El Capitan: You can't open the application 'app name' because it may be damaged or incomplete

Oh dear. I had this problem too when I did the last OSX software update today. It removed all my files, applictions and utilities.

I followed your advice re deleting myself as a user, logging in as a guest, and then reinstating myself and the result is that all my files, photos, settings etc are gone even though I ticked the box to keep them. It is as though I have started from scratch.

Great Great Linc Davis the solution is perfect, you saved my Sunday evening.

Yesterday I installed the latest update (10.11.6) has since then I have had this problem.

Congratulations

Todd

I followed what you did and deleted myself as a user but then came the problem, I am having difficulty reinstating my user account.

I have followed the instructions Apple give for restoring a deleted account (mine from a folder not a disk image), as follows

Restore the home folder from a disk image

1. In the Finder, open the Deleted Users folder by choosing Go > Go to Folder, entering /Users/Deleted Users, then clicking Go.
2. Open the disk image file for the deleted user’s home folder. The disk image filename begins with the user’s account name and ends with .dmg.The contents of the home folder appear in a new window.
3. Hold down the Option key while dragging the small icon in the title bar of the new window to the Users folder. Click Authenticate, then enter an administrator name and password to proceed. The deleted user’s home folder is copied to the Users folder.
4. Choose Apple menu > System Preferences, then click Users & Groups.
5. Click the lock icon to unlock it, then enter an administrator name and password.
6. Click the Add button below the list of users.
7. Click the New Account pop-up menu, then choose a type of user.
8. Enter a full name for the user.An account name is generated automatically.
9. If necessary, edit the account name so it matches the name of the deleted user’s home folder.
10. Enter a password for the user in the Password and Verify fields, then enter a hint to help the user remember the password.
11. Click Create User.
12. Click Use Existing Folder.

Restore the home folder from a saved folder

1. In the Finder, open the Users folder by choosing Go > Go to Folder, entering /Users, then clicking Go. The deleted user’s home folder is in the /Users folder, and its name is the same as the user’s account name, followed by (Deleted).
2. Rename the deleted user’s home folder by removing (Deleted), so that the folder name exactly matches the account name of the deleted user. You may be asked to enter your administrator name and password before you can rename the folder.
3. Follow steps 3 through 12 of “Restore the home folder from a disk image,” above.

But have two problems. The first is that I cannot understand what step 3 involves as my deleted users folder is already in the users folder. But more problematic is that step 12 never appears. What happens is that a duplicate users account is created with the same name as my deleted users account and, of course, when I log in using this new duplicate account it contains no files, documents, photos or films.

All these "missing" items I can see are there under the original users folder. I tried copying them over to the new duplicate account but that takes me way past my storage limit as it involves about 150gb and I would rather not clutter up my storage with a duplicate set of files.

What am I doing wrong?

If you kept the user folder where it was, you will not have a disk image, so step 3 is unnecessary.

The old user's home folder should already be there inside /Users - let's say the old user had a short name 'octavia': then the home folder should remain where it always was, /Users/octavia

For step 12 to work you have to give the user you are creating the exact same short name matching the old user (and therefore matching the name in the old user's home folder) - so call it 'octavia' (or whatever it was in the first place).

Luis

Thanks. I did that, using the exact same name, having removed "Deleted" as item 2 of the Apple instructions say. But no "Use existing folder" option appears and I end up with two user accounts with identical names though one is my original account and the there is a new one and no way to add my original account back into "Users and Groups" using Systems Preferences.

There can't be two files or folders with the exact same name in the same folder. Maybe you left a space in the folder name?

That is what I thought too but there were! I at last solved the problem by changing the name of the original deleted user (to Octavia you will be amused to know!) and then using that name not only for the Account Name but also for the Full Name when creating a "new user" account. That did the trick and brought up the "Use existing folder" option. I then deleted the "phantom" user account. All now good. Thanks for your help.

Working perfect with new update 10.11.6. After this happened to me again.

Thank you Linc Davis !

If the icons in the Applications folder are correct, control - click on the Dock icon, then Options/Remove from Dock. Then open the application, control - click, then Options/Keep in Dock.

Thank you so much, my friend!!!
Can you explain why the **** this problem even appears and how did you find this solution?

Thank you. Your procedure worked for me. Thank you for your thorough explanation. I would have spent hours getting nowhere if not for your solution.

Linc Davis, you are genius! Your method was the only thing that worked! You saved me from the dreaded "erase and restore" method that was being espoused by the Apple Technician.

You are THE MAN.

I'm sure I am way too late to help but any admin account would work. Linc's solution saved the day for me after hours on the phone with Apple including a senior engineer with no solution.

I can not find zz file or folders

Can confirm this worked for me as well. Cheers! 🙂