct download to stable location avoids permission issues
✅ Proper app structure - Includes correct executable, icon, and bundle structure
✅ Backward compatibility - Maintains support for older installer formats

Related Issues

Fixes the following error patterns:

installer: Opened package is not the same at install time
"Install macOS [Version]" is damaged and can't be opened
Small installer apps missing actual macOS payload
Missing installer icons and proper app structure

Tested on: macOS 14.x, macOS 15.x
Affects: Modern macOS installer downloads (Sequoia+)
Priority: High - Core functionality fix

I'm currently seeing this issue. Is this fix slotted for the next build? Thanks in advance.

@fradamer-ops

@fradamer-ops asked:

I'm currently seeing this issue. Is this fix slotted for the next build? Thanks in advance.

Ditto. Sounds like @tlsnine's fix is complete, awaiting an PR / merge? At the moment, not having the ability to pull a complete installer is stymieing our offline deployment procedures, so curious what the time-frame for the merge might be.

I have the issue too, any idea when the fix will be implemented?

This should be fixed in #187 🚀

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Devices running 15.6 cannot create Installers #186

🪲 Description

📋 Steps to Reproduce

✅ Expected Behaviour

💻 Environment

📷 Screenshots

ℹ️ Additional context

Bug Fix: Modern macOS Installer Creation

Problem Description

Affected Versions

Root Cause Analysis

Solution

New Installation Flow

Code Changes

Modified Files

Key Functions Added

Verification

Before Fix

After Fix

Testing

Test Command

Technical Details

Package Structure Analysis

Extraction Methods

Permission Fixes Applied

Impact

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Devices running 15.6 cannot create Installers #186

Description

🪲 Description

📋 Steps to Reproduce

✅ Expected Behaviour

💻 Environment

📷 Screenshots

ℹ️ Additional context

Activity

tlsnine commented on Aug 13, 2025

Bug Fix: Modern macOS Installer Creation

Problem Description

Affected Versions

Root Cause Analysis

Solution

New Installation Flow

Code Changes

Modified Files

Key Functions Added

Verification

Before Fix

After Fix

Testing

Test Command

Technical Details

Package Structure Analysis

Extraction Methods

Permission Fixes Applied

Impact

Related Issues

fradamer-ops commented on Aug 18, 2025

eengstrom commented on Aug 27, 2025

JDUBZzz commented on Sep 11, 2025

ninxsoft commented on Sep 21, 2025

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