Tahoe not recognising install file from unknown developer unable to open (Endnote)

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Level 1

8 points

Tahoe not recognising install file from unknown developer unable to open (Endnote)

I have upgraded to Tahoe 26.1 however Endnote will no longer open at all. I have tried to reinstall but it wont recognise the exe files I have just downloaded from the website (Endnote 21 and Endnote 2025). When I right click the only option it gives me is to open with anyfiles rather than just opening the exe file. I have checked security settings and I only have the option to open known developers or App Store only- not sure if this is the issue or if it is something else.

How can I get my Mac to open an install file that is not from a known developer?

MacBook Air 15″

Posted on Nov 15, 2025 1:57 PM

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Answer 1

Nov 15, 2025 2:12 PM in response to Helen797

Go here: https://support.clarivate.com/Endnote/s/article/Download-EndNote?language=en_US

Click on the Mac version, not the Windows version. That will download a .dmg (disk image) file, double-click that to open the disk image with the Endnote installer app.

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Answer 2

Nov 15, 2025 2:34 PM in response to Helen797

The current version of EndNote is compatible with Tahoe. It sounds like your work website may only be offering you the Windows version of EndNote, and of course that will not run on the Mac.

I suggest you contact your employer's tech support for help (for example, you can download EndNote from Clarivate as long as your employer provides the institutional license Product Key to activate it).

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Answer 3

dialabrain

Level 10

135,875 points

Nov 15, 2025 2:00 PM in response to Helen797

.exe files are for the Windows OS.

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Answer 4

Nov 15, 2025 5:53 PM in response to Helen797

Please download and run (free) EtreCheck, and share the results to the clipboard. Then open a new reply here, and press the Additional Text button that looks like a printed page, and paste and post the hardware and software configuration report here. From that, we can get a little more detail about what is installed and what is running here.

Also work through the FAQ and troubleshooting documentation, and then contact Clarivate support.

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Answer 5

Helen797 Author

Level 1

8 points

Nov 15, 2025 2:28 PM in response to dialabrain

I have access through my work so I have to download from the website from what I understand.

However, I have managed to download but it has advised that it is the same version that I have - Endnote 21 which the website says is compatible with Tahoe.

If Endnote wont open at all (icon does nothing when you click on it) but is supposed to be compatible with Tahoe do I follow this up with Apple or Clarivate? Any other options I can try to get the app to open?

thanks

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Answer 6

Helen797 Author

Level 1

8 points

Nov 15, 2025 2:52 PM in response to dialabrain

sorry its not fixed yet - I have managed to download but it has advised that it is the same version that I have - Endnote 21 which the website says is compatible with Tahoe.

If Endnote wont open at all (icon does nothing when you click on it) but is supposed to be compatible with Tahoe do I follow this up with Apple or Clarivate? Any other options I can try to get the app to open?

thanks

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Answer 7

Helen797 Author

Level 1

8 points

Nov 15, 2025 5:48 PM in response to MrHoffman

Thank you, I did realise my mistake after the earlier feedback.

However the issue now is that the app wont open at all - click icon and nothing happens. It isn't an employers internal download it is downloaded from Clarivate site, the employer just provides the product key to access the app. The app however was working fine since I installed it a while ago and now wont open at all since upgrading to Tahoe. Any suggestions?

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Answer 8

dialabrain

Level 10

135,875 points

Nov 15, 2025 2:08 PM in response to Helen797

Just to add, the only versions of EndNote for Apple devices I can find are for Apple mobile devices.

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Answer 9

dialabrain

Level 10

135,875 points

Nov 15, 2025 2:11 PM in response to neuroanatomist

There it is, isn't in the App Store.

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Answer 10

Helen797 Author

Level 1

8 points

Nov 15, 2025 2:15 PM in response to dialabrain

ok thank you that makes sense!

I will retry to download thank you

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Answer 11

dialabrain

Level 10

135,875 points

Nov 15, 2025 2:18 PM in response to Helen797

You're welcome.

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Answer 12

Nov 15, 2025 3:50 PM in response to Helen797

Helen797 wrote:

sorry its not fixed yet - I have managed to download but it has advised that it is the same version that I have - Endnote 21 which the website says is compatible with Tahoe.

If Endnote wont open at all (icon does nothing when you click on it) but is supposed to be compatible with Tahoe do I follow this up with Apple or Clarivate? Any other options I can try to get the app to open?

thanks

The direct download (green circles) is what you want.

The red-lined link here is for a Windows (exe) download and won’t work.

The red-lined download is an exe file and is for Windows only, and will not work on macOS.

For assistance with issues involving your employer’s own internal app downloads, you will want to contact your employer’s IT team. For issues with confusion about the (not) usefulness of exe files on macOS within your employer’s IT team, contact with your own management.

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