Allow Apps From the App Store and Identified Developers on a Mac
You want to control which apps your Mac will open — or macOS just blocked an app and you need to allow it through Privacy & Security.
Why: macOS uses Gatekeeper to keep you safe. Apps from the App Store are reviewed and signed by Apple; apps from identified developers are signed and notarized so macOS can confirm they haven’t been tampered with. Apps that aren’t checked by Apple are blocked by default, and you choose how strict to be in System Settings.
Fix 1: Set which apps are allowed to open
This is the master setting that decides what runs without a warning.
- Click the Apple menu > System Settings.
- Click Privacy & Security in the sidebar.
- Scroll to the Security section on the right.
- Under Allow applications from, choose one of:
- App Store — only apps from the Mac App Store can open. The strictest, safest option.
- App Store and identified developers — also allows apps that are signed and notarized by developers Apple has verified. This is the recommended setting for most people.
If these options are dimmed and you can’t change them, your Mac is likely managed by a school or workplace IT department, which controls this setting for you.
Fix 2: Open one blocked app with “Open Anyway”
If you trust a specific app that macOS blocked, you can let that one app through without loosening the setting above.
- Open the app once — macOS shows a warning and refuses to open it.
- Go to System Settings > Privacy & Security.
- In the Security section, you’ll see a message about the blocked app with an Open Anyway button. Click it.
- Confirm your identity if prompted (password or Touch ID), then click Open when the warning reappears.
The app now opens normally from then on.
Fix 3: Open a trusted app from Finder instead
If you’d rather not change settings at all, you can override the block for one app from the Finder.
- In the Finder, locate the app.
- Control-click (or right-click) the app icon and choose Open from the shortcut menu.
- Click Open in the dialog that appears.
This opens the app and remembers your choice, while leaving your overall security setting untouched.
FAQ
Which setting should I pick? App Store and identified developers is the right balance for most people — it lets through legitimate apps while still blocking unchecked software.
Is “Open Anyway” risky? It can be. Overriding security to open an app that Apple hasn’t checked is the most common way a Mac gets malware. Only do it for software you genuinely trust and obtained from the developer directly. When in doubt, look for the app in the App Store instead.
Why don’t I see an “Anywhere” option? Apple removed the always-on “Anywhere” choice to protect users. The per-app Open Anyway / Control-click method replaces it for trusted one-offs.