Setup 05 – Install SWS on macOS

Purpose

This setup adds the SWS Extension to the REAPER installation on your Mac. SWS is ready only when its functions appear under Extensions in REAPER.

Before you begin

• Complete Setup 02A and make sure the SWS disk image is in Downloads.
• Use the correct build for your processor: ARM64 for Apple silicon or x86_64 for an Intel Mac.
• Quit REAPER completely before approving or copying the extension file.
• If SWS is already installed and its functions are available in REAPER, continue to Setup 07.

Key steps

1. Open the SWS DMG from Downloads and accept the license agreement if requested.
2. Find the file whose name begins with reaper_sws and ends in .dylib.
3. Double-click the DYLIB once so macOS can present its security check.
4. If macOS blocks the file, choose OK, open System Settings → Privacy & Security, and select Open Anyway for the SWS file. Authenticate if requested.
5. If Terminal opens during this approval step, close its window. Approval alone does not install SWS.
6. Start REAPER and choose Options → Show REAPER resource path in explorer or finder.
7. Open the UserPlugins folder, quit REAPER, and leave the Finder window open.
8. Drag the approved SWS DYLIB from the disk image into UserPlugins.
9. Restart REAPER. If macOS asks again, open the SWS file you approved.
10. Open REAPER’s Extensions menu and verify that SWS functions are present.
11. Quit REAPER after the check.

Expected result

The processor-matched SWS DYLIB is inside REAPER’s UserPlugins folder, and SWS functions are visible in the Extensions menu after REAPER restarts.

Common problems

The file is approved, but SWS is not available

Security approval and installation are separate steps. Confirm that you copied the DYLIB into the UserPlugins folder opened from the current REAPER installation.

The Extensions menu is missing

Check that:

• the DYLIB matches your Mac’s processor;
• the file is inside UserPlugins;
• REAPER was completely closed before the copy; and
• REAPER was restarted after the copy.

macOS still displays a warning

Approve only the SWS file you intentionally downloaded. Use Privacy & Security → Open Anyway, then restart REAPER and respond to the follow-up prompt if it appears.

Next setup film

Continue with Setup 07 — Install ReaPack on macOS.