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How to rebuild Launch Services Database in Sierra?

I am having a weird issue that someone told me can be solved by rebuilding the Launch Services Database. I downloaded a Quicken file from my financial institution and chose to open it with TextEdit just to check dates (stupid, but I've done this before prior to the last 1 or 2 OS updates). However this time ALL downloads are identified and stuck permanently as TextEdit files, including Quickbooks, Excel files, csv choices to download from the bank. In the Get Info pane there is no way to change the Open With selection to anything that MoneyDance will recognize. I've trashed com.apple.LaunchServices plist files, reset VRAM/PRAM, ran Onyx and even reinstalled the OS direct from Apple with no ability to download the file properly. It seems completely fixed as being a TextEdit file.


So I will try rebuilding the Launch Services Database in Mac OS Sierra 10.12.4 Can anyone give me the proper string to put in Terminal? I've tried the following but the particular issue remains:


/System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Frameworks/LaunchServices.fram ework/Support/lsregister -kill -r -domain local -domain system -domain user ; killall Dock

iMac with Retina 5K display, Running latest OS 10.12.4

Posted on Apr 5, 2017 8:17 AM

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21 replies

Apr 5, 2017 10:58 AM in response to John Galt

Unfortunately John that is part of the problem. The file downloadable from the bank is a Quicken file which (don't have Quicken) my digital checkbook program called Moneydance uses to import transactions. After right-clicking on the downloaded file, using the "Open With" and thinking I could check dates using TextEdit prior to importing into MoneyDance this file AND ALL FILES DOWNLOADED FROM MY BANK whether chosen as Excel, Quickbooks, csv, etc. are downloaded as TextEdit files. The Get Info/Open With option does not include Excel, Numbers or any other application that makes sense. It offers Adobe Illustrator, Calibre, Evernote, Quicktime Player, Safari Script Editor, Send to Kindle and Textmate as the options. Excel or Numbers won't open the file. The file downloads as:

QFX_1_0_2?x-csrf=6dMg6q8qRE2KOIgXfmg-Ug2

User uploaded file

Using my laptop to download the file yields the correct file which is:

User uploaded file

I'm now wondering if this is not a Launch Services rebuild database issue to correct this, but something else.

Apr 5, 2017 8:33 AM in response to Jody Joy

/System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/LaunchServices.framework/Versions/A/Support/lsregister -kill -r -domain u -domain s -domain l -v


Expect a period of unresponsiveness as each newly opened Finder window will need to rebuild its icons.


Back up your Mac prior to making any changes to its file system: Use Time Machine to back up or restore your Mac - Apple Support.

Apr 5, 2017 8:56 AM in response to Eau Rouge

Testing ignore


/System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/LaunchServices.framework/Versions/A/Support/lsregister -kill -r -domain u -domain s -domain l -v



/System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/LaunchServices.framework/Versions/A/Support/lsregister -kill -r -seed -domain local -domain system -domain user


Apr 5, 2017 9:52 AM in response to John Galt

John, just checking, when I triple click your string there are a couple of spaces (maybe 1) after the end. Should that be there? Check where the cursor falls after the -v, I get:

/System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/LaunchSe rvices.framework/Versions/A/Support/lsregister -kill -r -domain u -domain s -domain l -v

well I took the plunge and ran the script in Terminal as it was copied. Saw a bunch of code being executed so I hope this worked and did no damage. I always take a very deep breath when opening Terminal. I will now restart and try downloading again.

Apr 5, 2017 10:11 AM in response to Jody Joy

just to report back, after restarting I tried to download the QFX file again and it is still identified as a TextEdit file. Where oh where is the ability to unlock that unfortunate Get Info pane "Open with" setting? This is ridiculous, I've done the exact thing before but never had it lock in like this (1-2 OS updates prior). This has got to be a bug. I'm hoping I won't have to take the nuclear option and do a complete erase and clean install from Time Machine prior to this event.

Apr 5, 2017 11:13 AM in response to Jody Joy

Thanks for that explanation. For what it's worth you did absolutely nothing wrong with selecting "Open With" because it makes no changes to file associations. Using "Change All" in the Finder's Get Info window makes those file associations. Is that not an option for you?


Did you try launching the Moneydance app and using its File menu to open the downloaded file? Unfortunately I'm not familiar with that app.


I'm now wondering if this is not a Launch Services rebuild database issue to correct this, but something else.


It probably is. I don't know what that might be. I'm wondering if something is interfering with the file as it is downloaded. The file icon is a generic document icon with an essentially meaningless name. How did you download it? Safari, or..? Are there any potentially conflicting factors such as Safari Extensions / Plug-Ins or useless "anti-virus" junk?


Perhaps "Moneydance" required a system modification that isn't working any more for whatever reason? Try uninstalling and reinstalling it.

Apr 5, 2017 11:24 AM in response to Jody Joy

If Get Info > Open With does not provide Moneydance as an option, then select "Other..." and change "Recommended Applications" to "All Applications". You can choose anything you want, even programs that are not appropriate.


I suspect that if you were to do that, Moneydance wouldn't open the file anyway since it appears to be corrupted.

Apr 5, 2017 12:06 PM in response to John Galt

Unfortunately all freshly downloadable files (whether chosen as Excel, QuickBooks, Quicken or csv are ALL downloaded as this stupid file type. None of those applications will open the files and of course Moneydance won't either. Since the file is freshly downloaded each time (using Safari) and comes in as a TextEdit file I do agree that the OS is doing something to alter the file to something only TextEdit can read. I've been downloading these files correctly for years, and it does download correctly on my laptop where my unfortunately choice of "Open With" was not done.


I've just received information to try to run your Terminal code string with sudo in the front. What are your thoughts? Here's the comment:

I can tell you for a fact that the terminal command you tried running DOES need sudo. Running it without sudo is useless. Try it again but with sudo at the front.

How to rebuild Launch Services Database in Sierra?

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