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Adobe Acrobat Reader, dmg can't open

Forum|Forum|13 days ago
March 23, 2026
2 replies
166 views

H there, went to download Adobe Acrobat today to my MacBook pro, M3 with Tahoe 26.3.1 (a), and keep getting a message ..

‘The disk image couldn’t be opened.

The operation couldn’t be completed. Operation not permitted.’

I have tried so many options after reading about issues, going to privacy and security settings, and just can’t get this loaded up.. All the suggested google and AI tips do nothing, what am I missing, aside, loosing all my Sunday and a lot of hair I’ve pulled out!!

I am needing to set up adobe to prepare files for sending, changing permissions so others can view, please please help… Thank you.

Correct answer Meenakshi_Negi

Hi Greg369,

Thank you for sharing the information.

Please check the following settings once:

Go to System Settings > Privacy & Security
Scroll to Full Disk Access
Make sure Finder is enabled
Restart your Mac once

If that does not help either, please try removing all Adobe applications from the machine. Reboot it once. Ensure that you remove the files from Trash.

Once done, try checking if you can install the Creative Cloud desktop application from this page: https://helpx.adobe.com/download-install/apps/download-install-apps/creative-cloud-apps/download-creative-cloud-desktop-app-from-web.html. If it installs without any error, then try to install Acrobat from this application.

If you receive the same error, please let us know.

Thanks,

Meenakshi

Meenakshi_Negi

Legend

Hi Greg369,

Thank you for reaching out, and sorry for the trouble caused.

This could be a macOS security restriction issue that has been affecting DMG files on newer macOS builds. The error message usually means macOS Gatekeeper / Privacy protections are blocking the DMG before it can even mount, even if you’ve already checked Security & Privacy.

Please try installing the Acrobat using Safari. Use the steps and the download link suggested below:

-Remove the application and run the cleaner tool (https://www.adobe.com/devnet-docs/acrobatetk/tools/Labs/cleaner.html).
-Reboot the machine
-Install Adobe Acrobat from the following page: https://helpx.adobe.com/download-install/kb/download-install-acrobat-subscription.html.

-Make sure the file finishes downloading fully.

Let us know how it goes.

Thanks,

Meenakshi

Greg369Author

Participant

Thank you Meenakshi for your response,

I have just tried to download the above cleaner tool, I am though met with the same box message..

‘The disk image couldn’t be opened.

The operation couldn’t be completed. Operation not permitted.’

..So again frustratingly cannot progress forward.

I have tried dragging the dmg to my desktop, sometimes works with an open, but just the same message. I have also tried just to see if I could today download Acrobat but no, just the same.

Yesterday I tried downloading Acrobat on an old Mac laptop, but it was so slow, it timed out before fully loading.. Tried a few times, no success, the file is such a large one.

I also tried on my iPhone, but there was told my phone needed to be 17 +, so so frustrating that what should be a few minutes task has sucked my whole weekend, and now I am back to work with Nothing to show for it after jumping through hoops continually.

I tried the chat, talked to the bot, was told I’d be put through to a Real person, then told, no one to talk to, crazy crazy, for a company that charges such an expensive premium all I want to do is open pdf’s and change permissions so I can send to my lender and not have issues, why is this so so hard?

I am using Safari, latest version 26.3.1 (21623 2.7.111.2), and have checked for updates, but have my laptop (Mac Book Pro M3 Max ‘23) set on auto so updates happen automatically.

I am on Tahoe, version 26.3.1 (a), and would dearly love to be patiently waiting for my download to finish alas, can’t even get it started!

Thank you Meenakshi for your response, and in advance for your support, Greg

Meenakshi_NegiCorrect answer

Legend

Hi Greg369,

Thank you for sharing the information.

Please check the following settings once:

Go to System Settings > Privacy & Security
Scroll to Full Disk Access
Make sure Finder is enabled
Restart your Mac once

If that does not help either, please try removing all Adobe applications from the machine. Reboot it once. Ensure that you remove the files from Trash.

Once done, try checking if you can install the Creative Cloud desktop application from this page: https://helpx.adobe.com/download-install/apps/download-install-apps/creative-cloud-apps/download-creative-cloud-desktop-app-from-web.html. If it installs without any error, then try to install Acrobat from this application.

If you receive the same error, please let us know.

Thanks,

Meenakshi

Dave Creamer of IDEAS

Community Expert

Did you try downloading it again? It sounds like a bad download.

David Creamer: Community Expert (ACI and ACE 1995-2023)

Greg369Author

Participant

hanks Dave, I have as you can see above in my response to Meenakshi, tried repeatedly to download, rebooting my laptop, trying other devices, checking I am updated, checking my security settings, alas, I am still locked out!

Thank you again Dave, some deeper detailed analysis and feed back I would appreciate, Greg

Dave Creamer of IDEAS

Community Expert

You can check the DMG with Disk Utility.

Do you happen to work for a company that installed some sort of software to control installs?

If you can, create a new user and try to install.

David Creamer: Community Expert (ACI and ACE 1995-2023)

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