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User profile for user: mottau10
mottau10 Author
User level: Level 1
4 points

System Preferences will not open

Since I installed the last update for Big Sur (11.2) the System Preferences app will not open. When I click on Apple/SystemPreferences it comes up with a Finder window saying 'The application can't be opened' with the error number reading -1 or 126.

Any ideas how to fix this without uninstalling the OS? I'm receiving notifications that a new system update is waiting to be installed but it hasn't installed over the last few days.

Cheers :)

iMac Line (2012 and Later)

Posted on Feb 11, 2021 1:51 PM

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User profile for user: Jack-19
Jack-19
User level: Level 8
46,014 points

Posted on Feb 11, 2021 5:50 PM

Hi mottau10,


Try the following, in order:

  1. Restart the Mac.
  2. Reset the PRAM: Reset NVRAM or PRAM on your Mac - Apple Support
  3. Reset the SMC: How to reset the SMC of your Mac - Apple Support
  4. Try Safe Mode: Start up your Mac in safe mode - Apple Support (Safe Mode is for testing purposes only)
  5. Run First Aid: How to repair a Mac disk with Disk Utility - Apple Support


Let me know how it goes!


Cheers,


Jack

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply
User profile for user: Jack-19
Jack-19
User level: Level 8
46,014 points

Feb 11, 2021 5:50 PM in response to mottau10

Hi mottau10,


Try the following, in order:

  1. Restart the Mac.
  2. Reset the PRAM: Reset NVRAM or PRAM on your Mac - Apple Support
  3. Reset the SMC: How to reset the SMC of your Mac - Apple Support
  4. Try Safe Mode: Start up your Mac in safe mode - Apple Support (Safe Mode is for testing purposes only)
  5. Run First Aid: How to repair a Mac disk with Disk Utility - Apple Support


Let me know how it goes!


Cheers,


Jack

Reply

System Preferences will not open

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