Error 198: Resolving Error 198 on macOS Sequoia

Adobe Error 198 occurs on macOS Sequoia during the installation, update, or post-extraction phase of an Adobe Creative Cloud application. This error indicates that the operating system’s Gatekeeper or security architecture has blocked the installer executable from launching helper daemons, modifying root-level directories, or registering background items in /Library/Application Support/Adobe.

Fast Fix

Open System Settings > Privacy & Security. Scroll down to the Security section to check if an Adobe installer binary was blocked, and click Allow Anyway. Next, navigate to Full Disk Access and toggle the switch on for Adobe Creative Cloud and Installer, restart your Mac, and retry the installation.

Quick Status Snapshot

• Severity: Medium (blocks application installation and major version updates; existing project files and user assets remain safe)
• Platforms: macOS 15 (Sequoia) and later
• Scope: macOS Gatekeeper verification, Background Items management, and Full Disk Access (TCC) permissions
• Action Required: Grant explicit OS-level security permissions, allow background login items, or clean stale deployment staging folders

Resolution Steps

Step 1: Enable Adobe Background Services in macOS Settings

1. Open the Apple menu and select System Settings.
2. Navigate to General > Login Items & Extensions.
3. In the Allow in the Background list, ensure that all entries for Adobe Creative Cloud, Adobe Systems Inc., and Adobe Desktop Service are enabled (toggled ON).
4. If any were disabled, restart your Mac.

Step 2: Grant Full Disk Access to Adobe Installers

1. Go to System Settings > Privacy & Security > Full Disk Access.
2. Click the + (Add) button and authenticate with your administrator password.
3. Press Cmd + Shift + G in the file browser window and enter: /Applications/Utilities/Adobe Creative Cloud/
4. Select Adobe Creative Cloud and ACCDesktop, then click Open.
5. Ensure the toggle switch next to each added item is enabled.

Step 3: Clear Temporary Installer Payloads

1. Open Finder, press Cmd + Shift + G, and navigate to: /tmp
2. Delete any folders containing Adobe, ACC_, or HDContainer.
3. Navigate to: ~/Library/Caches
4. Locate and delete the Adobe and com.adobe.acc.* cache folders.
5. Empty the Trash, relaunch the Creative Cloud desktop app, and retry the installation.

Hard Stops and Escalation

Stop troubleshooting locally and escalate to your systems administrator if:

• The Mac is enrolled in an enterprise Mobile Device Management (MDM) profile (e.g., Jamf Pro, Kandji, or Microsoft Intune) where System Extension Policies or Managed Privacy Preferences (PPPC) strictly block local users from granting Full Disk Access or authorizing background login items.
• macOS Sequoia displays recurring System Integrity Protection (SIP) violations when the installer executes, which indicates managed configuration profile locks that require an updated corporate deployment package.