unable to open the Zotero app

dstillman · January 28, 2026

This discussion was created from comments split from: Database update error....

johncbeynon · January 28, 2026

I just upgraded Zotero to the 6 GB Storage option. I am unable to open the Zotero app (which I also upgraded to the latest version) on my computer. I'm attaching the error message I get when I try to open Zotero.
https://s3.amazonaws.com/zotero.org/images/forums/u1754346/n5n0z0iy22aj3hkj1ivc.png

dstillman · January 28, 2026

(Please start new threads for new issues — the thread you posted to isn't related. I've moved this to a new thread.)

This isn't related to the storage upgrade in any way.

Did you copy Zotero files from another computer? Zotero is getting a file access error on one of the Zotero database backup files, which would happen if the permissions on files in your Zotero data directory are incorrect. You should modify that folder and all files within it via File → Get Info in Finder to be owned and writable by your current Mac user account.

johncbeynon · January 28, 2026

Sorry about posing the reply to another thread. I searched for "Database upgrade error" and posted there, as I thought my problem was relevant to the thread with that title.

I did replace my laptop with a new one, and perhaps that is the cause of the problem. When you indicate that I should modify that folder, do you mean /Users//Zotero, as indicated on the page you linked to?

There is a parent folder within the Users folder titled Zotero. I clicked on it and chose Get info. I'm attaching an image of what I see. I'm not sure if anything needs modifying there.

I'm also attaching an image of the files and folders that are within the Users/jbeynon/Zotero folder. Maybe one of these needs modifying? They all seem to indicate that the jbeynon user (me) can read & write.

https://s3.amazonaws.com/zotero.org/images/forums/u1754346/m4yuugzt5x9rdxxuy8lz.png
https://s3.amazonaws.com/zotero.org/images/forums/u1754346/e3vczu18wnxig9rom72q.png

dstillman · January 28, 2026

It's almost certainly caused by copying the files from another computer, yes. Apple's Migration Assistant should usually get things right, but not always. Much more common with other methods of copying files.

This is really something you'd have to debug, since it's not a problem in Zotero itself, but if you open Terminal via Spotlight, run this, and paste the output, we can tell you if anything looks wrong:

ls -la ~/Zotero

johncbeynon · January 28, 2026

OK, thank you for your patience with me. I'm pretty unfamiliar with exploring the Users files on my computer or engaging with Terminal. Attached is what came up when I followed your instructions.
https://s3.amazonaws.com/zotero.org/images/forums/u1754346/cc38id4q3xn3tp378xa4.png

dstillman · January 28, 2026

What's the output of this?

xattr -l ~/Zotero ~/Zotero/zotero.sqlite.bak

johncbeynon · January 28, 2026

Here is the output for that latest request (at the bottom of the screenshot):
https://s3.amazonaws.com/zotero.org/images/forums/u1754346/rqfr0kiusprujmjkh8z7.png

dstillman · January 28, 2026

How about this?

ls -led ~/Zotero ~/Zotero/zotero.sqlite.bak

But you can run this:

chmod 755 ~/Zotero

And then delete zotero.sqlite.bak and zotero.sqlite.tmp and see if that works.

dstillman · January 28, 2026

This might also help, both with this and future potential problems:

chmod -RN ~/Zotero

Your files ended up with some special attributes, presumably from the previous system, and this will clear them (though only within the Zotero folder, so you could run into problems with other things).

johncbeynon · January 28, 2026

OK, the output of "ls -led ~/Zotero ~/Zotero/zotero.sqlite.bak" is in this screenshot.

https://s3.amazonaws.com/zotero.org/images/forums/u1754346/wtcqzowx1d2dvgbu3c2v.png

Should I go and run the second string and delete the files you mentioned?

dstillman · January 28, 2026

Right, so that has an attribute (technically, an Access Control List entry) that specifically prohibits deletions. The commands I give above should fix it.

johncbeynon · January 28, 2026

OK, so the "chmod -RN ~/Zotero" command didn't seem to produce anything in Terminal. (Attaching screenshot.) Should I delete the files you mentioned in the Users folder or through Terminal in some way?
https://s3.amazonaws.com/zotero.org/images/forums/u1754346/p3dhri2cbub5mstx3r1u.png

dstillman · January 28, 2026

You can delete them in Finder (but it will also probably just work now).

johncbeynon · January 28, 2026

Yes! It is now working! Thank you very, very much.

benwitheford · 2026-02-10T13:19:51+00:00

Hi there, this looks like a similar problem that I am having. Screenshot attached. It also happened after transferring to a new mac laptop.
https://s3.amazonaws.com/zotero.org/images/forums/u16747055/i3ike01slr2m8zq3eiin.png
After running the first command mentioned in this thread, I got this

https://s3.amazonaws.com/zotero.org/images/forums/u16747055/f4al4hlu910m5ubc5px0.png

dstillman · 2026-02-10T14:48:09+00:00

@benwitheford: That's technically a different problem, but yes, permissions are incorrect on your data directory. You'll need to fix it from the bottom of File → Get Info in Finder.

(How did you transfer data? Apple's Migration Assistant or something else?)

benwitheford · 2026-02-12T00:02:45+00:00

Started with Apple migration but it got stuck three times. Reverted BU to HDD and then copy over