\"App Is Damaged\" or Cannot Be Opened

How to fix the 'app is damaged' or 'cannot be opened' error on macOS.

Direct Download (fiplab.com) — Gatekeeper Quarantine

If you downloaded the app directly from fiplab.com and see a message like "App is damaged and can't be opened. You should move it to the Trash" or "App can't be opened because Apple cannot check it for malicious software", this is caused by macOS Gatekeeper quarantine.

How to Fix It

  1. Open System Settings → Privacy & Security.
  2. Scroll down to the Security section. You should see a message about the blocked app with an "Open Anyway" button. Click it.
  3. If the button is not visible, try opening the app again first — the button appears after a blocked launch attempt.

Alternatively, you can remove the quarantine flag via Terminal:

xattr -cr /Applications/YourAppName.app

Replace YourAppName.app with the name of the app.

Mac App Store — Receipt Validation Error

If you purchased the app from the Mac App Store and see "app is damaged and can't be opened" shortly after making an In-App Purchase, this is a receipt validation issue on Apple's end.

How to Fix It

  1. Delete the app using Launchpad. Open Launchpad, find the app, click and hold its icon until it jiggles, then click the X button to delete it. If no X button appears, delete it from your Applications folder in Finder instead.

  2. Sign out of the Mac App Store. Open the App Store, then from the menu bar choose Store → Sign Out.

  3. Restart your Mac. Click the Apple menu and choose Restart.

  4. Sign back in and re-download the app. Open the App Store and choose Store → Sign In. Once signed in, go to your Purchased tab, find the app, and click the download button.

The app should now open without any issues, and your In-App Purchase will be fully restored.

Still Seeing the Error?

If the problem persists after following these steps, please contact us. Include the name of the app, your macOS version, and a screenshot of the error message if possible.