Hey there, let's work through this MacOS Electron app issue together—since you've already nailed the Linux and Windows builds, we're just a few targeted checks away from getting the Mac version up and running!

Here are some practical steps to diagnose and fix the problem:

• Check app permission settings first
  High Sierra is pretty strict about file permissions, which is a super common culprit here. Right-click your test.app, select "Get Info", and scroll down to the Sharing & Permissions section. Make sure your user account has "Read & Write" access, and click the lock icon to apply changes if needed. You can also fix permissions quickly via terminal:

  chmod -R 755 /path/to/your/test.app
  

• Run the app via terminal to see detailed error logs
  The biggest mistake folks make is not checking the actual error messages. Open Terminal and run either of these commands:

  open -a /path/to/test.app
  

  Or directly launch the executable inside the app bundle (replace YourAppName with the name from your package.json):

  /path/to/test.app/Contents/MacOS/YourAppName
  

  This will spit out specific errors—like missing dependencies, incompatible Electron versions, or path issues—that you won't see by just double-clicking the app.

• Verify Electron version compatibility
  High Sierra (10.13) doesn't support newer Electron releases. Electron 12 and above dropped support for 10.13 entirely, so if you're using a recent Electron version, that's almost certainly the problem. Downgrade to Electron 11.x or lower to match your OS version.

• Double-check your packaging configuration
  If you're using electron-builder or electron-packager, make sure your package.json has correct MacOS-specific settings:

  • For electron-builder, ensure the mac field specifies a valid .icns icon (PNGs won't work for Mac app bundles)
  • Avoid custom build scripts that might be modifying the app bundle incorrectly during export

• Address system security restrictions
  High Sierra blocks unsigned apps by default. Head to System Preferences > Security & Privacy—if you see a message saying "test.app was blocked from opening", click "Open Anyway". If that prompt doesn't show up, you can temporarily disable Gatekeeper (only for testing, be sure to re-enable it afterward):

  sudo spctl --master-disable
  

  Re-enable Gatekeeper when you're done testing:

  sudo spctl --master-enable
  

• Skip manual DMG conversion for now
  You don't need to convert to DMG to run the app—DMGs are just for distribution purposes. The core issue is with the .app bundle itself, so focus on fixing that first. Once the .app runs properly, use your packaging tool to build the DMG directly (e.g., electron-builder can output DMGs automatically with the right target settings).

If none of these steps resolve the issue, share the error logs you get from running the app via terminal—that'll help pinpoint the exact problem!

内容的提问来源于stack exchange，提问作者Cody