Alll Mac Apps Damaged Or Incomplee

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Nov 18, 2017 Fixed: You can’t open the application because it may be damaged or incomplete. Note: Before we begin, please back up all data to an external hard drive. The following workaround is just one solution that worked for me and some other people, there is no guarantee that it’ll work for you. So proceed at your own risk. Once done, follow the steps.

Before you begin, make sure to back up your iMovie libraries, your media, and the iMovie app.

Try these troubleshooting steps in order

After trying each step below, test iMovie again to see if you've fixed your issue.

Restart your Mac

Reset NVRAM

If you use an external device with iMovie like a camera, reset NVRAM:

  1. Shut down your Mac.
  2. Disconnect all external devices other than your keyboard and your mouse.
  3. Reset NVRAM.
  4. Open iMovie and attempt to reproduce your issue.
    • If iMovie works, reconnect devices one at a time until you can reproduce your issue. Restart your Mac after reconnecting a device if the device requires it.
    • If iMovie still doesn't work, you might need to update your device's firmware or have the device serviced.

Update macOS and iMovie

Choose Apple menu  > App Store, then click Updates. If an iMovie update is available, click Update to download and install it.

Check camera and media format compatibility

Make sure you're using a camera and media format that works with iMovie. If you can't find your camera listed or need further assistance, contact the manufacturer of the device for support.

If you're using a third-party video interface with your Mac, check with the manufacturer for firmware or other software updates for your device.

Test with a new library and project

Mac All Apps Damaged Or Incomplete

You can create a new library and test project to check if the issue is with your library, project, or iMovie app. First, create a new library:

  1. Quit iMovie.
  2. While you press and hold the Option key, click the iMovie app in the Dock or double-click the iMovie app in the Applications folder.
  3. In the Open Library window, click New to create a new library.
  4. Name the test library 'Test iMovie Library,' then save it to the Desktop.

Next, create the test project using a built-in trailer template, then export it as a QuickTime video file:

  1. In iMovie, click Projects to return to the Projects view.
  2. Choose File > New Trailer, click the Action trailer template, then click Create.
  3. Choose File > Share > File, click Next, name the file 'Finish Line,' then save the video file to the Desktop.

Alll Mac Apps Damaged Or Incomplete Download

Next, import the QuickTime video file into a new project in the new library:

Damaged

Alll Mac Apps Damaged Or Incomplete Iphone

  1. Click projects to return to the Projects view. In the window, click OK.
  2. Choose File > New Movie.
  3. Choose File > Import Media, then click Desktop in the Import window sidebar. Select the 'Finish Line.mov' file in the list, then click the Import Selected button.
  4. Select the clip in the browser, then press the E key to add the clip to the timeline.
  5. Try to recreate the issue you were having. For example, if iMovie quit when adding a transition, try to add a transition to the timeline.

If the new library and project work as expected, you've isolated the cause of your issue to the original library or project. Try to restore a previous version of the original library from a Time Machine or other backup.

Test iMovie with a new user account

Create another user account on your Mac, then test iMovie with the new user account.

Reset iMovie

Alll Mac Apps Damaged Or Incomplete Form

Reset iMovie to default settings. Libraries won't be affected.

Reinstall iMovie

Delete iMovie, then redownload and reinstall it. Libraries won't be affected.

Still not working?

Learn more

Macs are a powerful machine. Unlike Windows, they just work. You turn it ON, do your work and then turn it OFF. However, today while I was installing an OpenVPN client on my iMac (macOS Sierra Version 10.12.6) I got a weird error saying.

You can’t open the application ‘app name’ because it may be damaged or incomplete

The first thought was to restart the device, and when I did that, the thing went south. Now, I was not able to open any app even the system app was not working. After a bit of Google search, I came across this forum which recommends restarting the Mac to safe mode and doing all kind of geeky stuff. Now, I usually like troubleshooting software problem but not today. I had a deadline.

After hours of Google search, I came across this answer on Apple forum by the user Linc Davis and surprising it worked. And the best part is, it only takes 2 minutes to fix everything. However, my experience was a little bit different from what he had written so, I decided to rewrite this issue.

Fixed: You can’t open the application because it may be damaged or incomplete

Note: Before we begin, please back up all data to an external hard drive. The following workaround is just one solution that worked for me and some other people, there is no guarantee that it’ll work for you. So proceed at your own risk. Once done, follow the steps.

1. Click on the finder icon and then go to the top menu bar. Click on Window > Go to Folder

2. Copy paste or manually type the following folder location.

/var/folders

3. A new folder will pop open, Inside that you’ll see several subfolders, each with a two-character name like ‘4v, hr, tv, zz‘ etc. This could be same or different for you.

Now according to the original poster, you need to drag all the subfolders except the one named “zz” to the Trash. Don’t delete the subfolder named “zz”. You’ll be prompted for your administrator login credentials.

Alll mac apps damaged or incomplete free

However, in my case, I was not able to delete any folder except “hr”, and even that reappear once I delete it. But it still fixed the problem. I don’t know how, but just after that, I was able to open all the apps again.

4. Restart the computer and this will fix the messed up icons. You might have to log in to your browser and all the saved account once again, but that should be much of an issue, compared to what you just saw now.

Overall, I still not sure, what was the issue (might have to do with some important files getting corrupt) and how this workaround fixed this issue. But thankfully it saved me the entire of tedious work and I hope it works for you as well. Again, all credits go to the user Linc Davis.