Summary

The OpenClaw desktop companion app (v2026.2.22, build 14126) crashes immediately on launch on a Mac mini M4 that has no built-in microphone and no external mic connected.

Environment

• Device: Mac mini M4 (Mac16,10), 16 GB
• OS: macOS 26.3 (25D125)
• App version: 2026.2.22 (14126)
• Architecture: ARM-64

Crash Details

The app crashes in VoiceWakeRuntime.start(with:) when it tries to install an audio tap on a nonexistent input device:

Terminating app due to uncaught exception 'com.apple.coreaudio.avfaudio',
reason: 'Failed to create tap due to format mismatch,
<AVAudioFormat 0xc9bcd0e60: 2 ch, 44100 Hz, Float32, deinterleaved>'

Crash thread backtrace:

0  CoreFoundation    __exceptionPreprocess
1  libobjc.A.dylib   objc_exception_throw
2  CoreFoundation    -[NSException initWithCoder:]
3  AVFAudio          AVAudioEngineImpl::InstallTapOnNode(...)
4  AVFAudio          -[AVAudioNode installTapOnBus:bufferSize:format:block:]
5  OpenClaw          VoiceWakeRuntime.start(with:)
6  OpenClaw          VoiceWakeRuntime.refresh(state:)
7  OpenClaw          closure #2 in AppState.init(preview:)

Expected Behavior

The app should gracefully handle the absence of an audio input device — either skip voice wake initialization or show a warning, rather than crashing.

Workaround

Plugging in a USB microphone before launching the app prevents the crash. Writing defaults write ai.openclaw.OpenClaw voiceWakeEnabled -bool false did not help.

Reproduction

1. Use a Mac mini (no built-in mic) with no external mic connected
2. Install and launch OpenClaw desktop app v2026.2.22
3. App crashes immediately with SIGABRT