What is libASAF.dylib in /usr/local/lib

While updating my formulas in Homebrew, I came across the following error:


Unexpected dylibs:
  /usr/local/lib/libASAF.dylib


Does anybody know what this dylib is for?


I’m a bit confused because it is signed by Apple and might have something to do with Apple Immersive Audio / Spatial Audio. (ASAF - Apple Spatial Audio Format?) As you can see, its dependencies are if you use otool -L /usr/local/lib/libASAF.dylib.


But what confuses me is why it is put in /usr/local/lib/ and not somewhere in /usr/lib/ or /System/Library/

Would really appreciate it if someone has a solution for this issue.

Gepostet am 12. Dez. 2025 03:45

Antworten
Frage gekennzeichnet als Höchstrangige Antwort

Gepostet am 12. Dez. 2025 06:25

Hi there! Thanks for bringing your question here.


libASAF.dylib isn’t documented by Apple in any public developer materials, and there’s no official description of its purpose. However, based on the name, its code signature, and the frameworks it links against, it most likely relates to Apple’s spatial audio processing. The “ASAF” name strongly suggests Apple Spatial Audio Format or a similarly internal audio framework.


Even though it’s Apple-signed, it’s unusual for an Apple-provided library to appear in /usr/local/lib, since that path is normally reserved for user-installed tools (Homebrew, MacPorts, custom builds, etc.). Apple typically stores system components in /usr/lib or /System/Library/ and protects those locations with System Integrity Protection.


So, the most likely explanation is that some third-party installer, tool, or audio-related software placed this library in /usr/local/lib, even if the binary itself was built or signed by Apple. Homebrew flags it because its prefix should contain only files it manages.


If you’re concerned, you can move it out of /usr/local/lib, run brew doctor again, and see whether anything breaks. In most cases, removing or relocating it does not cause issues, because it’s not part of macOS’s protected system libraries.


If someone needs help identifying which software may have installed it, feel free to ask — please just write follow-up questions in German.

8 Antworten
Frage gekennzeichnet als Höchstrangige Antwort

12. Dez. 2025 06:25 als Antwort auf robrauber

Hi there! Thanks for bringing your question here.


libASAF.dylib isn’t documented by Apple in any public developer materials, and there’s no official description of its purpose. However, based on the name, its code signature, and the frameworks it links against, it most likely relates to Apple’s spatial audio processing. The “ASAF” name strongly suggests Apple Spatial Audio Format or a similarly internal audio framework.


Even though it’s Apple-signed, it’s unusual for an Apple-provided library to appear in /usr/local/lib, since that path is normally reserved for user-installed tools (Homebrew, MacPorts, custom builds, etc.). Apple typically stores system components in /usr/lib or /System/Library/ and protects those locations with System Integrity Protection.


So, the most likely explanation is that some third-party installer, tool, or audio-related software placed this library in /usr/local/lib, even if the binary itself was built or signed by Apple. Homebrew flags it because its prefix should contain only files it manages.


If you’re concerned, you can move it out of /usr/local/lib, run brew doctor again, and see whether anything breaks. In most cases, removing or relocating it does not cause issues, because it’s not part of macOS’s protected system libraries.


If someone needs help identifying which software may have installed it, feel free to ask — please just write follow-up questions in German.

12. Dez. 2025 09:07 als Antwort auf robrauber

Sehr gerne, robrauber


Schau Dir bitte einmal das Erstellungsdatum an und überlege, was Du zu diesem Zeitpunkt installiert oder aktualisiert hast.


Aufgrund des Namens und der Apple-Signatur handelt es sich sehr wahrscheinlich um eine Apple-Bibliothek, die aber von einer Drittanbieter-Software (Audio-Tools, Video-Software, Plugins, Tools für Spatial Audio usw.) mitgeliefert wurde.


macOS selbst würde sie allerdings nicht in /usr/local/lib installieren.


Beste Grüße und viel Erfolg 🎅

12. Dez. 2025 11:17 als Antwort auf robrauber

Ich gebe das mal so weiter:


„Die Datei liegt in /usr/local/lib/ ?


DaVinciResolve speichert seine Bibliotheken (wie z.B. libavdevice.dylib) immer innerhalb seines eigenen App-Bundles (/Applications/DaVinci Resolve.app/Contents/Libraries/...).

Es würde niemals eine Datei in den systemweiten, nutzerverwalteten Ordner /usr/local/lib/ legen.“



„Er kann diesen Befehl nutzen, um zu prüfen, wer die Datei signiert hat:“


codesign -dvv /usr/local/lib/libASAF.dylib


12. Dez. 2025 11:33 als Antwort auf M.4t

Team: Apple Inc. - Apple Immersive Audio

codesign -dvv /usr/local/lib/libASAF.dylib
Executable=/usr/local/lib/libASAF.dylib
Identifier=libASAF
Format=Mach-O universal (x86_64 arm64)
CodeDirectory v=20400 size=1259 flags=0x0(none) hashes=34+2 location=embedded
Signature size=9089
Authority=Developer ID Application: Apple Inc. - Apple Immersive Audio (F8U5DM6Y33)
Authority=Developer ID Certification Authority
Authority=Apple Root CA
Timestamp=28. Jul 2025 at 22:32:18
Info.plist=not bound
TeamIdentifier=F8U5DM6Y33
Sealed Resources=none
Internal requirements count=1 size=168

What is libASAF.dylib in /usr/local/lib

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