If you’ve ever tried to open an app from an unidentified developer on your Mac, you know that it can be a tricky task. macOS has security measures in place that block this action in the hopes of protecting you from malware. That being said, it’s not impossible.
Here, we’ll talk about apps from unidentified developers and show you how to allow them on your Mac. We’ll also go over some tips for staying safe when downloading new software.
What is an unidentified developer?
An unidentified developer is an app developer that isn’t registered with Apple. Generally, apps from unidentified developers haven’t been reviewed by Apple for safety and security.
Apple believes that one of the easiest ways to distribute malware is to insert its code into an app. That’s why they check apps thoroughly before allowing them to release to the Mac App Store. Apps from unidentified developers aren’t on the App Store.
This doesn’t mean that apps from unidentified developers are malicious (although they can be). They can either not comply with Apple guidelines, or be created before the ID registration started.
Why your Mac shows a warning?
In order to protect your device from dangerous apps, Apple includes security measures in their devices. One example of this is Gatekeeper. Gatekeeper is Apple’s program that recognizes whether an app has been downloaded from the App Store. This program warns you when you’ve downloaded and attempted to run software from another location for the first time.
When you receive a warning about an app, it’s because Gatekeeper flagged it as a potentially dangerous app. This doesn’t necessarily mean that the app has malware—it simply means that macOS doesn’t recognize the app (or the developer). Because of this, you won’t be able to open the app as easily as you would an app that’s been vetted and listed on the App Store.
Apps that are marked with a blue check mark have permission to the service highlighted in the left pane of the window. If you don't see any apps here, it's because you have none that perform the selected service's function. If the apps and check boxes are greyed out, click on the padlock icon in the bottom, left corner of the window. 2 days ago Apple’s “One More Thing” event revolved around the Mac and Apple’s in-house chips. But it also included a blast from the past with a cameo by John Hodgman, who reprised his “I’m a PC. How to Show & Verify Code Signatures for Apps in Mac OS X Mar 14, 2016 - 7 Comments Code signed applications allow security conscious users to verify the creator and hash of a particular app to help confirm it has not been corrupted or tampered with.
Luckily, it’s a bit easier to download apps from unidentified developers onto your Mac than onto other Apple devices.
How to set your Mac to allow apps from unidentified developers
By default, your Mac is set to block you from opening apps that haven’t been verified by Gatekeeper. This includes both apps that aren’t from the Apple App Store and those that come from unidentified developers.
It’s a good idea to start by first setting your Mac to allow you to open apps that aren’t from the App Store.
Setting your Mac to open apps not from App Store
By setting your Mac to open apps that aren’t from the App Store, you reduce the number of warnings you’ll get when opening third-party applications. This makes it much easier to open these kinds of apps.
Here’s how to change your Mac settings to allow apps from third-party locations:
- Open your Mac’s System Preferences.
- Click on Security & Privacy, then go to the General tab.
- On the bottom left, you’ll see a padlock icon. Click on it and enter your admin password.
- Under “Allow apps to be downloaded from”, select App Store and identified developers.
Once this is done, you’ll be able to open most of the apps that aren’t on the App Store. However, you still won’t be able to open apps that aren’t recognized by macOS.
Setting your Mac to open apps from unidentified developers
If you want your Mac to allow apps from unidentified developers, you’ll have to follow a few additional steps. Firstly, try to open the unrecognized application. You’ll see a notification that it can’t be opened. Then, follow the instructions:
- Open System Preferences.
- Click on Security & Privacy, then go to the General tab.
- You’ll see the message “[App] was blocked from opening because it is not from an identified developer.” Clicking the button next to it marked “Open Anyway.”
- You’ll be asked again if you’re sure you’d like to run the app. Click the Open button to run it.
These steps allow you to open this app whenever you’d like. You should remember, though, that Gatekeeper won’t allow you to open apps that contain malware, even after following these steps.
Apple’s recommended way to open apps from an unidentified developer
Apple knows that Mac users still want to open apps from unidentified developers. Luckily, they’ve provided a method for doing so.
Here’s how:
- Go to your Mac’s Finder.
- Find the app you tried to open. If you’re having a hard time finding it, you can search for it in Finder or using Spotlight search (Command-Space).
- Right-click on the app.
- On the menu that pops up, click Open, and the app will open like any other.
Following these steps will make this app an exception, allowing you to open it again.
Opening apps from anywhere
Earlier versions of macOS used to provide the option to “allow apps from anywhere.” This would allow you to open any app without having to go through the above steps for each one you’d like to open.
While convenient, this can be dangerous, as it can leave your Mac open to malware. This is likely why it’s been hidden as a readily available option.
Are apps from unidentified developers safe?
Mac Verifying Microsoft Word
Because they require circumventing Apple’s default security vetting process, it’s harder to determine whether apps from unidentified developers are safe. You’ll need to be sure yourself that a particular app can be trusted.
The best you can do to ensure that an app is safe to open is to do your research on it. Read through some reviews and look into the experiences other users have had with the app, as these sources are the most likely to give you truthful and relevant information. Dig as deeply as you can to help avoid downloading any dodgy apps.
You should also ensure that you have antivirus software (and that it’s up to date). This adds an extra layer of protection to your Mac. If you find that an app isn’t trustworthy, opt for an alternative app in the App Store or one from an unidentified developer that you can trust.
Keep your Mac malware-free
Downloaded a suspicious app? CleanMyMac X allows you to check your Mac for potentially unwanted apps (PUA) and malware with its Malware Removal Module. This feature scans your Mac for malicious apps and allows you to delete them one-by-one or in bulk. CleanMyMac X also features a real-time malware monitor to help you keep track of whether you’re not downloading anything malicious.
Here’s how to use it:
- Get the app on your Mac.
- Launch CleanMyMac X and go to Malware Removal.
- Press Scan.
If CleanMyMac X has found any threats, press Remove to delete them. Additionally, you can free lots of space on your Mac by deleting outdated cache files, system log files, and other unused junk with the System Junk feature.
Now, you know how to install any app on your Mac and circumvent the restrictions. But, if you aren’t vigilant enough, you may need to deal with the consequences of malicious software. It’s a good idea to always question the apps you want to install and look for additional reviews and testimonials.
Mac Stop Verifying App Windows 10
To ensure the authenticity of its software updates, Apple digitally signs all updates and offers them exclusively through the App Store or Apple Support Downloads site. Always get Apple software updates from one of these sources, and always check these sources to make sure that you have the latest software version.
Some software updates are automatically verified
When you download and install an update from Apple, Apple's digital signature is automatically verified before installation.
Mac Stop Verifying Apps
Manually downloaded software updates can be verified manually
Mac Stop Verifying App Email
If you manually download an Apple software update, you can confirm that the update is authentic and complete by verifying the digital signature before installation.
Mac Stop Verifying App Password
- Double-click the software update package (.pkg) file to open the installer.
- Click the lock icon or certificate icon in the upper-right corner of the installer window to see information about the certificate. If neither icon is present, the package is unsigned, and you shouldn't install it.
- Select 'Apple Software Update Certificate Authority,' as pictured below. If you see a different certificate authority, or the certificate doesn't have a green checkmark indicating that the certificate is valid, don't install the package.
- Click the triangle next to the word 'Details' to see more information about the certificate.
- Scroll to the bottom of the Details section to see the SHA-256 fingerprint.
- Make sure that the SHA-256 fingerprint in the installer matches one of the following fingerprints from Apple's current or earlier certificate. If they match, the signature is verified: click OK and allow the installer to continue.
SHA-256 12 99 E9 BF E7 76 A2 9F F4 52 F8 C4 F5 E5 5F 3B 4D FD 29 34 34 9D D1 85 0B 82 74 F3 5C 71 74 5C
The installer automatically verifies the files in the package. If any file has an issue, installation stops without changes to your system, and you'll see a message that the installer encountered an error.