Deleting a system extension (USB Overdrive)

[Dimwhit]

I'm stuck. I installed the v5 beta for USB Overdrive on my M1 Mac Mini, but it doesn't do what I need with my mouse. It also doesn't come with an installer. If I use an app remover, it gets everything but the system extension that it installs, and that extension is screwing everything up. I won't let me adjust mouse tracking or anything while it's installed, even if the app is gone. I've tried everything, including booting to a different drive and using a SUDO delete command in Terminal. Nothing. Developer has not responded to any email, either.

Anyone have any ideas?

 

[Honza1]

Find the extension and delete it. Then you need to clear staging, I believe. And reboot.

You should be able to find the extension in /Library/Extensions - at least that is where they are on my M1 Mini in 11.2.2. Library in the main SSD root folder, not in your own home folder. Alternatively, if it was installed only for you, it may be in Library there, but I have not even found Extensions folder there.
To clear staging try this: sudo kextcache --clear-staging in Terminal. It is for 10.15.x but hopefully they did not change anything for 11.x
This is the reason why Apple is removing kernel extensions access in future macOS systems. These things are impossible to remove for regular user and cause lots of problems when they do not work right.

 

[Dimwhit]

Thanks, but the problem is the first step. I found the extension, but it won't delete. I keep getting an error that I don't have permission. I even tried it with the SUDO command in terminal, but I still get a permission error. I'm not authorized to delete it. Any idea how to get around that?

 

[Honza1]

Well, I have not tried in Big Sur, but in prior systems extensions could be deleted from Finder, you needed admin privileges. System should simply ask for admin credentials.
Looking on line posts discussing this indicate, that that should still work. I cannot try it now, Googling may help if there is special procedure.

 

[Dimwhit]

Yeah, it does ask for an admin password, but I get the error after I enter it: "The operation can't be completed because you don't have permission to access some of the items." Of course, it's just the one item.

This is driving me nuts.

 

[DeltaMac]

You will likely be successful if you first disable SIP.

Disabling System Integrity Protection (SIP) on Apple Silicon Macs

Learn how to disable System Integrity Protection (SIP) on a Mac powered by Apple Silicon M1 processor in this quick tutorial.

techstuffer.com

Restart after you disable SIP, and drag that USB Overdrive to the trash. Empty the trash. The system should let you do that this time.
You should, as a final step, re-enable SIP.

 

[Dimwhit]

Thank you! That did the trick. Much appreciated.