Cannot open downloaded files

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Level 1

12 points

Cannot open downloaded files

My computer suddenly does not let me open downloaded files of any kind. It does not matter if they are in Word, PDF or any format. For example, downloaded forms from a government site cannot be accessed. Just in case, I went to a camera manufacturer's site to download a lens manual, but when I try to open the file, I get the same warning I get for any downloaded file:

If I do command + I and check the permissions, I appear as having read and write privileges:

Changing the privileges to read only and back to R+W does not make any difference. Rebooting the computer makes no difference. I ran Disc Utility's first aid just in case... to no avail.

I have also opened terminal and run "sudo chown myusername /path/to/my/document.PDF" to no effect.

This problem is also happening if I download my camera's files via WiFi.

Your kind assistance and suggestions will be appreciated.

MacBook Pro 14″, macOS 15.0

Posted on Oct 31, 2024 1:18 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Siatonto Author

Level 1

12 points

Nov 8, 2024 9:21 AM in response to HWTech

HWTech wrote:

Don't use PDF files for testing especially when using Preview since Preview has a bug where if the third party PDF form is filled in using Preview, then it will lock the PDF. If you want to test PDF files, then try opening them with another app.

What if you launch the app first, then select "File --> Open..." to locate the file & open it?

Check if the quarantine flag is set on the file using the command line (just drag & drop the file onto the open Terminal window after first typing "xattr " making sure to leave at least one space):

xattr <path-to-file>

If it has the quarantine flag, then use the following command to delete the quarantine flag:

xattr -d com.apple.quarantine <path-to-file>

It is possible that this flag could be added again.

I believe I may have seen some other method on this forum to perhaps prevent this need, but I don't recall what the other solution may be now. Try searching this forum for the past year for this issue since I think there is a better way. I think there was some macOS setting that was causing this issue.

Edit: Are you using any third party anti-virus software, cleaning/optimizer apps, or third party security software?

That helped, even though it was tedious.

The problem went away briefly after upgrading to Sequoia 15.1. Now its back with a vengeance as trying to use xattr yields an error: "xattr: [Errno 1] Operation not permitted".

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Answer 2

HWTech

Level 9

68,630 points

Nov 1, 2024 9:27 AM in response to Siatonto

Don't use PDF files for testing especially when using Preview since Preview has a bug where if the third party PDF form is filled in using Preview, then it will lock the PDF. If you want to test PDF files, then try opening them with another app.

What if you launch the app first, then select "File --> Open..." to locate the file & open it?

Check if the quarantine flag is set on the file using the command line (just drag & drop the file onto the open Terminal window after first typing "xattr " making sure to leave at least one space):

xattr  <path-to-file>

If it has the quarantine flag, then use the following command to delete the quarantine flag:

xattr  -d  com.apple.quarantine  <path-to-file>

It is possible that this flag could be added again.

I believe I may have seen some other method on this forum to perhaps prevent this need, but I don't recall what the other solution may be now. Try searching this forum for the past year for this issue since I think there is a better way. I think there was some macOS setting that was causing this issue.

Edit: Are you using any third party anti-virus software, cleaning/optimizer apps, or third party security software?

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Answer 3

AlWeir

Level 5

4,971 points

Nov 1, 2024 10:41 AM in response to Siatonto

I wonder if it possible to remove the flag by moving the .pdf to the Desktop and then back to it's original location. I know that I have to do this with the occasionally apps to get it run from the Application folder.

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Answer 4

AlWeir

Level 5

4,971 points

Oct 31, 2024 1:30 PM in response to Siatonto

Have you tried another browser other than Safari, which I I am presuming you are using. Don't bother with Firefox, people are having the same problem with it. There is Brave, Chrome, Opera amongst others.

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Answer 5

Siatonto Author

Level 1

12 points

Nov 2, 2024 5:36 AM in response to HWTech

Thank you HWTech.

While I first noticed the problem when I tried to work on a Word document downloaded from Gmail, it happens with any downloaded file regardless of format (PDF, JPG, etc). It also happens with camera raw files if I transfer them from the camera to the computer via WiFi.

Anyway, I ran the command you suggested and each file that I have checked has the quarantine flag.

As for security, I have been using Sophos home for many years without a problem.

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Answer 6

Siatonto Author

Level 1

12 points

Oct 31, 2024 4:59 PM in response to AlWeir

Thank you Al

Tried Chrome, Edge and Firefox. But the problem is not limited to downloading via a browser. When I download my camera's files over WiFi using the manufacturer's app, the same thing happens. If I connect a card reader and copy the files, there is no problem.

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Answer 7

Siatonto Author

Level 1

12 points

Nov 2, 2024 5:38 AM in response to AlWeir

AlWeir wrote:

I wonder if it possible to remove the flag by moving the .pdf to the Desktop and then back to it's original location. I know that I have to do this with the occasionally apps to get it run from the Application folder.

Thank you for the suggestion. I also tried that to no avail.

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Answer 8

AlWeir

Level 5

4,971 points

Nov 2, 2024 5:59 AM in response to Siatonto

Isn't there app out there that you drag a file into and it will remove the flags?

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