macOS Big Sur Permission Errors: Opening Unidentified Applications

Problem Overview

After upgrading to macOS Big Sur (version 11), many users encounter the error message "You do not have permission to open the application" when trying to launch applications from unidentified developers. This security enhancement in macOS prevents unauthorized applications from running, even when they previously worked in macOS Catalina.

The error message typically appears as:

The application cannot be opened for an unexpected reason, error=Error Domain=NSOSStatusErrorDomain Code=-10826 "kLSNoLaunchPermissionErr: User doesn't have permission to launch the app (managed networks)"

Solutions

1. Remove Quarantine Attribute (Standard Method)

macOS places downloaded applications in quarantine, preventing them from running without explicit permission. Remove this attribute using:

sudo xattr -rd com.apple.quarantine /Applications/YourAppName.app

WARNING

Always use sudo with this command, as it won't work without administrator privileges.

2. Re-sign the Application

If removing quarantine doesn't work, try re-signing the application:

# Install Xcode command line tools if necessary
xcode-select --install

# Re-sign the application
sudo codesign --force --deep --sign - /Applications/YourAppName.app

After re-signing, remove the quarantine attribute again:

sudo xattr -d -r com.apple.quarantine /Applications/YourAppName.app

3. Make Executable and Set Permissions

Sometimes the internal executable files lack proper permissions:

1. Navigate to the app's executable:

   cd /Applications/YourAppName.app/Contents/MacOS

2. Make the main executable file executable:

   sudo chmod +x executable_name

3. Alternatively, apply permissions recursively to the entire application:

   sudo chmod -R 755 /Applications/YourAppName.app

4. Check Application Signature

Verify if the application has a valid signature:

pkgutil --check-signature /Applications/YourAppName.app

If the signature is invalid, the application may have been installed incorrectly. Consider reinstalling from the original source.

5. Handle UPX-Compressed Binaries

Big Sur has issues with UPX-compressed binaries. If your application uses UPX compression:

# Install UPX if needed
brew install upx

# Decompress the binary
sudo upx -d /Applications/YourAppName.app/Contents/MacOS/executable_name

6. Distribution Considerations for Developers

If you're distributing applications:

• Compress applications on your local machine before uploading
• Use disk images for distribution rather than direct .app files
• Ensure proper line endings (LF only) in entitlement files
• Avoid UPX compression for macOS distributions

Step-by-Step Troubleshooting Process

Recommended troubleshooting sequence

1. Try the standard quarantine removal first
2. If that fails, check the application signature
3. Re-sign the application if the signature is invalid
4. Check and set proper file permissions
5. For compressed binaries, decompress with UPX
6. As a last resort, reinstall the application

System Preferences Override

After attempting these solutions, you may need to manually allow the application in System Preferences:

1. Open System Preferences → Security & Privacy → General
2. Click Open Anyway next to the application warning message

DANGER

Only bypass these security measures for applications from trusted sources. macOS security features protect your system from potentially malicious software.

When to Consider Alternative Solutions

If none of these methods work:

• The application may be incompatible with macOS Big Sur
• Contact the developer for an updated version
• Consider using virtualization for running legacy applications

These solutions address the most common permission issues in macOS Big Sur while maintaining system security. Always exercise caution when bypassing macOS security features and ensure you trust the source of any application you install.