Fixing the “RIVeR is damaged and can’t be opened” Error on macOS

[antoinepatalano]

Fixing the “RIVeR is damaged and can’t be opened” Error on macOS

If you encounter the following error when trying to launch the RIVeR application on macOS:

“RIVeR” is damaged and can’t be opened. You should move it to the Trash.

Don't worry—this is a common issue for apps that haven't been notarized by Apple.

Why This Happens

macOS includes a security feature called Gatekeeper, which blocks apps that haven’t been downloaded from the App Store or notarized by Apple.

Currently, RIVeR is not signed or notarized, which causes macOS to treat it as potentially unsafe. As a result, when you try to open it, you may see the error message above.

This does not mean the app is actually damaged. It simply means macOS is preventing it from launching due to its security settings. The workaround below removes the quarantine flag and allows RIVeR to run as expected.

Affected Systems

• Apple Silicon Macs (e.g., M1, M2)
• macOS Ventura (13.x) and newer

Solution

To resolve this issue, follow these steps:

1. Open the Terminal application (found in Applications > Utilities).
2. Run the following command:

   xattr -rd com.apple.quarantine /Applications/RIVeR.app

3. Go to System Settings > Privacy & Security.
4. Scroll down to the Security section. If you see a message stating that RIVeR was blocked, click "Allow Anyway".
5. Try launching the RIVeR application again.

Notes

• You only need to do this once after installation.
• Make sure you have permission to run apps from unidentified developers. This can be managed in System Settings > Privacy & Security > App Management.