"Skype is damaged and can't be opened."

[Nein01]

I get this error every time I try to open Skype now:

"Skype" is damaged and can't be opened.
You should move it to the Trash.

I'm running 10.9.2 and this is the most recent version of Skype from their website. I deleted the app and re-downloaded three times already and the same thing keeps happening. I'm not having trouble installing or running any other apps, just Skype.

I've tried googling for help, but the only advice I've come across is "right click and hit 'open' from the context menu" :|

That doesn't help me at all. Anyone know what could be wrong?

 

[zorinlynx]

I don't mean to laugh at your predicament but that error message is so poetic.

Skype has been "damaged" ever since Microsoft bought the company years ago.

Have you tried rebooting? I'm wondering if you might have RAM problems; memory issues can corrupt files as they are downloaded/copied. Apple's code signing can detect modifications to executables and will prevent execution if so.

 

[Nein01]

Yeah, I have rebooted and I have also tried 4 earlier versions of Skype.

How can the same thing be happening with 5 different freshly downloaded disk images?

Is it possible that there's some tiny Skype file somewhere that needs to be deleted? There is no Skype folder in my Application Support directory. Where else should I look?

 

[Palladium]

There is almost certainly nothing wrong with your Skype. You have the default Mavericks setting not to permit downloads from non-Apple or non-identified sources. When you do download such an item, that is the error message you get, preventing you from opening the app. Just go to System Preferences, Security & Privacy and change the setting to allow downloads from any source. Then Skype will open (you may need to download it again). After it is working, you can change the setting back for fuller protection.

 

[saberahul]

There is almost certainly nothing wrong with your Skype. You have the default Mavericks setting not to permit downloads from non-Apple or non-identified sources. When you do download such an item, that is the error message you get, preventing you from opening the app. Just go to System Preferences, Security & Privacy and change the setting to allow downloads from any source. Then Skype will open (you may need to download it again). After it is working, you can change the setting back for fuller protection.

You don't need to download it again.

 

[Bruno09]

I get this error every time I try to open Skype now:

"Skype" is damaged and can't be opened.
You should move it to the Trash.

Did you try opening Skype in another account ?

What happens there ?

Could you please confirm that when you say "every time I try to open Skype" you mean that you try launching the application Skype located in your Applications folder ?
Or do you mean that you are try opening a disk image ?

 

[Nein01]

There is almost certainly nothing wrong with your Skype. You have the default Mavericks setting not to permit downloads from non-Apple or non-identified sources. When you do download such an item, that is the error message you get, preventing you from opening the app. Just go to System Preferences, Security & Privacy and change the setting to allow downloads from any source. Then Skype will open (you may need to download it again). After it is working, you can change the setting back for fuller protection.

That worked, thank you! I've seen the "You are attempting to open an application from an unidentified developer" message before, but because I kept getting this much different "It's corrupt. Throw it in the trash" error, I didn't think to check my privacy settings.

Call me crazy, but I think the user deserves to receive error messages that are relevant to the problem.

 

[viizi]

I have had this once before a few months ago, the only way is to redownload it. Seems something inside the actual app gets screwed up. Microsoft make skype so don't be too surprised

 

[saberahul]

I have had this once before a few months ago, the only way is to redownload it. Seems something inside the actual app gets screwed up. Microsoft make skype so don't be too surprised

Read the posts above.

 

[viizi]

Read the posts above.

didn't have time to do so at the time that I replied. I figured if it had been fixed or ruled out, it wouldn't do any damage reading my reply. Better than not saying anything, especially if what I had to say was the fix? Right

 

[saberahul]

didn't have time to do so at the time that I replied. I figured if it had been fixed or ruled out, it wouldn't do any damage reading my reply. Better than not saying anything, especially if what I had to say was the fix? Right

My point was that your comment on "the only way is to redownload it" is incorrect. After the user has downloaded it, he/she can go to Sys Pref and enable Allow from Anywhere under Security. Opening the app after making this change will allow the app to work. No reason to redownload it.

 

[viizi]

My point was that your comment on "the only way is to redownload it" is incorrect. After the user has downloaded it, he/she can go to Sys Pref and enable Allow from Anywhere under Security. Opening the app after making this change will allow the app to work. No reason to redownload it.

So you are saying that because I was wrong, I shouldn't have tried to help? Think about that, if the world was like that no one would speak up and nothing would get done. Anyway, you've bored the crap out of me so, see ya!

 

[chrisrosemusic1]

Yeah, I have rebooted and I have also tried 4 earlier versions of Skype.

How can the same thing be happening with 5 different freshly downloaded disk images?

Is it possible that there's some tiny Skype file somewhere that needs to be deleted? There is no Skype folder in my Application Support directory. Where else should I look?

You need to go into your Mac preferences and change your 'open files from' menu to 'downloaded from anywhere'.

This will fix your issue completely.

 

[Alrescha]

So you are saying that because I was wrong, I shouldn't have tried to help?

"The only thing worse than no information is bad information."

 

[viizi]

"The only thing worse than no information is bad information."

and who judged that my info was bad? It worked for me twice with the exact problems demonstrated that the OP claimed. Ta ta