---
title: "Cannot launch Collect Earth on MacOS Catalina"
url: "https://openforis.support/questions/3067/cannot-launch-collect-earth-on-macos-catalina"
tags: ["collectearth"]
status: "answered"
score: 0
answer_count: 5
asked: "2021-02-23T17:26:46"
last_activity: "2021-05-28T03:17:49"
source: "Open Foris Support - Q&A Forum"
license: "Copyright Open Foris, 2026. Some rights reserved under creative commons license."
---

# Cannot launch Collect Earth on MacOS Catalina

Asked by cecilia on 2021-02-23

Hello,
I cannot launch Collect Earth from the launcher.
When trying from terminal I get the following error:

./java/bin/java -jar CollectEarth.jar

[very long output ...]

SEVERE: The server could not start
java.lang.NullPointerException
	at org.openforis.collect.earth.app.desktop.ServerController.startServer(ServerController.java:253)
	at org.openforis.collect.earth.app.desktop.EarthApp.serverStartAndOpenGe(EarthApp.java:446)
	at org.openforis.collect.earth.app.desktop.EarthApp.startServer(EarthApp.java:325)
	at org.openforis.collect.earth.app.desktop.EarthApp.startCollectEarth(EarthApp.java:312)
	at org.openforis.collect.earth.app.desktop.EarthApp.handleMacStartup(EarthApp.java:176)
	at org.openforis.collect.earth.app.desktop.EarthApp.main(EarthApp.java:97)


## Answer (score 0, by collectearth on 2021-02-24)

Link: https://openforis.support/questions/3067/cannot-launch-collect-earth-on-macos-catalina/3068

Dear Cecilia,

We have not been able to reproduce this issue in our Catalina testing machine ( or in any other versions ). Have you installed the latest version of the software? Is there anything in your computer that might prevent the software from running normally (like a very restrictive antivirus
)?

The latest version of Collect Earth is 1.12.8 (as of 24/2/2021). The easiest way for you would be to download the installer from our website [LINK][1].

![alt text][2]

Let us know if this fixes your issue!


  [1]: http://www.openforis.org/tools/collect-earth#c290
  [2]: http://www.openforis.org/support/upfiles/Screenshot_2021-02-24_at_13.03.47.png


## Answer (score 0, by cecilia on 2021-02-24)

Link: https://openforis.support/questions/3067/cannot-launch-collect-earth-on-macos-catalina/3069

Hello,

I have unistalled and re-installed Collect Earth from your link.
No error appears during installation.
The launcher starts (i.e. the logo of Collect Earth appears), but disappears after a few seconds and the program does not start.

Could it help to update to the latest version operating system?

Thank you.


## Answer (score 0, by geog3605 on 2021-03-03)

Link: https://openforis.support/questions/3067/cannot-launch-collect-earth-on-macos-catalina/3073

I also have the same issue on my MacBook, but for some reason it is working on my iMac. I have also tried updating the operating system and used the updated software. Any fix?


## Answer (score 0, by Open Foris on 2021-03-03)

Link: https://openforis.support/questions/3067/cannot-launch-collect-earth-on-macos-catalina/3075

It seems that Collect Earth is not being allowed to write the necessary files to this folder :  Users/YOUR_USERNAME/Library/Application Support/CollectEarth  

This causes the server to not be able to run and then CE fails...

Most likely you have some sort of **antivirus** or security application/settings that is preventing CE to write to the filesystem, in that case please add CE to the whitelisted applications ( probably you need to add java too Users/YOUR_USERNAME/OpenForis/CollectEarth/java/bin/java and Users/YOUR_USERNAME/OpenForis/CollectEarth/CollectEarth-launcher)


## Answer (score 0, by ejwill on 2021-05-28)

Link: https://openforis.support/questions/3067/cannot-launch-collect-earth-on-macos-catalina/3146

I am receiving the following message: “CollectEarth-1.13.0-osx-installer” cannot be opened because the developer cannot be verified. macOS cannot verify that this app is free from malware."

What should I do? I have Mac OS Big Sur 11.4.

Thank you.