Fix Acrobat Reader DMG Damaged Error on macOS Catalina
Question details
The user needs to resolve an installation error where the Adobe Acrobat Reader DMG file appears as damaged on macOS Catalina.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat Reader
- Device & OS
- macOS Catalina
- Scenario
- Attempting to install Acrobat Reader DC (specifically older versions like 2019.021.20049) on a new Mac running macOS Catalina.
- Observed behavior
- The installer fails to run and macOS displays a system error stating that the DMG file is damaged.
Ensure your Mac is connected to a stable internet connection to download the updated installer, and verify that you have administrator privileges to modify applications and empty the system Trash.
Delete Old Installers and Download a Catalina-Compatible Version
Clear out any previously downloaded and potentially corrupted installer files, then fetch the latest macOS Catalina compatible version directly from Adobe.
macOS Catalina introduces stricter security checks and drops support for 32-bit application components. Older Acrobat Reader DMG files may trigger a 'damaged' error because they fail Catalina's Gatekeeper security checks or are incompatible.
Open the Finder on your Mac, navigate to your 'Downloads' folder, and look for any previously downloaded 'Acrobat Reader' DMG files.
Select all the old Adobe Reader DMG files, right-click them, and choose 'Move to Trash' from the context menu.
Right-click the Trash icon located at the end of your Mac's Dock and click 'Empty Trash' to permanently delete the conflicting files.
Open your web browser and navigate to the official Adobe Reader download page (https://get.adobe.com/uk/reader/). The site should automatically detect macOS Catalina and offer the correct, updated installer.
Once the download completes, double-click the new DMG file in your Downloads folder to mount it, then double-click the installer icon inside the window to complete the installation.
Read and Edit PDFs Smoothly with WPS Office on Mac
Skip the tedious installation troubleshooting. WPS Office for Mac includes a powerful, built-in PDF reader and editor that is fully compatible with macOS Catalina and newer, allowing you to view, annotate, and manage your PDF files without hassle.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the free installer designed specifically for macOS.
- 2. Install the application: Open the downloaded DMG file and drag the WPS Office icon into your Applications folder to install it.
- 3. Open your PDF files: Launch WPS Office, click 'Open' from the home screen, and select any PDF document to start reading or editing immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does macOS Catalina say the DMG file is damaged?
This error frequently occurs due to Apple's Gatekeeper security system. If an app is outdated, lacks a proper notarization signature for Catalina, or if the download was incomplete, macOS will flag the file as 'damaged' to protect your system.
Do I absolutely need Adobe Acrobat Reader to open PDFs on a Mac?
No. Mac computers come with a built-in 'Preview' app that handles basic PDF viewing. For more advanced features like editing, converting, or form filling, you can use comprehensive software suites like WPS Office.
How do I bypass the 'damaged' error if I know the file is safe?
While it is possible to bypass this by removing the quarantine attribute using the Terminal command 'xattr -cr', it is highly recommended to simply download the latest Catalina-compatible version from the official website to avoid deeper system compatibility issues.
