helper failed:%r, please manually reset proxy settings after

Error message

helper failed:%r, please manually reset proxy settings after switching connection

What it means

This warning is emitted by MacTrayObject.loadConfig when the PyObjC helper calls to enable/disable the system proxy (e.g. helperSetPac / helperDisableAutoProxy / helperDisableGlobalProxy) raise an exception while a network change is being processed. The launcher catches the exception so the app keeps running, but the macOS proxy settings may now be stale or left pointing at the old connection.

Source

Thrown at code/default/launcher/mac_tray.py:426

        if proxy_setting == "pac" and config.enable_smart_router:
            helperDisableGlobalProxy(currentService)
            helperEnableAutoProxy(currentService)
        elif proxy_setting == "gae" and config.enable_gae_proxy:
            helperDisableAutoProxy(currentService)
            helperEnableGlobalProxy(currentService)
        elif proxy_setting == "x_tunnel" and config.enable_x_tunnel:
            helperDisableAutoProxy(currentService)
            helperEnableXTunnelProxy(currentService)
        elif proxy_setting == "smart_router" and config.enable_smart_router:
            helperDisableAutoProxy(currentService)
            helperEnableSmartRouterProxy(currentService)
        else:
            helperDisableAutoProxy(currentService)
            helperDisableGlobalProxy(currentService)
        # else:
        #     xlog.warn("proxy_setting:%r", proxy_setting)
    except Exception as e:
        xlog.warn("helper failed:%r, please manually reset proxy settings after switching connection", e)


sys_tray = MacTrayObject.alloc().init()
currentService = None


def fetchCurrentService(protocol):
    global currentService
    status = SystemConfiguration.SCDynamicStoreCopyValue(None, "State:/Network/Global/" + protocol)
    if not status:
        currentService = None
        return
    serviceID = status['PrimaryService']
    service = SystemConfiguration.SCDynamicStoreCopyValue(None, "Setup:/Network/Service/" + serviceID)
    if not service:
        currentService = None
        return
    currentService = service['UserDefinedName']

View on GitHub (pinned to cfa5bc17b6)

Solutions

Reinstall/repair the privilege helper and PyObjC: sudo pip3 install -U PyObjC, then restart the launcher
Manually reset the proxy: System Settings -> Network -> Advanced -> Proxies, turn off the Web/Secure Proxy or PAC the launcher set
Check the launcher log for the underlying %r exception to identify which helper call failed
If it recurs on every network change, remove and re-grant the helper's authorization (re-run the helper install step)

Defensive patterns

Strategy: try-catch

Validate before calling

import subprocess
def helper_available():
    try:
        subprocess.run(['networksetup','-getwebproxy','Wi-Fi'], capture_output=True, timeout=5)
        return True
    except Exception:
        return False

Try / catch

try:
    apply_proxy_settings()
except Exception as e:
    log.warning('helper failed: %r; resetting proxy manually', e)
    revert_to_direct_connection()

Prevention

Install/repair the PyObjC privilege helper before enabling proxy control
Test proxy switching after installing on a new macOS machine
Watch logs after network changes to catch stale proxy state

When it happens

Trigger: Calling loadConfig via applicationDidFinishLaunching_ or the networkChanged callback on macOS; any exception thrown by the PyObjC-backed helper functions that manipulate network location proxy settings (helper not installed, missing privileges, NSException from SystemConfiguration APIs).

Common situations: Switching Wi-Fi networks or docking/undocking Ethernet while the launcher runs; PyObjC or the xxnet_helper privilege helper not properly installed; macOS SystemConfiguration refusing the change due to a profile/MDM lock.

Related errors

AI-assisted analysis of XX-net/XX-Net@cfa5bc17b6 (2026-08-27). Data as JSON: /api/errors/65208e4741c227e8. Report an issue: GitHub.