The image couldn't be inserted on Keynote (or Pages and Numbers)

Question

Level 1

22 points

The image couldn't be inserted on Keynote (or Pages and Numbers)

Hey Guys!

I can't seem to insert or replace images on keynote or any of the iWork apps.

I'm running MacOS Big Sur 11.2.3 on a 2020 16" Macbook Pro

The interesting pattern that I have noticed is that I am able to sometimes insert and use 2-3 images with keynote (using it for 2-3 minutes) before it starts giving me the same error that the same image couldn't be inserted.

So far, I have tried doing a clean install of MacOS, fixing disk permissions – resetting them before and after, using images from various different folder locations, giving full disk access to keynote, clearing login items one by one but none of it seems to work.

I tried making a second admin user account where it seems to work fine. But as soon as I switch to my main user account, it works fine for a couple images (2-3 minutes) before it starts giving me the same error. I'm running almost all the same apps on both user accounts.

Same thing happened when I do a fresh install of the MacOS, it seemed to work fine but the issues come back within a few hours.

I'm guessing it has something to do with a third party app or user account permissions but it's so weird and beyond my troubleshooting.

Can someone help me with this?

Thanks in advance.

Posted on Apr 27, 2021 1:09 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Apr 27, 2021 2:15 AM in response to AyeYoKP

I tried making a second admin user account where it seems to work fine.

As you have tried so many things to sort the issue, using a new Mac user account appears to be the answer, it often is the fix for these type of issues.

Transfer your work files to the new user account, abandon the old account and you should be good to go.

Reply

Answer 2

AyeYoKP Author

Level 1

22 points

Apr 30, 2021 2:06 PM in response to Gary Scotland

Surprisingly, it only worked for some time. I did another clean install of Big Sur 13.3, setting up with a completely different account & username. Fresh installed all the apps and after some time, keynote was unable to take new images at all. Switching user accounts (fixing corrupt accounts/permissions) may not be the answer. It's either iCloud or some other app that is breaking something for keynote to work.

I've also had strange issues with Spark (Popular email app for MacOS) where I'm unable to attach files on an email from any folder except "Downloads". I've ignored this issue for the longest time but it seems to work hand in hand with the keynote issue. They both work and break at the same time.

Reply

Answer 3

May 1, 2021 2:48 AM in response to AyeYoKP

Do you have any non Apple applications installed, including cleaning, security, antivirus, antimalware software?

Reply

Answer 4

AyeYoKP Author

Level 1

22 points

May 1, 2021 3:10 AM in response to Gary Scotland

I don't have any antivirus or anti malware software. I do have CleanMyMac X. Being a designer, I also have a few design related software (Adobe suite, Colour pickers, font managers etc.) and some utility apps to manage day-to-day tasks like OneSwitch, CopyClip, Pixave etc.

Another observation, these apps have been in my workflow for the longest of times even when keynote was working a few weeks back. None of these apps ask for full disk access or permissions like that.

The user switching and coming back to work in the main account works only for an extended period of time before it goes back to giving the same errors. I think it has to be a file system permission error in Big Sur given how many people are facing the exact same issue on this forum.

Reply

The image couldn't be inserted on Keynote (or Pages and Numbers)

Similar questions