---
summary: "Signing steps for macOS debug builds generated by packaging scripts"
read_when:
  - Building or signing mac debug builds
title: "macOS signing"
---

# mac signing (debug builds)

[`scripts/package-mac-app.sh`](https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/blob/main/scripts/package-mac-app.sh) builds and packages the app to a fixed path (`dist/OpenClaw.app`), then calls [`scripts/codesign-mac-app.sh`](https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/blob/main/scripts/codesign-mac-app.sh) to sign it. TCC permissions are tied to the bundle ID and code signature; keeping both stable (and the app at a fixed path) across rebuilds keeps macOS from forgetting TCC grants (notifications, accessibility, screen recording, mic, speech).

- Debug bundle identifier defaults to `ai.openclaw.mac.debug` (override with `BUNDLE_ID=...`).
- Node: `>=22.19.0 <23` or `>=23.11.0` (repo `package.json` `engines`). The packager also builds the Control UI (`pnpm ui:build`).
- Requires a real signing identity by default; the codesign script exits with an error if none is found and `ALLOW_ADHOC_SIGNING` is not set. Ad-hoc signing (`SIGN_IDENTITY="-"`) is explicit opt-in and does not persist TCC permissions across rebuilds. See [macOS permissions](/platforms/mac/permissions).
- Reads `SIGN_IDENTITY` from the environment (e.g. `export SIGN_IDENTITY="Apple Development: Your Name (TEAMID)"`, or a Developer ID Application cert). Without it, `codesign-mac-app.sh` auto-selects an identity in this order: Developer ID Application, Apple Distribution, Apple Development, then the first valid codesigning identity found.
- `CODESIGN_TIMESTAMP=auto` (default) enables trusted timestamps only for Developer ID Application signatures. Set `on`/`off` to force either way.
- Stamps Info.plist with `OpenClawBuildTimestamp` (ISO8601 UTC) and `OpenClawGitCommit` (short hash, `unknown` if unavailable) so the About tab can show build, git, and debug/release channel.
- Runs a Team ID audit after signing and fails if any Mach-O inside the bundle has a different Team ID. Set `SKIP_TEAM_ID_CHECK=1` to bypass.

## Usage

```bash
# from repo root
scripts/package-mac-app.sh                                                      # auto-selects identity; errors if none found
SIGN_IDENTITY="Developer ID Application: Your Name" scripts/package-mac-app.sh   # real cert
ALLOW_ADHOC_SIGNING=1 scripts/package-mac-app.sh                                 # ad-hoc (permissions will not stick)
SIGN_IDENTITY="-" scripts/package-mac-app.sh                                     # explicit ad-hoc (same caveat)
DISABLE_LIBRARY_VALIDATION=1 scripts/package-mac-app.sh                          # dev-only Sparkle Team ID mismatch workaround
```

### Ad-hoc signing note

`SIGN_IDENTITY="-"` disables the Hardened Runtime (`--options runtime`) to prevent crashes when the app loads embedded frameworks (like Sparkle) that do not share the same Team ID. Ad-hoc signatures also break TCC permission persistence; see [macOS permissions](/platforms/mac/permissions) for recovery steps.

## Build metadata for About

The About tab reads `OpenClawBuildTimestamp` and `OpenClawGitCommit` from Info.plist to show version, build date, git commit, and whether the build is DEBUG (via `#if DEBUG`). Re-run the packager after code changes to refresh these values.

## Related

- [macOS app](/platforms/macos)
- [macOS permissions](/platforms/mac/permissions)
