Error code -36

The Error code -36 on macOS is an input/output (I/O) reading/writing failure in the Finder. It usually happens when copying, moving, or installing large applications like Ableton Live 12 Suite because certain hidden metadata files (such as .DS_Store or files prefixed with ._) become corrupted or cause permission conflicts.

Try these solutions in order to resolve the issue:

This native macOS command merges conflicting hidden files back with their native data files.

 

1. Open the Terminal app (search for it using Spotlight with Cmd + Space or go to Applications > Utilities).
2. Type exactly the following (make sure to leave a blank space at the end) but do not press Enter yet:

   dot_clean 
   

3. Locate the folder where your Ableton installer is located (or the .dmg / containing folder) and drag and drop it directly into the Terminal window. This will automatically paste the exact file path.
4. Press Enter. You won't see a success message, but the process will be complete.
5. Try opening or moving Ableton Live again.

If the Finder interface keeps failing, you can force the system to copy the application via command line, bypassing Finder restrictions:

 

1. Open the Terminal app.
2. Type the copy command followed by a space:

   cp -R 
   

3. Drag and drop the original Ableton Live 12 Suite.app file into the Terminal window.
4. Type another space, and then drag and drop your target destination folder (usually your Mac's Applications folder).
5. Press Enter.

Ensure your user profile has full access rights over the file:

 

1. Right-click on Ableton Live 12 Suite.app and select Get Info (or press Cmd + I).
2. At the bottom of the window, expand the Sharing & Permissions section.
3. Click the lock icon to make changes and authenticate with your Mac's password.
4. Ensure your username is listed and set to Read & Write. If not, change it from the dropdown menu.

If the error persists, there might be a minor directory corruption on your drive.

 

1. Open Disk Utility (Applications > Utilities).
2. Select your main hard drive (or the external drive involved) from the left sidebar.
3. Click the First Aid button at the top menu and select Run.

Please let me know if these English steps worked for you, or tell me:

 

• Are you trying to copy Ableton from an external drive/USB flash drive, or is it already on your internal storage?
• Is it a file downloaded from the official website, or was it extracted from a compressed archive (.zip or .dmg)?