Allow apps downloaded from anywhere greyed out

If you have set your Mac to allow apps only from the App Store and you try to install an app from elsewhere, your Mac will say that the app can't be opened because it was not downloaded from the App Store. If you see this warning, it means that the app was not notarized, and Apple could not scan the app for known malicious software.

You may want to look for an updated version of the app in the App Store or look for an alternative app. If macOS detects that an app has malicious content, it will notify you when you try to open it and ask you to move it to the Trash.

Click Open Anyway to confirm your intent to open or install the app. The app is now saved as an exception to your security settings, and you can open it in the future by double-clicking it, just as you can any authorized app. Enter your admin name and password to open the app. However, if you like downloading and running apps that are not from the usual source, you may want to turn this off. This post will show you how. Although it is safe to install apps that Apple recommends, there are always scenarios in which you will need to download.

You cannot do that since it is grayed out and disabled. The workaround makes it possible to download and use apps downloaded from anywhere on macOS Catalina and earlier versions without a check. On Finder, click Go. Select Utilities. However if you are determined to open this app, just Control-Click on the apps icon and click Open. Oct 2, AM. View answer in context. This article was co-authored by our trained team of editors and researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

WikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. The safest place to get apps for your Mac is the App Store. If you download and install apps from the internet or directly from a developer, macOS continues to protect your Mac. When you install Mac apps, plug-ins, and installer packages from outside the App Store, macOS checks the Developer ID signature to verify that the software is from an identified developer and that it has not been altered.

By default, macOS Catalina and later also requires software to be notarized, so you can be confident that the software you run on your Mac doesn't contain known malware.

Nov 6, PM. Page content loaded. Nov 6, PM in response to stevejobsfan In response to stevejobsfan Question: Q: Allow apps from anywhere not available More Less. Communities Get Support. Sign in Sign in Sign in corporate.