claude-code - 💡(How to fix) Fix [BUG] **Bug report: Claude Desktop cannot be installed on macOS 26 (Tahoe)**

Preflight Checklist

• I have searched existing issues and this hasn't been reported yet
• This is a single bug report (please file separate reports for different bugs)
• I am using the latest version of Claude Code

What's Wrong?

Bug report: Claude Desktop cannot be installed on macOS 26 (Tahoe)

System information

• macOS version: 26.3 (Build 25D125)
• Hardware: iMac
• Claude Desktop version: latest DMG from claude.ai/download

Problem description Claude Desktop cannot be installed or opened on macOS 26. When opening the app from the DMG, macOS displays the error: "Claude is damaged and can't be opened. You should move it to the Trash."

Steps to reproduce

1. Download the Claude Desktop DMG from claude.ai/download
2. Mount the DMG
3. Try to open Claude.app directly from the DMG → "damaged" error appears
4. Try to copy Claude.app to /Applications using cp, ditto, or sudo → hundreds of "Operation not permitted" errors on files inside Contents/Resources/
5. Even after copying, xattr -rd com.apple.quarantine fails because the copy is incomplete

Key error messages

ditto: /Applications/Claude.app/Contents/Resources/app.asar.unpacked/node_modules/@ant/claude-swift/build/Release/swift_addon.node: Operation not permitted
ditto: /Applications/Claude.app/Contents/Resources/app.asar.unpacked/node_modules/node-pty: Operation not permitted

This affects the entire Contents/Resources directory — all language bundles, assets, and native modules fail to copy.

Expected behavior Claude Desktop should install and open normally on macOS 26.

Workaround Using claude.ai in Safari works as a temporary alternative.

What Should Happen?

Expected behavior

Claude Desktop should install and launch normally on macOS 26 (Tahoe), just as it does on earlier macOS versions.

Specifically:

1. The DMG should mount and allow the user to drag Claude.app to /Applications without any "Operation not permitted" errors.
2. macOS Gatekeeper should accept the app's code signature and notarization, without reporting the app as "damaged".
3. All native modules (swift_addon.node, node-pty, etc.) inside Contents/Resources should be copyable and executable.
4. The app should open successfully after installation, without requiring any Terminal workarounds.

Error Messages/Logs

**Error Messages / Logs**

**1. macOS Gatekeeper error (when opening app from DMG):**

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


**2. Attempting to copy using sudo cp -R:**

cp: /Applications/Claude.app/Contents/Resources/app.asar.unpacked/node_modules/@ant/claude-swift/build/Release/swift_addon.node: fchmod failed: Operation not permitted
cp: /Applications/Claude.app/Contents/Resources/app.asar.unpacked/node_modules/@ant/claude-swift/build/Release/computer_use.node: Operation not permitted
cp: /Applications/Claude.app/Contents/Resources/app.asar.unpacked/node_modules/node-pty: Operation not permitted
cp: chmod: /Applications/Claude.app/Contents/Resources/app.asar.unpacked/node_modules/@ant/claude-swift/build/Release: Operation not permitted
cp: chmod: /Applications/Claude.app/Contents/Resources/app.asar.unpacked: Operation not permitted
cp: chmod: /Applications/Claude.app/Contents/Resources: Operation not permitted
cp: chmod: /Applications/Claude.app/Contents: Operation not permitted
cp: chmod: /Applications/Claude.app: Operation not permitted
(+ errors for all language bundles, assets and resources)


**3. Attempting to copy using sudo ditto:**

ditto: /Applications/Claude.app/Contents/Resources/app.asar.unpacked/node_modules/@ant/claude-swift/build/Release/swift_addon.node: Operation not permitted
ditto: /Applications/Claude.app/Contents/Resources/app.asar.unpacked/node_modules/node-pty: Operation not permitted
(+ errors for all language bundles, assets and resources)


**4. Attempting to remove quarantine attribute after failed copy:**

xattr: No such file: /Applications/Claude.app


**System info (sw_vers output):**

ProductName: macOS
ProductVersion: 26.3
BuildVersion: 25D125

Steps to Reproduce

Steps to Reproduce

1. Use a Mac running macOS 26.3 (Build 25D125)
2. Download the latest Claude Desktop DMG from claude.ai/download
3. Open the DMG file
4. Try to open Claude.app directly from the mounted DMG → macOS immediately shows: "Claude is damaged and can't be opened. You should move it to the Trash."

Attempted workarounds (all failed):

1. Try to copy the app to /Applications using Terminal:

   sudo cp -R /Volumes/Claude\ 1/Claude.app /Applications/

   → Hundreds of "Operation not permitted" errors on all files inside Contents/Resources/

2. Try to copy using ditto:

   sudo ditto /Volumes/Claude\ 1/Claude.app /Applications/Claude.app

   → Same "Operation not permitted" errors

3. Try to remove quarantine attribute:

   sudo xattr -rd com.apple.quarantine /Applications/Claude.app

   → Fails because the app was never fully copied: "No such file: /Applications/Claude.app"

4. Try to remove quarantine directly from the DMG:

   xattr -d com.apple.quarantine /Volumes/Claude\ 1/Claude.app

   → Fails: "Read-only file system"

Claude Model

None

Is this a regression?

I don't know

Last Working Version

Unknown — macOS 26 (Tahoe) is a new major release. Claude Desktop has never successfully installed on this system, so no previous working version can be identified. The issue appears to be a compatibility problem with macOS 26 rather than a regression caused by a specific Claude Desktop update.

Claude Code Version

Not applicable — Claude Desktop could not be installed on this system due to the reported bug. The claude --version command is unavailable as a result.

Platform

Other

Operating System

macOS

Terminal/Shell

Terminal.app (macOS)

Additional Information

Additional Information

Root cause hypothesis: The "damaged" error and the "Operation not permitted" errors when copying native modules (swift_addon.node, computer_use.node, node-pty) suggest a code signing or notarization incompatibility with macOS 26. Gatekeeper on macOS 26 appears to reject the app's signature before it can even be copied to /Applications.

Related GitHub issue: This issue was also reported in #56234, which describes the same "damaged" error and a black screen on macOS 26.4.1. The behavior on macOS 26.3 is identical, suggesting this affects all macOS 26 versions.

Workaround currently in use: Using claude.ai via Safari as a temporary alternative. This works correctly.

Note: This issue makes Claude Desktop completely unusable on macOS 26. Given that macOS 26 is a major new release, this likely affects a significant number of users. A re-signed and re-notarized build compatible with macOS 26 would resolve the issue.