Back to Blog

How to Fix "App is Damaged and Can't Be Opened" on macOS

Step-by-step instructions for Mac users to resolve the "damaged and can't be opened" error when launching NeonChainX.

June 10, 2025

If you see the error:

"NeonChainX" is damaged and can't be opened. You should move it to the Trash.

when launching NeonChainX on your Mac, don't worry! This is a common issue for apps downloaded from the internet, especially if they haven't been notarized by Apple yet.

Why Does This Happen?

macOS adds a security flag called "quarantine" to files downloaded from the internet. If the app is not notarized, Gatekeeper may block it and show this error.

How to Fix

  1. Move NeonChainX to your Applications folder.

  2. Open the Terminal app (you can find it in Applications > Utilities).

  3. Run the following command:

    xattr -dr com.apple.quarantine /Applications/NeonChainX.app

  4. Try opening NeonChainX again.

Is This Safe?

This command simply removes the quarantine flag. Only do this for apps you trust and have downloaded from official sources.

Back to Blog