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macOS Stremio Crash / Quit Unexpectedly / Blocked Fix

Applies to:

  • Stremio crashes immediately on launch
  • “Stremio quit unexpectedly” error
  • “Contains malware” warning
  • “Developer cannot be verified” message
  • App moves to Trash automatically

📌 1. Why This Happens

Recently, Stremio’s macOS app signing certificate was revoked by Apple.

Because of this, macOS Gatekeeper may:

  • Block the app from launching
  • Display a “malware” warning
  • Force the app to quit immediately

⚠️ This does NOT mean Stremio contains malware. It is a code-signing verification issue, not a security breach.


📥 2. Download the Official Version

Official download page:

👉 https://www.stremio.com/downloads

Choose the correct version:

  • Stremio 5 ARM (for Apple Silicon: M1/M2/M3)
  • Stremio 5 Intel (for Intel Macs)

After downloading:

  1. Open the .dmg
  2. Drag Stremio.app into Applications
  3. ⚠️ Do NOT open it yet

🛠 3. The Recommended Fix (Most Effective)

Step 1 — Open Terminal

  • Press Command + Space
  • Type Terminal
  • Press Enter

Step 2 — Run These Commands (One by One)

sudo xattr -cr /Applications/Stremio.app
find /Applications/Stremio.app -name "._*" -delete
find /Applications/Stremio.app -name ".DS_Store" -delete
sudo codesign --force --deep --sign - /Applications/Stremio.app

You will be prompted to enter your administrator password.

Note:

  • The password will not be visible while typing.
  • This is normal behavior.

What These Commands Do

  • Remove macOS quarantine flags
  • Delete hidden metadata files
  • Re-sign the app locally using an ad-hoc signature

After completion, close Terminal.


🚀 4. Launch Stremio Again

Go to:

Finder → Applications → Stremio

Double-click to open.

If you see:

“Developer cannot be verified”

Go to:

System Settings → Privacy & Security → Click “Allow Anyway”

Then try launching again.


🔄 5. If It Still Crashes

Try the following:

  1. Remove the app and reinstall from the official website
  2. Restart your Mac
  3. Update macOS to the latest version
  4. Ensure the app is inside /Applications
  5. Run the Terminal commands again

🧠 6. About “Quit Unexpectedly”

If Stremio:

  • Briefly appears then disappears
  • Shows a crash report
  • Displays “Stremio quit unexpectedly”

In most cases, macOS is terminating it due to signature validation failure. Re-signing the app using the method above usually resolves the issue.


✅ 7. After Successful Repair

You should be able to:

  • Launch Stremio normally
  • No longer see malware warnings
  • No longer experience instant crashes