Can't Open Files on Mac? Fix It with These 4 Simple Methods

When you can't open a file on your Mac, especially when it's an important one that's urgently needed, panic might set in. Fear not, as this article will provide you with four viable solutions to fix this error.

Solution 1: Fix Mac Cannot Open File Issue with File Repair Software

If your file is corrupted or damaged, it might not open. In such cases, you need tools like file repair software to address the corruption issues and restore the file to a stable and functional state. The Fixo File Repair Tool could be your best solution.

This Microsoft Repair tool can fix corrupted files on Mac in 3 simple steps. It can repair corrupt PDF files, Excel, Word, and more. Here are some common issues that this Mac file repair utility can fix perfectly:

• Fix apps that won't open on Mac
• Repair ZIP and other compressed files on Mac
• Solve issues with PowerPoint not opening on Mac

You can download the Fixo File Repair tool for free and follow this detailed guide to fix corrupted files on your Mac.

Step 1. Download and launch Fixo on your Mac. From the left sidebar, select "File Repair." Click "Add File" to choose the corrupted Office document, including Word, Excel, PDF, and so on, that you wish to fix.

Step 2. Click the “Repair All” button to fix all corrupted files at once. If you want to repair a specific document, hover over it and click the “Repair” button. You can click the eye icon to preview the repaired document.

Step 3. Click “Save” to save the selected documents. To keep all repaired files, choose “Save All.” After saving is complete, click “View Recovered Files” to locate the folder with your repaired items.

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Solution 2: Restart the Application to Fix the Issue of Unable to Open Mac Files

When trying to open a file on your Mac, an app might behave unexpectedly. You can try force-quitting the app and restarting it:

Step 1. Click the Apple icon in the top-left corner of the screen.

Step 2: Select “Force Quit” from the drop-down menu.

Step 3. Select the app you're currently using to open the problematic file, and choose “Force Quit.”

Now you can restart the app and try to open your file again to see if the error is still there. This trick also works if PowerPoint won't open on Mac.

Solution 3: Fixing Unopenable Files on Mac by Changing File Permissions

If you forgot to change the file permissions, you might not be able to open them. Try changing the file permissions like this:

Step 1. Right-click the file you want to open and select “Get Info.”

Step 2. Click on the lock icon and enter your administrator account and password.

Step 3: In the Sharing & Permissions section, set the permissions for your account to Read & Write.

When you encounter a Microsoft Word file save permission error, you can refer to this post for assistance:

Word Cannot Save File Permission Error on Mac [Solved]

When saving a file in Microsoft Word on your Mac, you might encounter the error "Word can't save because of a permissions error." You can try several methods to fix this file permission error.

Solution 4: Repair Mac Hard Drive to Fix Can't Open Files on Mac Issue

A damaged hard drive or corrupted system files can also cause issues with opening files on a Mac. If your disk is in poor condition, run Disk Utility's First Aid to repair it. Follow these steps:

Step 1: Go to Finder > Applications > Utilities, and open Disk Utility.

Step 2: Click on "View" in the top left corner, and select "Show all devices."

Step 3: In the left panel, find your drive. Click “First Aid” and then select “Run” in the new window that appears.

Now, be patient while that process completes.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about "Can't Open Files on Mac" Issues

Here are some common issues that might cause a file to not open on your Mac:

Why can't my Mac open certain documents?

If you can't open a document or app on your Mac, it's possible that you've disabled permissions, or that your file is damaged or corrupted.

How do I get my Mac to open a file?

You can change the permissions for a file or folder that you want to open. Follow these steps:

• Select the item. • Choose File > Get Info, or press Command-I. • Click the arrow next to Sharing & Permissions, and set your account's permission to Read & Write.

Why can't I open an application file on my Mac?

You might not have permission to open this app, or it might be damaged because it wasn't downloaded correctly.

Conclusions

This how-to article outlines four simple solutions to fix the issue of "can't open files on Mac." You can try restarting the application, changing file permissions, using First Aid to repair the hard drive, or relying on Fixo File Repair as a savior for damaged files.