---
title: "macOS says the app can't be opened"
url: https://storagestudio.us/wiki/macos-says-the-app-cant-be-opened
category: "Troubleshooting"
tags: ["troubleshooting", "installing", "apple silicon"]
summary: "A Storage Studio download from storagestudio.us is signed and notarised by Apple and opens normally. If macOS refuses it, download it again rather than overriding the warning — and on an Intel Mac, use version 4.17.1."
updated: 2026-10-01T05:37:57.000Z
---

# macOS says the app can't be opened

A Storage Studio download from storagestudio.us is signed and notarised by Apple and opens normally. If macOS refuses it, download it again rather than overriding the warning — and on an Intel Mac, use version 4.17.1.

Storage Studio is signed and notarised by Apple, so a complete download from storagestudio.us opens normally. If macOS refuses to open it — saying it's damaged, can't be checked, or isn't supported on this Mac — the download is most likely incomplete or altered, or the Mac has an Intel processor. Download it again rather than overriding the warning.

## Likely causes

- **The download is incomplete or was changed on the way.** macOS checks the app's signature when you open it. If any part of the app doesn't match, it won't open — this is the safety check working.
- **It's running from the disk image or your Downloads folder** instead of your **Applications** folder.
- **The Mac has an Intel processor.** Storage Studio 4.18 and later need a Mac with Apple silicon. Intel Macs stay on version 4.17.1, and a newer version won't open on them.
- **A copy came from somewhere other than storagestudio.us**, such as a file shared by someone else.

```mermaid
%% caption: What to do when macOS won't open Storage Studio
flowchart TD
  A[macOS won't open Storage Studio] --> B{Does this Mac have Apple silicon?}
  B -->|No, Intel| C[Use Storage Studio 4.17.1]
  B -->|Yes| D[Delete the copy that won't open]
  D --> E[Download again from storagestudio.us]
  E --> F[Drag it into Applications]
  F --> G[Open it from Applications]
  G --> H{Opens?}
  H -->|Yes| I[Done]
  H -->|No| J[Get in touch - do not override the warning]
```

*Flowchart — What to do when macOS won't open Storage Studio. Outline:*

- macOS won't open Storage Studio
  - leads to Does this Mac have Apple silicon?
- Does this Mac have Apple silicon?
  - No, Intel: leads to Use Storage Studio 4.17.1
  - Yes: leads to Delete the copy that won't open
- Delete the copy that won't open
  - leads to Download again from storagestudio.us
- Download again from storagestudio.us
  - leads to Drag it into Applications
- Drag it into Applications
  - leads to Open it from Applications
- Open it from Applications
  - leads to Opens?
- Opens?
  - Yes: leads to Done
  - No: leads to Get in touch - do not override the warning

## How to fix it

1. **Check your Mac's chip.** Choose **About This Mac** from the Apple menu. If it lists an Intel processor, you need Storage Studio 4.17.1 — see [Apple silicon and Intel Macs](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/apple-silicon-and-intel). An Intel Mac that already has 4.17.1 isn't offered updates it can't run.
2. **Delete the copy that won't open**, including any copy left in your Downloads folder.
3. **Download Storage Studio again** from storagestudio.us.
4. **Open the disk image, drag Storage Studio into Applications**, then eject the disk image.
5. **Open Storage Studio from your Applications folder.** The first time, macOS asks you to confirm you want to open an app downloaded from the internet — that's normal for any downloaded app.

## Why we say don't override the warning

macOS offers ways to open an app it has refused. Please don't use them for Storage Studio. A genuine download never needs it, so a refusal means the copy you have isn't the one we published. Getting a fresh copy is quicker and safer than finding out what changed.

If a fresh download from storagestudio.us still won't open on a Mac with Apple silicon, please get in touch — see [Getting help](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/getting-help).

See also: [Installing Storage Studio](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/installing-storage-studio) · [Is Storage Studio safe to install?](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/is-storage-studio-safe-to-install) · [Apple silicon](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/glossary-apple-silicon) · [Something's not working: start here](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/troubleshooting-start-here)

## What links here

- [Installing Storage Studio](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/installing-storage-studio)
- [Is Storage Studio safe to install?](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/is-storage-studio-safe-to-install)
- [Something's not working: start here](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/troubleshooting-start-here)