Can't Open Files on Mac? Fix It With 4 Easy Ways

You may be freaked and panicked when you can't open files on Mac, especially when their files are very important or urgently needed. Do not worry; this post will give 4 feasible fixes to solve this error.

Fix 1. Solve Can't Open Files on Mac With File Repair Software

If your files are corrupted and damaged, they may not be able to be opened. In this case, you need helpers like file repair software to solve file corruption and restore your file to a stable and normal state. EaseUS Fixo File Repair may be the best solution for you.

This Microsoft repair software can repair corrupted files on Mac with three steps. Repair corrupted PDF files, Excel, Word, and more. Here are some more common cases that this file repair tool for Mac can perfectly fix:

• Fix applications cannot be opened on Mac
• Repair Zip and other compressed files on Mac
• Solve PowerPoint not opening on Mac

You can free download EaseUS Fixo File Repair and fix corrupted files on Mac with the detailed guide here:

Step 1. Download and launch Fixo on the Mac. Choose "File Repair" from the left panel. Click "Add Files" to select corrupted Office documents, including Word, Excel, PDF, and others you want to repair.

Step 2. To repair corrupted files in batch, click the "Repair All" button. If you want to repair a specific document, move your cursor to the document and click the "Repair" button. You can click the eye icon to preview the repaired document.

Step 3. Click "Save" to save a selected document. To keep all the repaired documents, choose "Save All". When the save completes, click "View Repaired" to locate the repaired folder.

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Fix 2. Relaunch the Application to Troubleshoot Mac File Won't Open

Application malfunction may hinder when you try to open your files on Mac. You can try Force Quit the application and relaunch it like this:

Step 1. Click on the Apple logo from the top-left of your desktop.

Step 2. Select "Force Quit" from the drop-down menu.

Step 3. Choose the application you currently use to open the problematic file and select "Force Quit".

Now, you can relaunch the app and reopen your files to see if the error persists. This method also works when PowerPoint is not opening on Mac.

Fix 3. Fix File Not Opening on Mac by Changing File Permission

If you forget to change the permission settings for your files, you may also fail to open them. Try changing the file permission like this:

Step 1. Right-click on the file you want to open and choose "Get Info".

Step 2. Click the padlock and enter the admin account and password.

Step 3. Under the Sharing & Permissions section, set the privilege to your account as "Read & Write".

You can refer to this post when you encounter Microsoft Word cannot save file permission error:

Fix 4. Repair Mac Hard Drive to Fix Cannot Open Files on Mac

Hard driver corruption and damaged system files can also be reasons for files not opening on Mac. You can run the First Aid in Disk Utility to repair your disks - if they are in bad condition. Follow the steps here:

Step 1. Navigate to the "Finder > Applications > Utilities" folder and open "Disk Utility".

Step 2. Tao on "View" from the upper-left and go to "Show All Devices".

Step 3. Look for your disk from the left panel. Click "First Aid" and choose "Run" when the new window appears.

Now, wait patiently for the process to end.

FAQs on Can't Open File on Mac

Here are some frequently asked questions on this file not opening error on Mac:

1. Why is my Mac not letting me open documents?

Suppose you cannot open a document or application on your Mac. You may have disabled the permission setting, or your files are corrupted or damaged.

2. How do I allow Mac to open files?

You can change the file permission to the file or folder you want to open. Follow the steps here:

• Choose the item
• Go to "File" > "Get Info," or you can hold Command + I
• Tap on the arrow next to Sharing & Permissions and set the privilege to your account as "Read & Write".

3. Why can't I open an app file on my Mac?

You likely have no privileges to open this app, or the application may be corrupted due to improper download.

Conclusion

This post from EaseUS looked at four easy ways to fix can't open files on Mac. You can either relaunch the application, change the file permission, or repair your hard drive with First Aid. If your files happen to be damaged, use EaseUS Fixo File Repair as your lifesaver.