Some things are more disappointing than unclear error messages, especially if it prevents you from running a game or app that you have just installed. The MACOS system likes to throw these errors on time in the name of security. So what can you do about it?
What does the error look like
I faced this error a few weeks ago, I bought with a game itch.ioWhen you have just shopped and are willing to start with a new app, the last thing you want is to face this misleading error message:
It is: Macos gives you a “OK” button to close the error, after which you can either try or give up. Unfortunately, trying again will not help; You have to know the following trick to run and run your app.
You should only watch this error for the first time when you run an app. Once you fix it, it should never affect the same app again.
How to fix this annoying error
Start by opening a terminal app. The default terminal (application> utilities> terminal) coming with Macos is fine, although there are better options.
Connected
Default Mac Terminal is boring, try these 6 apps instead
Do not arrange for boring when there are lots of excellent Macos terminal options.
When you run the terminal, you should see an empty window that is looking at something like this:
In fact what you see depends on your user name and computer name, but at the beginning of the line the end of the signal should be a tilled (~). It represents your home directory, which is a default location.
Now, use the CD command to convert your current directory into /applications:
cd /Applications
Type this command and press Enter to run it. You should note that your quick change for reading “/applications” near the end:
Next, find out the relevant app folder within your application directory. It should finally be the name of your app with “.App”, and it may include spaces. If you are not sure about the name, try to list the content of the first application directory:
ls
In my case, the problematic app is called a double trip and I can see a double trip. Listed in the first column. To get more information about the file, type:
ls -ld
So, in my case, that was LS -LD Double \ Trip.app,
You have two options to deal with the blanks in the file name. First of all, you can quote the full name, like LS -LD “Double Trip.APP”Second, you can avoid each place by placing a backlash just before this, like LS -LD Double \ Trip.app,
What you are seeing here is a “X” instead of each hyphen at the beginning of the line. So instead of “DRW-RW-RW-” you want to see “Drwxrwxrwx” with file names. This indicates that the folder is executable and, therefore, works correctly. If you see the dash instead, you can be sure that this is the cause of the problem.
With the confirmation of the problem, you can proceed to fix it. Run this command:
chmod +x Double\ Trip.app
“CHMOD” means “change mode” and “+x” means “Make executable.”
Now try to run your application. If this was the only problem, then your app should open and run as an intention. If not, you may see a different error message.
Why does an app folder need to be executable?
On Macos, an application is stored in a directory – app folder, or package – which presents Macos as it was a file. For example, in the finder, you will simply see the name of the app and its icons, and double-clicked will initiate the app instead of opening your folder.
Connected
How to open Mac app package (and why you want)
What’s in the box?
Like any file, you need appropriate permissions to read or write it. The third type of permission is “executed”, which has special meaning for directors; Essentially, it lets you enter and see the files inside them.
Without this executed permission, an app fails to run the bus. If you are looking to blame someone, then first look at the app distributor, which should ensure that the app folder was executable for the first time, then in Apple, which should actually be a better error message for this case!
This error is similar to another that usually causes problems when driving a new app: “The app is damaged and cannot be opened.” In that case, the reason is the expulsion system of the Apple, and the solution is a very different work -round.
Connected
How to fix “The app is damaged and cannot be opened on Mac”
Apple’s tight safety protocols strike again.
Fortunately, you should rarely experience any other type of bug, although there are ways to cure crashed Mac apps. You are more likely to face old apps, which have not been updated, including old games on steam with 64-bit support.
