Level 1

25 points

This copy of the Install macOS High Sierra.app application is damaged and can't be used to install macOS

I'm trying to install macOS High Sierra on a mid-2010 MacBook Pro (7,1). Using a bootable USB, I get the error 'This copy of the Install macOS Sierra.app application is damaged, and can't be used to install macOS'. None of the suggested resolutions with Sierra work due to using a USB. The USB is being created on my MacBook Pro (12,1) and has been used for a successful install on the 7,1 - I subsequently had to finish setup to access system info, so am re-installing the OS, which is what is causing the problem. I've re-created the USB several times and get the same error. Unfortunately, I've since erased the SSD (APFS) and there is currently nothing on it.

Booting using the recovery partition doesn't work either. It connects to Internet recovery, both via WiFi and ethernet. Yet I get an error 'The recovery server cannot be contacted'. The recommended solution to use ethernet does not work, nor am I able to edit the hosts file.

How do I install High Sierra when unable to install from the USB or download directly from the server?

MacBook Pro, macOS High Sierra (10.13), 7,1

Posted on Sep 29, 2017 9:50 AM

Top-ranking reply

basicdesigns Author

Level 1

25 points

Posted on Sep 30, 2017 12:04 AM

I've no clue where the install DVD has gone. However, I decided to attempt to install El Capitan via USB and got a similar error: 'This copy of the Install OS X El Capitan application can't be verified. It may have been corrupted or tampered with during downloading'. The seemingly accepted answer on StackExchange is to set the date to the current date or one near to when the image was created.

Checking the system date in terminal showed some time back in 2000. I changed it to today's date and time (date MMDDHHmmYY) and it is now installing fine. Unfortunately, I didn't take this opportunity to go back and check whether this solved the problem with High Sierra, due to only having one USB drive large enough and not wanting to reimage it yet again.

Is it possible that the same solution would fix the issue with High Sierra?

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41 replies

Sep 29, 2017 1:59 PM in response to Lexiepex

Okay.

Oct 2, 2017 8:14 AM in response to basicdesigns

try this

i also have this problem before

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqIxtEeNjzQ

Steve-OB

Level 1

4 points

Oct 3, 2017 5:06 PM in response to Steve-OB

As a follow-up from my previous post. Yes, disabling SIP solves this issue. Once High Sierra is installed, you can enable SIP again.

Jan 23, 2018 2:16 PM in response to basicdesigns

Never mind!

hyoga

Level 1

9 points

Jan 28, 2018 11:56 AM in response to basicdesigns

I can confirm this date trick also works with High Sierra. Kudos!

Feb 3, 2018 6:02 PM in response to basicdesigns

This hint saved me and allowed the install to happen. This works with High Sierra as well. Great post and tip.

John Galt

Level 10

155,450 points

Sep 29, 2017 11:08 AM in response to basicdesigns

If you erased that Mac's startup volume and there is nothing on it, and your USB-resident Sierra installer does not work, then you must reinstall that Mac's originally installed operating system, or restore its content from a Time Machine or equivalent backup.

basicdesigns Author

Level 1

25 points

Sep 30, 2017 12:25 AM in response to Lexiepex

A very good question. I suspect due to the battery being dead and the MBP requiring a constant connection to external power. However, I don't know enough about the internals of the hardware to categorically say whether that is the reason.

putnik

Level 4

1,185 points

Sep 30, 2017 4:03 AM in response to Kenneth Collins1

One wonders how millions of people have successfully installed macOS High Sierra, if what you are saying about SIP is true.

For the OP, I suggest using BootBuddy to make a new copy of the USB installer (it is written by a well known developer on here):

https://sqwarq.com/boot-buddy/

Oct 2, 2017 7:58 AM in response to SweetSeb

How to fix macOS Installation Errors | macOS - YouTube

Try this

i use macbook pro 15 2010 also can fix

Jan 23, 2018 2:03 PM in response to MikeTD-Technilogica

Yes, resetting the date using the Terminal window did the trick for me too on a clean install. The command is date and the syntax is MMDDHHMMYY.

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This copy of the Install macOS High Sierra.app application is damaged and can't be used to install macOS