How to Open the App on macOS When You See “Unidentified Developer” Warning

If you receive the following popup after double clicking the Install .pkg

Why This Happens:

macOS includes a security feature called Gatekeeper that blocks apps from opening if they haven’t been notarized by Apple. This doesn’t mean the app is unsafe — it just hasn’t been run through Apple’s official notarization process yet.

Here’s How to Open the App:

1. Try to open the app normally
   
   • You’ll get the “unidentified developer” message. Click OK to dismiss it.
2. 
   
3. Open System Settings
   
   • Click the Apple menu () > System Settings (or System Preferences on older versions).
4. 
   
5. Go to Privacy & Security
   
   • In the sidebar, scroll down and click Privacy & Security.
6. 
   
7. Allow the App
   
   • You’ll see a message that says:
     “[App Name] was blocked from use because it is not from an identified developer.”
     Click “Open Anyway.”
8. 
   
9. Confirm Launch
   
   • A new popup will appear asking if you’re sure you want to open the app. Click Open, and the app will launch.
10. 
    

You only have to do this once — after that, the app will open normally in the future.