This app can’t be opened because it is from an unidentified developer. Apple has a security feature called “Gatekeeper” which protects your Mac from malicious apps. Gatekeeper requires apps to either be from the Mac App Store (a place that Apple controls) or from a developer who is registered with Apple. I ran into the 'Cannot open this app because it's from an unidentified developer' dialog, and dismissed it. I know how to authorize one of these applications (use the control key while opening the application, then allow it), but it still quit immediately after launching. I then did a total uninstall again, including AIR installer, and started.
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. It’s still possible to open apps from unidentified developers by ctrl-clicking or right-clicking on them and choosing “open” from the contextual menu that pops up, but it’s still an unnecessary step.
Macintosh by default, only allowed application downloaded from Mac App Store or their identified developer. This is the Apple strategy of protecting their users from malicious apps or maybe just trying to push them to buy in the App Store.
In Mac OS X Mountain Lion and later versions, the user has an option if they want to install apps from unidentified developer. This is good because there are many unidentified applications that you can download online and you know it is safe even if it is not caming from Mac App Store.
To install Apps from the unidentified developer on Mac, you need to change your Security & Privacy settings in your Mac System preferences.Follow the step by step instruction below.
Note: Make sure that you know the apps that you are installing.
- Go to your System Preferences, you can find this by clicking the Apple logo at the top-left corner of your screen. In the drop-down select “System Preferences” See screenshot.
- In the System Preferences window, click “Security & Privacy” icon, See the screenshot.
- In Security and Privacy window, here you can change the settings of your Mac if you want to install apps from unidentified developer, To make the changes, click the padlock icon at the bottom-left corner of the window. To confirm provide your name and password in the popup window. See the screenshot.
- After you confirm the changes in your settings, Select “Anywhere” and confirm by clicking the “Allow from Anywhere” button in the popup window. See screenshot.
That’s it, you can now install your application from unidentified developer. After you install the app you can always go back and revert the changes in your settings for the security of your Mac and to prevent from adding malicious apps from unidentified developer.
Related
Background:
By default, Mac OS 10.8.x , 10.9.x , 10.10.x , 10.11.x and macOS only allows users to install or run applications from 'verified sources'. Sometimes, when a known developer (such as Microsoft or PowerSchool) needs to update their application's code to cofirm their 'identity' with Apple, an error may occur. As a result, users may be unable to install or run some applications downloaded from the internet or stored on physical media, and the error below is displayed:
In the meantime, Users can follow the directions below to prevent this error message from appearing
How To Permanently Authorize Unidentified Developer App In Mac Os
Directions:
How To Permanently Authorize Unidentified Developer App In Mac Shortcut
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Open the System Preferences. This can be done by either clicking on the System Preferences icon in the Dock or by going to Apple Menu > System Preferences.
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Open the Security & Privacy pane by clicking Security & Privacy.
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Make sure that the General section of the the Security & Privacy pane is selected. If the lock icon at lower left is 'locked', click the icon labeled Click the lock to make changes.
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Enter your username and password into the prompt that appears and click Unlock.
- Under the section labeled Allow applications downloaded from:, select Anywhere. On the prompt that appears, click Allow From Anywhere.
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Exit System Preferences by clicking the red button in the upper left of the window.
You should now be able to install/run applications that are tagged as being from an 'Unidentified Developer'.
Once the developer has corrected their 'identy' issue, be sure to revert changes made above, and once again allow only 'applications downloaded from Mac App Store and identified developers'.
For more information about this issue, please visit Apple's KB article on the topic: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5290