"XYZ" is damaged and can't be opened [FIX] — by Ludowing on Apple Community

intermediateforumLink only (©)macOS 10.15 Catalina

On Catalina, SilentKnight from Eclectic Light found problems with the Gatekeeper databases and updated them, which cleared the damaged-app message. Single-file workaround: sudo xattr -d com.apple.quarantine on the file. spctl --master-disable, LSQuarantine and replacing gkopaque.bundle did not help.

Quick steps

  1. Run SilentKnight and install the Gatekeeper updates
  2. sudo xattr -d com.apple.quarantine /path/to/file

Paraphrased from the source. Menus can differ by version, so check the original for full details.

Read the full thread on discussions.apple.com

Source: "XYZ" is damaged and can't be opened [FIX] by Ludowing on Apple Community. Licence: Link only (©).

Source reviewed
2026-11-02
Link checked
2026-11-02
Tested hands-on
Not by Oddbyte.Me

gatekeeperdamaged appsilentknightxattr

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Gatekeeper - Permanently Resetting Quarantine — by jdag and KALLT on MacRumors Forums

intermediateforum

Thread from 2016 where the poster uses xattr -d -r com.apple.quarantine /Applications/APPNAME.app to strip the flag recursively. KALLT notes each download gets a unique quarantine flag, suggests right-click and Open instead, and says an app Gatekeeper reports as tampered with should be raised with its developer. Removing quarantine bypasses Gatekeeper's check, so only do it for software you trust.