Mac won't let me install the program. The file is a program downloaded from the Internet. Are you sure you want to open it? How to fix. How to restore previous Gatekeeper settings

After Apple released the first beta version of macOS Sierra during WWDC 2016, users that the system no longer provides the ability to configure Gatekeeper.

The Gatekeeper function is designed to prevent an inexperienced user from installing programs from dubious sources. By default, your Mac can run programs from certified developers and from the Mac App Store.

In previous versions of the Mac operating system, you could disable Gatekeeper in Settings while running programs from any source. However, with the release of macOS Sierra, this option was removed.

How to bypass Gatekeeper protection?

To open a program from a non-certified developer, bypassing Gatekeeper protection, right-click on the shortcut (or left-click in combination with the Control key, or tap with two fingers on the trackpad), and select the Open option. Gatekeeper will warn you that the application may contain viruses, but will allow you to run it.

How to disable Gatekeeper in macOS Sierra?

To be able to launch programs from any source without additional actions, you must enter the following command into the Terminal (you will need to enter the administrator password):

Once you have entered this command, open System Preferences -> Security & Privacy. Here, in the Basic tab, you will be able to allow applications to run from “Any Source”. This almost completely disables Gatekeeper.

Don't forget that Gatekeeper is an important macOS security feature that prevents malware from being installed. You should not disable Gatekeeper unless you think it is necessary.

How can I restore my previous Gatekeeper settings?

To return the Gatekeeper settings to their previous state, return to the Terminal and enter the following command:

sudo spctl --master-enable

The next time you launch System Preferences, the Protection and Security section will look the same as before.

Having started using a computer with an operating system from Apple Mac OS after another OS, the user, as you might guess, encounters some problems associated with the different design of operating systems and their settings, including security settings.

We have already written how to solve some of them in previous instructions:, etc. Today we will look at how to solve another common problem at the beginning - A program not downloaded from the AppStore on Mac won't open.

Although Apple has an excellent and convenient application store, not all the necessary software can be found there, and sometimes you have to download it from the developer’s website or even torrents. But if you download an application for the first time not from the AppStore, it most likely will not open and will display an error.

Indeed, many are faced with a situation where a Mac program just downloaded from some unofficial site does not open with the error message: " The program "***.app" cannot be opened because its author is an unidentified developer."

This message does not mean at all that the software is malicious or contains viruses; the OS issues such a warning for any program that was not downloaded from the official AppStore software store.

You can solve this problem in just a couple of clicks. Instructions in pictures are included.

1. Open Mac OS System Settings

In the upper left corner of the desktop, click "Apple" and select "System Preferences."

Select the "Protection and Security" menu item in the system settings menu that opens.

3. Allow the use of any programs

In the security settings window that opens, at the bottom left, in the “Allow the use of programs downloaded from:” item, check the “Any source” checkbox (if suddenly these three items are inactive, unlock the settings by clicking on the lock below and entering your username and password) . Confirm this setting by clicking the "Allow from everywhere" button in the warning that opens.

That's all, as a result of the above actions, now all programs will open normally, just click the "Open" button in the warning window when opening the software.

If you do not have an item called "Any Source", launch a terminal and enter the following command in it

sudo spctl --master-disable

After completing it, the required item will appear in the list.

After purchasing a new computer, many users choose two options: restoring saved data from backups, or transferring it from external media, or using a computer from scratch. If you recently bought a new Mac and chose the second path, then this note is for you.

You have stock software installed on your computer, and I'm pretty sure that sooner or later you will be faced with the need to install third-party software on your Mac. For example, after much ordeal and tossing around, I still use the main browser on my Mac. If you previously used Chrome on a regular PC and synchronized all browser data with your Gmail account, then you will probably want to continue using Chrome on a Mac.

But first, you need to download Chrome from the official Google website. After the installation package has been downloaded to your computer and you have already started installing a new browser, you will encounter this problem. It's called.

Gatekeeper blocks software installations from unidentified developers whose applications are not signed with the appropriate Developer ID. This is done, as you understand, to reduce the risk of your Mac becoming infected with any virus or Trojan. Apple hopes that once you see such a message, you will no longer try to download programs not from .

But you and I know what we want from life, so we will bypass this limitation. To do this, simply go to “System Settings”, to the “Protection and Security” section. There, select the “General” tab and check the box next to “Allow downloads of programs from any source.” After this, the theoretical probability that your Mac will catch it will increase, but in practice this only means that you are no longer limited in your ability to download software from third-party resources. However, despite the fact that OS X is the most secure desktop operating system, we still recommend that you carefully monitor what, where and how gets onto your computer. Vigilance is paramount, comrades!

With each update of their operating systems (be it iOS or Mac OS), Apple developers traditionally take care of increasing the stability and security of data for users of their devices. We are talking about regularly updating security systems and preventing the possibility of malware entering the system. However, oddly enough, this does not always play into the hands of users.

Let's look at one of these situations that any user of the new Mac OS Sierra operating system may encounter. The fact is that this version of the OS is configured by default so that the security mechanism built into Mac OS won't let you install apps from any sources - the user's choice is limited to a set of programs from the Mac App Store and applications from developers who have officially received permission from Apple. But very often, developers of useful programs for Mac do not publish their applications in the Mac App Store or simply do not have the status of an “installed” Apple developer. Accordingly, applications from them cannot be installed without first allowing the operating system to install applications from any source.

In all previous versions of Mac OS, this limitation could be bypassed simply allowing installation of applications from any source in the operating system security settings.

Now this item is not there. But don’t be upset - the ability to install programs from any source in Mac OS Sierra has not disappeared without a trace, and in order to enable this function you need to use the command line of the Terminal application.

What to do if Mac OS won't let you install applications?

Launch the Terminal program (you can find it by going to the "Utilities" folder in the list of installed programs through LaunchPad, or in the Finder) and enter the following command:

Sudo spctl --master-disable

Please note that the command - "master" is preceded by two "-" signs, not one long one.

Then enter the administrator password and confirm the changes. After this, an option will again appear in the operating system settings with the ability to select permissions for installing programs from different sources and you will be able to install what you need.

After you install the programs you need, we recommend returning the security settings back and selecting either “App Store” or “App Store and from installed developers” to save the security settings for your Mac.

Good luck using this function!
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If you are still unable to install the required application on Mac OS Sierra yourself, our specialists will help you complete this operation. Contact our nearest service center.