Matlab 2024a not starting after Mac OS Sonoma 15.1 Update

Hello everyone,

After updating my MacBook Pro M2 i can no longer open Matlab R2024a.

When trying to start from finder or spotlight i get

The application “Spotlight [Finder] ” does not have permission to open “(null).”

I saw in another question (on which I couldn't comment due to missing reputation points) that it was suggested to start via console.

When I do that, i receive

> Applications/MATLAB_R2024a.app/bin/matlab ; exit;
env: /Applications/MATLAB_R2024a.app/bin/maca64/path_per_install: No such file or directory
mkdir: /bin/maca64: Operation not permitted

    matlab: No MATLAB bin directory for this machine architecture.

           ARCH = maca64


Saving session...
...copying shared history...
...saving history...truncating history files...
...completed.

[Process completed]

For context, running 2023b for Apple Silicon works, but running my 2024a version which is for intel mac (and therefore run via rosetta 2) does not work. Unfortunately I am dependend on 2024a due to old toolboxes that do not (and probably never will) support Apple Silicon.

I would be very thankful if someone could suggest a fix.

Thank you in advance!

[Christopher]

I'm having the same issue with not having permission to open Matlab 2023 on my macbook pro. I just reinstalled Matlab 2024 and it's now working.

Edit: I reinstalled it via the matlab on the web with my student license

Answer 1

[Michelle Hirsch]

Apple has fixed the issue in macOS 15.2.

If you are impacted by this issue and unable to update to 15.2, you can find additional details and recommendations here: https://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/answers/2163080-why-do-i-see-the-error-the-application-dock-does-not-have-permission-to-open-null-when-starti

[piere]

any updates?

[Michelle Hirsch]

I'm asking around to see if we've heard more from Apple, but it has been just a couple of weeks. Are you able to launch from terminal?

[Michelle Hirsch]

I just confirmed that there's no update from Apple yet.

[Michelle Hirsch]

@piere rodriguez I just updated my answer to indicate that Apple fixed this in macOS 15.2

Answer 2

[Sumukh]

Hi @Fabio Hübel,

I experienced the same issue earlier in MATLAB R2023b. I updated the software to MATLAB R2024b, and this issue got resolved. You can refer to the following link to update an existing MATLAB installation:

https://www.mathworks.com/help/matlab/matlab_env/check-for-software-updates.html

If updating the software does not work, kindly try out a possible workaround that involves building app files with Automator suggested in the following thread where the same issue is being faced in MATLAB R2023a:

https://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/answers/2162810-cannot-open-matlab-2023a-after-updating-to-macos-15-1#comment_3293550:~:text=at%2018%3A28-,In,-my%20understanding%2C%20this

Additionally, the following Mac thread has another workaround on this ongoing issue to look at:

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/finder-does-not-have-permission-to-open-null.2441374/

Hope this resolves the issue!

Answer 3

[Walter Roberson]

I recently upgraded to MacOS Sequoia 15.1.1 (a day after upgrading to 15.1). I am now getting this message for all MATLAB versions before R2024b. I was not getting this problem with MacOS Sequoia 15.0

The workaround is to right-click on the MATLAB_R20xx.app listing in Finder, and select Show Package Contents. Expand the "bin" folder inside the package, and double-click on the "matlab" item there. This will open a terminal window to run MATLAB inside and start MATLAB otherwise normally.

[Amanda]

Thank you! I have this same issue after updating to Sequoia 15.1.1. I hope they come up with a better fix soon.

Answer 4

[Richard]

Also having this issue but with MATLAB 2024b - any fix yet?

[Michelle Hirsch]

The fix from Apple is in macOS 15.2.

Could you provide more details? e.g.

• What version of macOS are you using? Are you able to upgrade to 15.2 or newer?
• Have you tried the workarounds on this page linked above?