FB20996047: Tips.app displays the “No internet connection” error even when accessing local .help content #85
Description
Tips.app (ex-Help Viewer) offers a feature that allows users to browse the macOS Help Bundle (.help) format, which contains help content bundled to various applications. This content can be either included locally within the .help bundle as HTML files or accessed online. Furthermore, Mac applications can let Tips open specific pages within the bundled help content with text anchors using the NSHelpManager.shared.openHelpAnchor(_:inBook:) method in AppKit or the HelpLink(anchor:) view in SwiftUI.
However, on macOS 26, Tips.app is unable to open help content even when it is locally bundled to the application, as long as there is no internet connection available.
The screenshot attached for example indicates the error message displayed when attempting to open a locally included page using HelpLink(anchor:) without an internet connection. Conversely, when an internet connection is available, the expected page is shown.
This behavior should be rectified to enable users to access locally-bundled help content from the app even in the absence of an internet connection.
FYI, observing the behaviors, it seems:
- Tips opens the expected page even without an internet connection if the desired page is already cached.
- Tips opens the landing page even without an internet connection if it is invoked from the Help > App Help command in the source application.
Steps to reproduce
All application provided by Apple and bundled with macOS 26 put the help content online. Therefore, you must first obtain an app bundles help contents locally. My app, CotEditor, is one of those apps. You can download it from the Mac App Store.
- Launch CotEditor.
- Choose CotEditor > Settings.
- Click the help button on the left bottom corner.
- You’ll see the error message stating “No Internet Connection.”
Expected results
Tips.app displays the specified page in the local help contents even without an internet connection.
Actual results
Tips.app simply displays a “No Internet Connection” warning when attempting to access help pages that are bundled within the app locally.
Environment
- macOS: Version 26.2 Beta (25C5031i)
- Xcode: Version 26.1 (17B54)
- Tips: Version 26.2 (527.1.7)
Attachments:
