Written by
Amanda WongSometimes, you may fail to open an app on your Mac and receive different error messages such as:
- "app name" cannot be opened because the developer cannot be verified
- "app name" cannot be opened because it is from an unidentified developer
- The application is not open anymore
- "app name" is damaged and can't be opened
- The application can't be opened
Besides, you may see another message window prompt saying "You can't open the application because it is not supported on this type of Mac" when you attempt to run certain applications on the MacBook Air/Pro/iMac.
What does the error can't open the application not supported on your Mac mean?
Different error messages on your Mac indicate the reasons behind the issue. As the warning "You can't open the application because it is not supported on this type of Mac" says, the app is not supported on your Mac, it could be incompatible with the current macOS, or Mac hardware, leading to the app not opening on your Mac.
Specifically, the app could be outdated, designed for Intel-Mac and is incompatible with M1/M2 Macs, the app can only run on 32-bit Macs, etc., all of these may result in the error "You can't open the application because it is not supported on this type of Mac," but you can't tell the exact reason from the message.
Fix 'You can't open the application because it is not supported on this type of Mac'
You may encounter the error message "You can't open the application because it is not supported on this type of Mac" on both Intel Macs and Apple Silicon Macs, on the latest macOS Sonoma and earlier versions. There are some possible solutions you can try to fix the issue.
Try Safe Mode
You can determine whether the problems you're having are related to software that loads when your Mac boots up by starting it in Safe Mode. It also does a quick check on your starting disk. Additionally, it cleans out the kernel cache and several font caches on the system. When needed, these are automatically generated anew.
If you can't open the application and receive the same message, then the problem is not caused by system errors. If you can open the application, then the culprit of the issue could be login items or other software. Some Mac users find their antivirus or malware-detection software prevents it, you may open such software to allow it.
Update the application
If you have updated the macOS recently but left the app outdated, then it may trigger the application not supported on this type of Mac error. You should check the available updates from the Mac App Store, the notifications within the applications, or the official websites of the app developers. Or, uninstall it and redownload the app, this works for the "The application appears to have been tampered with" error.
Downgrade/upgrade macOS
Perhaps the app you want to open can only run on an older or newer macOS. In this way, you may need to upgrade or downgrade macOS to make it compatible. Theoretically, it won't cause data loss, but you'd better back up your Mac before you downgrade/upgrade macOS.
Use a virtual machine or emulator
In case you don't want to switch to another macOS, you can still open the app with a virtual machine for Mac or an emulator, which enables you to run another OS on the same Mac so that you can run the 34-bit app on 64-bit Mac, or run iOS apps on Mac, etc.
Install alternative application
When the wanted app is not supported on your Mac, you can search for an alternative app that is compatible with your Mac. It features similar or main functions that could satisfy your needs.
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