[SOLVED] "This copy of the Install OS X Mavericks application can't be verified. It may have been corrupted or tampered with during downloading."

•Michael Page
os xmavericks10.9bootabledatetime

2022 UPDATE: If you are still trying to install an old version of macOS try providing a date closer to when the OS was released (e.g. 110116352013).

2018 UPDATE: This issue also occurs when attempting to install macOS High Sierra, with a slightly different error message: "This copy of the Install macOS High Sierra application is damaged, and can't be used to install macOS."

While trying to do a clean install of Mavericks onto a MacBook Air I received the error: "This copy of the install OS X Mavericks application can't be verified. It may have been corrupted or tampered with during downloading."

MavericksVerifyError.png

I found the error wasn't due to a corrupted Mavericks installer, but an incorrect date setting, caused by a flat battery. Since I had already blown away the previous Mac OS X install I needed to fix the time while booted from the Mavericks installer.

If you're experiencing this issue, here's what to do:

Boot into the Mavericks Installer. You can learn how to make bootable Mavericks USB here.

Open Terminal (Utilities → Terminal)

Check what the date is currently set to by typing "date". If it's incorrect type:

date 021310562026

The logic behind the command

date mmddHHMMYYYY

  • mm = current month (e.g. February = 02)
  • dd = current date (e.g. 31)
  • HH = current hour (e.g. 6pm = 18)
  • MM = current minute (e.g. 05)
  • YYYY = current year (e.g. 2013)

Hit return and quit Terminal. Now attempt the Mavericks install again, if it fails again it's not a date issue and I would try downloading and recreating your Mavericks installer.