Your Mac won't let you open an app you downloaded
Gatekeeper is macOS's security feature. If you trust the app's source, right-click the app and click Open — this gives you a button to override the warning. Only do this if you're sure the app is from a legitimate source.
Gatekeeper verifies that apps are safe before letting them run. When you download an app, your Mac checks if it's trusted. If the app isn't signed by Apple or a known developer, Gatekeeper blocks it to protect you. You can override this if you trust the source.
Fix-IT-Bot will walk you through each step — just tap, no typing needed.
Skip — I just want a technicianCommon mistakes to avoid
- Double-clicking the app repeatedly instead of right-clicking — only right-click shows the Open button
- Changing security settings to Allow Anywhere instead of just overriding one app — this disables Gatekeeper entirely
- Not checking the app source before bypassing Gatekeeper — can be malware
Signs you need professional help
- You can't check if an app is legitimate or safe
- Gatekeeper blocks an official App Store app — that's unusual
- App worked before but is now blocked — can be corrupted
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