Malware warnings on OneDrive folders

malware warnings when opening OneDrive files from Finder, no option to open anyway” —

this sounds like a macOS security (Gatekeeper/XProtect) or OneDrive permissions issue, not actual malware. Let’s go through how to tell which one and fix it.

🔍 Step 1. Identify the type of warning

Can you confirm what the popup says exactly?

The two main types look like this:

1. macOS Gatekeeper warning:

“This file cannot be opened because Apple cannot check it for malicious software.”

[Move to Trash] [Cancel]

2. OneDrive ‘malware detected’ warning:

“OneDrive has detected malware in this file. You cannot open it.”

(Usually appears with the OneDrive icon or mentions “Microsoft Defender”.

Sulaiman_mirzada wrote:

malware warnings when opening OneDrive files from Finder, no option to open anyway” —

this sounds like a macOS security (Gatekeeper/XProtect) or OneDrive permissions issue, not actual malware. Let’s go through how to tell which one and fix it.

🔍 Step 1. Identify the type of warning

Can you confirm what the popup says exactly?

[The popup is shown in the original post here]

Hard to say since we don't know what document you are showing since parts are blocked out. However, you can have this issue on completely legitimate & safe files because Apple marks all items (including pictures & text files) downloaded from the Internet with a "quarantine" mark which has macOS see them as a potential threat. There is more to it than this since some documents downloaded may have no issues/alerts when opened within certain apps.

Plus, I think if you select the "File --> Open..." or "Recents" from within the app you want to use & select the document, it may open without any issues. I have seen a post on this forum by a respected contributor which explained things in a bit more detail, but I don't recall those details & do not have a link to that post.

It is extremely annoying when Apple doesn't explain these things & features to their users. Basically Apple is treating all things downloaded from the Internet as a potential threat & thereby reducing people's security because they need to ignore those warnings if they want to access known legitimate documents. It also doesn't help that we don't know anything about the document you are showing us here. Some of these messages can indicate a real problem.

Edit: If that item you are trying to open or run is an executable file such as an application or script, then you do need to take that warning very seriously. However, usually you get a slightly different warning when trying to open an executable file.

After that happens, Open System Settings > Privacy & Security > Security and click Open Anyway (AFAIK there is ≈20 minute timeout period for that).

I suddenly started getting malware warnings when I try to open files in my OneDrive folder from Finder. I know these files are safe because I created them (they're things like Microsoft Word files that I created myself). The pop up warning does not offer the option to open the file.

Is this a Security & Privacy or Permissions settings issue? How do I fix it?