diff --git a/openspace/local_server/README.md b/openspace/local_server/README.md
index ca69ae2..d31524c 100644
--- a/openspace/local_server/README.md
+++ b/openspace/local_server/README.md
@@ -40,11 +40,7 @@ Set `"mode": "server"` in `openspace/config/config_grounding.json`:
 pip install pyobjc-core pyobjc-framework-cocoa pyobjc-framework-quartz
 ```
 
-`atomacos` is not included in the default macOS dependency set right now because
-its published releases require `pyautogui<0.9.42`, which conflicts with
-OpenSpace's `pyautogui>=0.9.54`. OpenSpace will still run without it, but the
-macOS accessibility-tree features will stay unavailable until that upstream
-constraint is resolved.
+> **Note:** `atomacos` is excluded because it requires `pyautogui<0.9.42` (appears unmaintained). Accessibility-tree features are currently unavailable.
 
 **Permissions required** (macOS will prompt automatically on first run):
 - **Accessibility** (for GUI control)
diff --git a/openspace/local_server/platform_adapters/macos_adapter.py b/openspace/local_server/platform_adapters/macos_adapter.py
index 00d8028..0dbaf6d 100644
--- a/openspace/local_server/platform_adapters/macos_adapter.py
+++ b/openspace/local_server/platform_adapters/macos_adapter.py
@@ -5,11 +5,16 @@ from openspace.utils.logging import Logger
 
 try:
     import AppKit
-    import atomacos
     MACOS_LIBS_AVAILABLE = True
 except ImportError:
     MACOS_LIBS_AVAILABLE = False
 
+try:
+    import atomacos
+    ATOMACOS_AVAILABLE = True
+except ImportError:
+    ATOMACOS_AVAILABLE = False
+
 logger = Logger.get_logger(__name__)
 
 _warning_shown = False
@@ -21,8 +26,9 @@ class MacOSAdapter:
         if not MACOS_LIBS_AVAILABLE and not _warning_shown:
             logger.warning("macOS libraries are not fully installed, some features may not be available")
             logger.info("To install missing libraries, run: pip install pyobjc-core pyobjc-framework-Cocoa pyobjc-framework-quartz")
-            logger.info("Note: atomacos is currently optional because its published versions conflict with pyautogui>=0.9.54")
             _warning_shown = True
+        if not ATOMACOS_AVAILABLE:
+            logger.debug("atomacos not installed; accessibility-tree features unavailable (conflicts with pyautogui>=0.9.54)")
         self.available = MACOS_LIBS_AVAILABLE
     
     def capture_screenshot_with_cursor(self, output_path: str) -> bool:
@@ -164,6 +170,8 @@ class MacOSAdapter:
         """
         if not MACOS_LIBS_AVAILABLE:
             return {'error': 'macOS accessibility libraries not available'}
+        if not ATOMACOS_AVAILABLE:
+            return {'error': 'atomacos is not installed; accessibility-tree features require it'}
         
         try:
             # Get frontmost application
@@ -178,7 +186,6 @@ class MacOSAdapter:
             
             logger.info(f"Getting accessibility tree: {app_name} ({bundle_id})")
             
-            # Use atomacos to get application reference
             try:
                 if bundle_id:
                     app_ref = atomacos.getAppRefByBundleId(bundle_id)
diff --git a/openspace/local_server/requirements.txt b/openspace/local_server/requirements.txt
index e03319a..f73aeda 100644
--- a/openspace/local_server/requirements.txt
+++ b/openspace/local_server/requirements.txt
@@ -8,8 +8,7 @@ requests>=2.32.0
 # pyobjc-core>=12.0; sys_platform == 'darwin'
 # pyobjc-framework-cocoa>=12.0; sys_platform == 'darwin'
 # pyobjc-framework-quartz>=12.0; sys_platform == 'darwin'
-# atomacos is intentionally excluded for now: atomacos 3.2+/3.3 requires
-# pyautogui<0.9.42, which conflicts with OpenSpace's pyautogui>=0.9.54.
+# atomacos excluded: requires pyautogui<0.9.42, conflicts with >=0.9.54
 
 # # Linux-specific dependencies (local server)
 # python-xlib>=0.33; sys_platform == 'linux'
diff --git a/requirements.txt b/requirements.txt
index a925686..c53814c 100644
--- a/requirements.txt
+++ b/requirements.txt
@@ -19,8 +19,7 @@ requests>=2.32.0
 # pyobjc-core>=12.0; sys_platform == 'darwin'
 # pyobjc-framework-cocoa>=12.0; sys_platform == 'darwin'
 # pyobjc-framework-quartz>=12.0; sys_platform == 'darwin'
-# atomacos is intentionally excluded for now: atomacos 3.2+/3.3 requires
-# pyautogui<0.9.42, which conflicts with OpenSpace's pyautogui>=0.9.54.
+# atomacos excluded: requires pyautogui<0.9.42, conflicts with >=0.9.54
 
 # # Linux-specific dependencies (local server)
 # python-xlib>=0.33; sys_platform == 'linux'