How to Enable System (Kernel) Extensions on M1/M2 Mac: 7 Quick Steps

Written by

Ojash

Reviewed by

Hashir Ibrahim

Last updated: August 7, 2024

Expert verified

Upgrading to a new M1 or M2 Mac is exciting, but it can be annoying when your favorite software stops working. If you’ve run into this problem, don’t worry—there’s a solution. In this guide, I will show you how to enable system (kernel) extensions on your Mac so you can get everything running smoothly again in just a few simple steps.

What Are System (Kernel) Extensions and Do I Need Them?

System (Kernel) Extensions are like add-ons for your Mac’s operating system, allowing certain software or hardware to work more closely with your system. They act as tools that extend your Mac’s capabilities by integrating deeper into the system.

How They Work:

• Old Style (Kernel Extensions): These extensions used to connect directly to the core part of your Mac’s system, known as the kernel. This gave them a lot of control, but it also meant they could cause serious issues if something went wrong.
• New Approach (System Extensions): On M1 and M2 Macs, Apple has changed this approach. Now, these extensions run separately from the system’s core, making your Mac more secure and stable.

Do I Need System (Kernel) Extensions?

Whether you need system or kernel extensions depends on the software or hardware you’re using and how you use your Mac.

• Developers and IT Professionals: If you’re a developer or IT professional, you might need to enable system extensions to test or run certain applications. However, because Apple no longer supports the old kernel extensions on M1/M2 Macs, you’ll need to ensure any necessary extensions are updated to the newer format.
• Everyday Users: If you’re using your Mac for regular activities like browsing the web, streaming content, or using standard applications, you probably don’t need to worry about system or kernel extensions. Most modern apps work perfectly well without needing these deeper integrations.
• Specialized Software: If you use specialized software—like certain security tools, virtual machines, or hardware drivers—these might require system extensions to function properly. In the past, these would have been kernel extensions, but with M1/M2 Macs, these programs should now use the newer system extensions.

How to Enable System (Kernel) Extensions on M1/M2 Mac

That was the quick answer. Here are the detailed steps to enable system (kernel) extensions on an M1/M2 Mac:

Prerequisites:

Before you enable kernel extensions on your M1/M2 Mac, there are a few important steps you should take:

• Check macOS Version: Make sure your macOS version supports the kernel extension you want to use. Compatibility issues can arise with different macOS versions.
• Back Up Your Data: Make sure you have a recent backup of your Mac. This protects your files in case anything goes wrong during the process.
• Check Compatibility: Ensure the kernel extension you want to use is compatible with M1/M2 Macs. Not all extensions designed for Intel-based Macs will work with the new architecture.
• Admin Rights Needed: You need administrator access to make system-level changes, including enabling kernel extensions. Make sure you have the necessary permissions.
• Understand Security Risks: Enabling kernel extensions can impact your Mac’s security. Be aware of the potential risks and only use trusted extensions from reliable developers.

Step 1: Open Security Settings

1. After you install a program that requires macOS kernel extensions, select Open Security Preferences from the System Extension Blocked notification.
2. This will open Privacy & Security window in System Settings.

Step 2: Allow Applications from Identified Developers & Enable System Extensions

1. In the Security section of the Privacy & Security window, select App Store and identified developers under Allow applications downloaded from.
2. Then, click the Enable System Extensions button.

Step 3: Shutdown Your Mac

Now, a pop-up will appear, indicating that to enable system extensions, you need to modify your security settings in the Recovery environment. Click the Shut Down button on this pop-up to turn off your Mac.

Step 4: Boot into macOS Recovery Mode

1. Shut down your Mac completely.
2. Then, press the Power button once and then keep pressing it until you see Loading Startup Options.

3. Click Options and then Continue to boot the M1 or M2 Mac to macOS Recovery Mode.

Step 5: Open Startup Security Utility

In the Recovery Mode, select Startup Security Utility from the Utilities menu at the top of your screen.

Step 6: Modify the Security Policy

1. When you see the Startup Security Utility, click the Security Policy button.

2. In Startup Security Utility, choose Reduced Security and check the Allow user management of kernel extensions from identified developers option.

3. Click OK, enter your administrator password, and wait for the security level change to complete.
4. After the changes are done, click Startup Disk in the menu bar and click Quit Startup Disk.
5. It will take you to the previous screen. Here, click the Apple icon and select Restart to let your Mac restart normally.

Step 7: Confirm Changes

1. When your Mac restarts, go to Privacy & Security window in System Settings and click the Allow button under “System software from developer “Chengdu Aibo Tech Co., Ltd. Was blocked from loading” in the Security section.

1. Enter your administrator password and restart your Mac to make the change take effect.

Where Can I Use System Extensions on Mac?

System Extensions are often used in several scenarios where an application needs to interact more deeply with macOS than is typically possible.

Here are some common situations where you may require system extensions on Mac:

• 💻 Virtualization and Emulation Software: Applications like Docker or Parallels that allow you to run other operating systems on your Mac may use system extensions to improve performance and integration.
• 🖨️ Hardware Support: Some hardware devices require specific drivers to function, and these drivers may be implemented as System Extensions. This includes devices like printers, scanners, graphics tablets, audio interfaces, and more.
• 🌐 Networking: Network extensions can allow applications to interact with network traffic in various ways. For example, VPN applications often use network extensions to reroute your internet traffic through their service. Firewall applications might use them to monitor and control inbound and outbound network connections.
• 🛡️ Security Tools: Security software often needs deep system integration to function correctly. For example, antivirus software may use system extensions to monitor file system activity and scan for malware. Similarly, data loss prevention (DLP) tools might use them to monitor and control data transfers.
• 💾 File System Support: Some applications provide support for non-native file systems (like NTFS or ext4) through system extensions. These extensions allow macOS to read and write files on drives formatted with these file systems.
• 📊 Performance Monitoring and System Utilities: Some performance monitoring tools and system utilities use system extensions to gather detailed system statistics or to modify low-level system settings.

Only Enable Trusted System (Kernel) Extensions on M1/M2 Mac

Kernel extensions have the potential to compromise your Mac’s security, so only enable them if they originate from reliable developers.

Here are some more tips for keeping your Mac safe and running and at maximum potential:

• If your system is acting up, you can boot your Mac into Verbose mode to see what happens behind the scenes during the startup process.
• Sometimes, booting your Mac into safe mode lets you figure out why random crashes and shutdowns occur.
• If you’re seeing a gray screen on your Mac, that may be a kernel panic error. Check out my guide to learn how to fix kernel panic error on your Mac.

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