Finder: Error changing file association

finder

When trying to change the associated application that opens when double clicking a file, I'm seeing the error message:

You can’t change the item "<filename>" to always open in the selected application.
The item is either locked or damaged, or in a folder you don’t have permission to modify (error code -54).

Any idea what the problem is?

Best Answer

In my case, this issue was the file I was attempting to change was a remote server, mounted via sshfs.

If I copy the file I'd like to change the association with to my desktop and try again, it worked successfully and files on the remote server correctly open in the desired application.