"The application is not open anymore" WHEN IT IS!

mccarlson wrote:

The application name: Mail, Finale, Preview, Word, Excel, etc.

Ironically, it happened when I clicked on the link in the email that was to take me to this response (see attached); I had to quit Mail and try again, which worked.

https://discussions.apple.com/content/attachment/663b2258-3f10-439b-95fe-0221f4abc85f

Version number: Too many applications do this for me to list their version numbers, but they are all the latest possible versions.

OS 11.2.3

Other applications open: Not always the same, but I usually have Mail, Word, Messages, Chrome, Finale open

What activities are going on: Not sure what you mean. The sky has dark clouds, my dog is sleeping by my feet. What else would be helpful info?

What action I performed to trigger this message: As I wrote in my original post, I click on the icon of a different file using the very same application I am working in, and I get this message. And reiterating what I wrote in answer to what applications this happened in, I clicked in a link in Mail, and it happened.

Thanks,

Mark

1. Make sure you’ve logged in as Admin
2. Right click on the app and click Show Package Contents
3. Go to Contents > MacOS
4. Open Terminal
5. Type

sudo chmod +x

add a space and drag the file into Terminal

Enter your Password

Done

Hope this helps

https://youtu.be/uzrIwGwGd58

Additionally, you should strongly consider ending your use of any auxiliary ”protection” software you may be using, such as “cleaner” or “anti-virus” software.

mccarlson wrote:

Besides, the essence of the message is the same

I disagree. One discusses the state of other applications, while the other explicitly discusses the state of an application required to continue/complete some current activity.

Regardless, reinstalling MacOS is the way I suggest moving forward.

Ah, you have been referring to “The application is not open any[ ]more”. But the pop-up displayed says something very different: “The application can’t be opened.”

So it sounds like MacOS Big Sur is attempting and failing to open some helper application.

If that happened to me, I would reinstall MacOS Big Sur.

How to reinstall macOS - Apple Support

You have asked us to guess, among other things:

• The application name
• The application version number
• Your MacOS version number
• What other applications are open
• What activities are ongoing
• What action you performed to trigger this message
• etc.

mccarlson wrote:

Thanks! Interesting. How do you protect against malware, then?

Rely on the robustness of Big Sur, as well as your diligence in visiting only valid websites, etc.

Recognize and avoid phishing messages, phony support calls, and other scams - Apple Support

Yes, bad.