Nix installation issues

[tomek-kr]

Platform

• Linux:
• macOS
• WSL

Additional information

macOS Sequoia 15.2
M1 Apple Silicon
FileVault enabled
Had several attempts to install nix with the goal to use flakes for system setup, but it always ends with the same result.
I'm not a programmer and I'm not very experienced with the terminal.

Output

Output

I am executing:

    $ sudo cp /etc/synthetic.conf /var/folders/zc/q1z682m90wd7_qcw7t4pk6_00000gn/T/tmp.GH8cRx5BYO/synthetic.conf.edit

remove nix from /var/folders/zc/q1z682m90wd7_qcw7t4pk6_00000gn/T/tmp.GH8cRx5BYO/synthetic.conf.edit


~~> Checking for artifacts of previous installs
Before I try to install, I'll check for signs Nix already is or has
been installed on this system.

---- oh no! --------------------------------------------------------------------
I back up shell profile/rc scripts before I add Nix to them.
I need to back up /etc/bash.bashrc to /etc/bash.bashrc.backup-before-nix,
but the latter already exists.

Here's how to clean up the old backup file:

1. Back up (copy) /etc/bash.bashrc and /etc/bash.bashrc.backup-before-nix
   to another location, just in case.

2. Ensure /etc/bash.bashrc.backup-before-nix does not have anything
   Nix-related in it. If it does, something is probably quite
   wrong. Please open an issue or get in touch immediately.

3. Once you confirm /etc/bash.bashrc is backed up and
   /etc/bash.bashrc.backup-before-nix doesn't mention Nix, run:
   mv /etc/bash.bashrc.backup-before-nix /etc/bash.bashrc

We'd love to help if you need it.

You can open an issue at
https://github.com/NixOS/nix/issues/new?labels=installer&template=installer.md

Or get in touch with the community: https://nixos.org/community

Checklist

• checked latest Nix manual (source)
• checked open installer issues and pull requests for possible duplicates

---

Add 👍 to issues you find important.

[cole-h]

The error message suggests some steps to try, namely:

1. Back up (copy) /etc/bash.bashrc and /etc/bash.bashrc.backup-before-nix
   to another location, just in case.

2. Ensure /etc/bash.bashrc.backup-before-nix does not have anything
   Nix-related in it. If it does, something is probably quite
   wrong. Please open an issue or get in touch immediately.

3. Once you confirm /etc/bash.bashrc is backed up and
   /etc/bash.bashrc.backup-before-nix doesn't mention Nix, run:
   mv /etc/bash.bashrc.backup-before-nix /etc/bash.bashrc

Could you confirm you followed these instructions, or if following them now allows the install to succeed (or at least get further)?

[abathur]

Since you say you've tried a few times already, I'd try the full uninstall instructions before reinstalling it: https://nixos.org/manual/nix/stable/installation/uninstall.html#macos