Unable to open numbers or pages files by right click or double click.

Hi there,

Based on the error message you're receiving — “‘filename’ is damaged and can’t be opened” — this issue is likely related to macOS Gatekeeper, which is a security feature designed to protect your system from potentially unsafe files. Sometimes, after a system update, Gatekeeper may mistakenly flag legitimate files (especially older ones or those transferred from another device) as unsafe.

Here are a few steps to fix the issue:

1. Reopen Using Right-Click + Option:

• Right-click the file.
• Hold the Option key, and select Open instead of just double-clicking.
• You may get a prompt asking if you're sure — click Open.

This can sometimes bypass Gatekeeper’s strict checks.

2. Remove Quarantine Flag

If that doesn’t work:

1. Open Terminal (Applications > Utilities > Terminal).
2. Type the following command (add a space after it, but don’t press Enter yet): xattr -d com.apple.quarantine
3. Drag the problematic file into the Terminal window so it adds the file path.
4. Press Enter.

Repeat this for any other affected files.

3. Check Default App Associations

It’s possible Ventura reset file associations:

• Right-click a .pages or .numbers file > Get Info.
• Under “Open with,” make sure it’s set to Pages or Numbers.
• Click Change All… to apply this to all similar files.

macOS updates can sometimes trigger stricter security checks or reset certain user preferences. Your system is likely flagging these files incorrectly, especially if they were downloaded or transferred from another machine.

If you continue to experience this across many files, a reinstall of the affected apps (Pages or Numbers) from the Mac App Store may also help reset any broken app links.

Best regards,

Oliver