Cannot overwrite directory errors on M1 Mac Install

[Dave-Lindberg]

Describe the bug

When running curl -L https://nixos.org/nix/install | sh on a Mac M1 (OS 12.3.1 ), I receive the following output:

~~> Setting up the basic directory structure

~~> Installing Nix
cp: cannot overwrite directory /nix/store/3l83x42cfix2bziry2db6f2shpisnr4i-libkrb5-1.18/sbin with non-directory ./store/3l83x42cfix2bziry2db6f2shpisnr4i-libkrb5-1.18/sbin
cp: cannot overwrite directory /nix/store/65clrki5hh8qyqhmw7f50hzngxylnxsb-apple-framework-IOKit-11.0.0/Library/Frameworks/IOKit.framework/Versions/Current with non-directory ./store/65clrki5hh8qyqhmw7f50hzngxylnxsb-apple-framework-IOKit-11.0.0/Library/Frameworks/IOKit.framework/Versions/Current
cp: cannot overwrite directory /nix/store/65clrki5hh8qyqhmw7f50hzngxylnxsb-apple-framework-IOKit-11.0.0/Library/Frameworks/IOKit.framework/Headers with non-directory ./store/65clrki5hh8qyqhmw7f50hzngxylnxsb-apple-framework-IOKit-11.0.0/Library/Frameworks/IOKit.framework/Headers
cp: cannot overwrite directory /nix/store/65clrki5hh8qyqhmw7f50hzngxylnxsb-apple-framework-IOKit-11.0.0/Library/Frameworks/IOKit.framework/Modules with non-directory ./store/65clrki5hh8qyqhmw7f50hzngxylnxsb-apple-framework-IOKit-11.0.0/Library/Frameworks/IOKit.framework/Modules
cp: cannot overwrite directory /nix/store/hr1g9ndsjllyk9wxiyp2d3jaiclvc34p-apple-framework-Security-11.0.0/Library/Frameworks/Security.framework/Versions/Current with non-directory ./store/hr1g9ndsjllyk9wxiyp2d3jaiclvc34p-apple-framework-Security-11.0.0/Library/Frameworks/Security.framework/Versions/Current
cp: cannot overwrite directory /nix/store/hr1g9ndsjllyk9wxiyp2d3jaiclvc34p-apple-framework-Security-11.0.0/Library/Frameworks/Security.framework/Headers with non-directory ./store/hr1g9ndsjllyk9wxiyp2d3jaiclvc34p-apple-framework-Security-11.0.0/Library/Frameworks/Security.framework/Headers
cp: cannot overwrite directory /nix/store/hr1g9ndsjllyk9wxiyp2d3jaiclvc34p-apple-framework-Security-11.0.0/Library/Frameworks/Security.framework/Modules with non-directory ./store/hr1g9ndsjllyk9wxiyp2d3jaiclvc34p-apple-framework-Security-11.0.0/Library/Frameworks/Security.framework/Modules
cp: cannot overwrite directory /nix/store/m6rz9cz2dd0xh0m2wbbqaf13y1fipcdb-apple-framework-CoreFoundation-11.0.0/Library/Frameworks/CoreFoundation.framework/Versions/Current with non-directory ./store/m6rz9cz2dd0xh0m2wbbqaf13y1fipcdb-apple-framework-CoreFoundation-11.0.0/Library/Frameworks/CoreFoundation.framework/Versions/Current
cp: cannot overwrite directory /nix/store/m6rz9cz2dd0xh0m2wbbqaf13y1fipcdb-apple-framework-CoreFoundation-11.0.0/Library/Frameworks/CoreFoundation.framework/Headers with non-directory ./store/m6rz9cz2dd0xh0m2wbbqaf13y1fipcdb-apple-framework-CoreFoundation-11.0.0/Library/Frameworks/CoreFoundation.framework/Headers
cp: cannot overwrite directory /nix/store/m6rz9cz2dd0xh0m2wbbqaf13y1fipcdb-apple-framework-CoreFoundation-11.0.0/Library/Frameworks/CoreFoundation.framework/Modules with non-directory ./store/m6rz9cz2dd0xh0m2wbbqaf13y1fipcdb-apple-framework-CoreFoundation-11.0.0/Library/Frameworks/CoreFoundation.framework/Modules

Steps To Reproduce

Run curl -L https://nixos.org/nix/install | sh on a Mac M1 (OS 12.3.1 )

nix-env --version output
zsh: command not found: nix-env

[abathur]

You'll have to follow the uninstall instructions before reinstalling it:
https://nixos.org/manual/nix/stable/installation/uninstall.html#macos

[Dave-Lindberg]

Thanks, that works nicely.
:-)

[surmistry]

You'll have to follow the uninstall instructions before reinstalling it: https://nixos.org/manual/nix/stable/installation/installing-binary.html#macos

Thanks, that also worked nicely for me.
:-)

[milogert]

I ran into this issue as well, right after I copied my Mac config from one Mac to another (with the Migration Assistant). Could this cause this sort of interaction? I did the full uninstall process and it worked, but it just got me thinking

[abathur]

@milogert if you saw them while running the installer, it's just caused by a lack of idempotence in the current installer.

There is a separate issue that a few people have reported with migrations: #6078

[shlok]

https://nix.dev/manual/nix/2.22/installation/uninstall appears to be an up-to-date link on how to uninstall Nix (including on macOS, which worked for me).

[abathur]

@fricklerhandwerk looks like the old links are currently broken. Is this a permanent move, or a temporary break? (Do I need to go update saved replies?)

[fricklerhandwerk]

It's temporary and should be fixed with NixOS/nixos-homepage#1486