macOS users often encounter this misleading message in old versions:
“App is damaged and should be moved to the Trash.”
In reality, the app is usually not damaged at all — it simply lacks Apple notarization or signature.
macOS new versions
Apple could not verify [AppName] is free of malware that may harm your Mac or compromise your privacy.
If this project helped you, please consider giving it a ⭐ on GitHub!
- The word “damaged” implies corruption or malware, but most of the time the app is just unsigned.
- Users are misled into deleting perfectly safe software.
- Apple could use a more accurate term like “Unverified” or “Not Signed”.
Conservative estimates show:
- 🧑💻 100,000 developers affected
- 📉 Over 1 million users abandoned apps due to this warning
- 🕒 Developers waste ~2 hours each explaining and repackaging
- 💵 Estimated productivity loss: $15,000,000+
See More than 50 CASES.md for community-submitted stories, or view a few highlights below:
“All my Word, Excel, and PDF files suddenly show 'is damaged' after updating macOS.”
“Gatekeeper disabled, but Ventura still reports app is 'damaged'. Misleading and unhelpful.”
If you’ve encountered this issue with your users, feel free to open an issue or PR describing:
- Your app packaging method
- How users downloaded it
- What fixed it (if anything)
If you trust the app, bypass it with:
xattr -rd com.apple.quarantine /path/to/your.appOr use “Right-click → Open” in Finder.
🎥 Watch: How to Fix “App is damaged and can’t be opened” on macOS (YouTube)
- 📢 Apple should revise this message to something accurate, like “App is not signed.”
- 🧑💻 Developers deserve clarity and trust
- 🛡️ Users deserve confidence when using safe apps
- ✍️ Submit your story → CASES.md
- 🐛 File an Issue
- ⭐ Star this repo to show support
- 🔁 Share with your community