Besides its name, macOS Sierra also brought a number of changes. Not just in terms of the features it adds, but also in terms of what it takes out. One of these changes is that you cannot open apps developed by unidentified developers in macOS Sierra. At least not directly. So if you want to run an app from an unidentified developer, you’re almost out of luck. Almost. In this guide, I’ll explain how you can run apps from unknown developers on macOS Sierra. So, keep reading!
macOS Sierra: What’s Changed?
Previously, in OS X El Capitan, users had an option to change their Mac Gatekeeper preferences to “.Allow apps from Anywhere“. But macOS Sierra has changed that. Now you only have options Allow apps from App Store or App Store and Designated Developers.
However, there is still a way to launch third-party apps from unidentified developers on your Mac running macOS Sierra.
Opening Unidentified Apps in macOS Sierra
note: Note that using apps from unidentified developers is generally not recommended. You should only install such applications if you are absolutely sure that they are not malicious applications. Neither Apple nor Beebom can be held responsible if you download a malicious app and compromise your system. Use common sense.
So how can you open apps from anonymous developers? It’s actually not that difficult. Follow the steps below. I am using GIMP as a sample application that cannot be opened because it is from an unidentified developer.
1. First, Download the DMG or ZIP file containing the application. Then copy the app to your Applications folder. Once you’ve done that, just go Applications -> GIMP. Right click on the app and click “Open“.
2. You will be greeted with a warning box asking if you are sure you want to open the application. click “Open”, if you are sure the app is safe.
3. The app will then open in macOS Sierra.
you just need to do this once for each application. Subsequent launches of the application will be successful by default.
SEE ALSO: 22 Must Have Apps for First-Time Mac Users
Install Any App You Want On Your Mac
With this method, you can now install and use any app you want on your Mac running macOS Sierra. If you haven’t upgraded to Sierra yet, you can change the settings in the Privacy settings in System Preferences. Otherwise, you can follow this method to launch third-party apps from unidentified developers on macOS Sierra.
As always, we’d like to hear your thoughts on Apple removing the option to allow apps from anywhere. Does this seem like a step towards the notorious walled garden like most of Apple’s operating systems? Also, if you run into any issues with this method, let us know in the comments section below.
