PiecesOS | Troubleshooting

Read about what actionable troubleshooting steps to take if PiecesOS isn’t working as expected on your macOS, Windows, or Linux device.


Common Installation Issues

Navigate between the grouped tabs below to find information on several common installation issues users experience when downloading and installing PiecesOS.

Checking System Specifications

Navigate between the grouped tabs below to find information on several common installation issues users experience when downloading and installing PiecesOS.

macOS | Checking System Specifications

It is imperative to install the right version of PiecesOS depending on whether your chip is ARM or Intel-powered.

Intel and Apple Silicon (ARM) devices run on entirely separate CPU architectures, so downloading the wrong package for your Apple device can cause apps from the Pieces Suite to be rendered useless.

To determine what CPU architecture your Apple device utilizes:

  1. Click the Apple () icon in the top-left corner of your screen.

  2. Select About This Mac, and look for the Overview section. The first line will contain your CPU type:

  • Apple Silicon / ARM: You will see an M-Series processor, e.g., Apple M3

  • Intel: You will see an Intel processor, e.g., 2.6 GHz Intel Core i7

Once you’ve determined your CPU architecture, download the correct PiecesOS file accordingly.

Versions & Updates

Many issues can stem from out-of-date plugins, extensions, or PiecesOS itself.

macOS | Updating PiecesOS

To restart and check for updates to PiecesOS on macOS:

  1. Restart PiecesOS

  2. Ensure PiecesOS is running (look for the Pieces Icon in your system tray)

  3. Check for and install available updates


Checking OS Version

Having an out-of-date operating system version can cause a range of installation issues with PiecesOS, including scenarios in which the entire application refuses to run.

macOS | Checking OS Version

Pieces Suite applications require a minimum macOS version of macOS Ventura. If you’re experiencing installation issues, you should first check your OS version to make sure it’s up-to-date.

To determine your Apple device’s version of macOS:

  1. Click the Apple icon in the top-left corner of your screen

  2. Select About This Mac

  3. Under your device name (i.e., MacBook Air), look for the last line on the list, titled macOS

The macOS line will report what version of macOS installed, e.g., Sequoia 15.1.1.


Issues Launching PiecesOS (Windows)

Some users who have enabled Controlled Folder Access (CFA) as a security measure may receive a notification that Pieces is attempting to bypass this security wall.

To work around this issue, you will need to add the executable path for PiecesOS to your allowlist.

The reason PiecesOS fails to launch when CFA is enabled is that the executable path for the PiecesOS application writes data to your Documents folder.

CFA disables and blocks any request to modify files (in this case, writing & saving data), so PiecesOS is unable to launch itself.

Keep in mind that this path references the specific PiecesOS version, and so will change over time as long as you continue to update the software. You can also disable CFA as a security measure if you do not require it as part of an enterprise scenario or for any other reason.

To decide which apps PiecesOS has access to, you can easily enable and disable specific sources from the Long-Term Memory Access Control panel.

Contact Support

If you’ve ensured your device meets the recommended and minimum specifications, you’ve performed a clean installation, updated your OS, and checked PiecesOS for updates, and you’re still experiencing issues, visit our support page for more resources.

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