Apple’s App Store is a great place to download and install apps for your Mac OS but it isn’t the only place. You can download many apps from third-party developers which are quite useful for many people. However, Mac OS X implements some great security measures to prevent you from accidentally running malicious apps that might or might not damage your computer. But in some cases, it also prevents you from installing legitimate apps from running on your Macbook. We have two methods using which you can allow apps from unidentified developers on Mac OS X.
There are many third-party developers who develop apps for Mac OS but some of them are unidentified developers. Mac allows apps only from the App Store and some recognized developers. So, if you’re trying to install software from unknown developers, you’ll get the below error.
Apple offers the Mac App Store as a safe and convenient way to download apps for your Mac (and to update system software too). It operates similarly to the App Store on iPhone and iPad. But there's one key difference: Unlike the iPhone and iPad, the Mac isn't restricted from running software just from the Mac App Store. Advanced Mac users may wish to allow a third option, which is the ability to open and allow apps downloaded from anywhere in macOS Sierra. You’ll now be able to open and launch apps from.
Apple has introduced a security feature called the Gatekeeper from OS X Mountain Lion. The Gatekeeper analyzes an app when you run it and determines whether it is authorized to run on your computer. If it fails to meet the requirements, the app won’t be allowed to run on your computer. So, below are the two workarounds to open apps from unidentified developers in Mac OS X Yosemite and above.
There are 2 ways you can allow apps from unidentified developers on Mac OS X and below, we’ll discuss both.
Method 1: Temporarily Run an App from Unidentified Developer
- Open the location where you have placed the downloaded app/disk image file on your Mac.
- Press and hold the Ctrl key while right-clicking on the app/file to open the drop-down menu.
- Click on Open. Now, you’ll see a pop-up asking if you’d like to open this file. Press Open again to launch the file.
Method 2: Change the Gatekeeper Settings
This method will allow all the apps/files from unidentified developers to run on your Mac without limitation. However, it is not recommended for starters to use this method as you may run some malware from unrecognized sources which might harm your computer. So, proceed with this method only if you’re sure of what you’re doing.
- Open System Preferences. To do this, either click on the System Preferences icon in the Dock or from Apple Menu > System Preferences.
- Open the Security & Privacy settings by clicking Security & Privacy in the System Preferences window.
- In the General tab, click the lock icon labeled Click the lock to make changes at the bottom of the window.
- Now it may ask for your credentials to authenticate the action. So, provide your login credentials and click Unlock.
- Under the section labeled Allow applications downloaded from:, select Anywhere.
- You’ll get a prompt to confirm again. Click Allow From Anywhere to change the settings.
- Close the settings window once you’re done.
That’s it. Now you can simply install apps/files from unidentified developers on your Mac. Let us know if you have any queries in the comments section.
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Tip
Hey,
A new feature in Mountain Lion is the ability to protect your Mac from running applications that are not from authorised developers. This means developers from the App Store and identified developers apps will run normally. Those apps that are from other sources will automatically be disabled, and not run. This is a security measure to ensure no malicious code runs on your Mac. However, if you like downloading and running apps that are not from the usual source, you may want to turn this off. This post will show you how.
Allow Alternate Applications To Run
To allow any application, downloaded from any source to run you need to change a system preference setting. Open up system preferences in your applications folder. Select the Security & Privacy preference. Under the general tab there is an option to select which applications run depending on there download source.
This little system preferences option will allow you to change settings.
You can then pick the option you want. If you want to be very safe you can pick Mac App Store only. If you want to run your computer normally I would select the second option of Mac App Store and identified developers, I don’t see why it has to be any more strict than this. If you want an app downloaded from anywhere to run you select the option entitled anywhere.
Allow Apps Downloaded From Anywhere
Its a simple setting, however if you experiment with applications downloaded from various sorted, you may want to select the third option.