How to Install Software from Unsigned Developers on a Mac

Written by Jack Lloyd

Last Updated: August 18, 2022 Tested

Allowing a Program

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Allowing All Software

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Q&A

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Tips

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Warnings

This wikiHow teaches you how to install software that isn't approved by Apple on your Mac. MacOS Sierra marks most unofficial apps as unsigned software, so you'll need to perform this process to install many third-party apps or programs. You can do this once per install, or you can disable this security feature altogether.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Allowing a Program

1
Download the software as you normally would from the Internet. If asked if you want to "keep" or "discard" the file, select keep. Note that you should only do this if you are certain you trust the publisher of the software.
2
Open your software's setup file. This will prompt a pop-up with an error message that says "[Name] can't be opened because it was not downloaded from the App Store."

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3
Click OK. This will close the pop-up window.
4
Open the Apple menu
. Click the Apple logo in the top-left corner of the screen. A drop-down menu will appear.
5
Click System Preferences. This option is near the top of the drop-down menu.
6
Click Security & Privacy. It's near the top of the System Preferences window.
7
Click the lock icon. It's in the bottom-left corner of the window.
8
Enter your password, then click Unlock. This will allow you to edit items in this menu.
9
Click Open Anyway. It's next to your file's name.
10
Click Open when prompted. Doing so will open your file and continue with the installation.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Allowing All Software

1
Open Spotlight
. Click the magnifying glass icon in the top-right corner of the screen. In order to allow all software installations, you'll first need to restore an installation option that MacOS Sierra got rid of.
2
Type in terminal, then click
Terminal. It should appear directly below the Spotlight search bar.
3
Type sudo spctl --master-disable into Terminal and press ⏎ Return. This is the code that enables the installation option.
4
Enter your password. This is the password you use to sign into your Mac. Doing so will restore the option you need in the Security & Privacy menu.
5
Open the Apple menu
. Click the Apple logo in the top-left corner of the screen. A drop-down menu will appear.
6
Click System Preferences. This option is near the top of the drop-down menu.
7
Click Security & Privacy. It's near the top of the System Preferences window.
8
Click the lock icon. It's in the bottom-left corner of the window.
9
Enter your password, then click Unlock. You should now be able to edit the settings in this menu.
10
Check the Anywhere box. It's below the "Allow apps downloaded from" heading near the bottom of the window. Doing so prompts a pop-up window.
11
Click Allow From Anywhere when prompted. Doing this will allow you to install software from unsigned developers without having to confirm from within this menu.
- If you don't install any unsigned software within 30 days, you'll have to re-enable this settings.
- Click the lock icon if you'd like to prevent further changes.
12
Install your software. You should now be able to install your software as you usually would.

Community Q&A

Question

After I change it, it immediately goes back. What do I do now?

Community Answer

Either do it every time, or right-click and click "run," which gives you the option to "run anyways."
Question

My Mac doesn't give me the option to click anywhere when I open "Security" and "Privacy" in the system preferences. How can I change that?

Community Answer

The settings are locked. Look for the lock icon, enter your password, and click "unlock" to proceed with the necessary changes.