Get the app from the Mac App Store or the developer’s authentic website, then take macOS security warnings seriously. For an internet download, check the developer identity, signature and notarization status, and whether macOS reports malware, damage, or tampering. Finally, make sure the permissions requested fit what the app is supposed to do. None of these checks alone proves an app is harmless, but together they help you make a better-informed decision without disabling Gatekeeper.
Start with where you get the app
Apple describes the Mac App Store as the safest place to get Mac apps. Apps downloaded from outside the store are still subject to macOS security checks, but a direct download puts more responsibility on you to confirm that you have the genuine app. See Apple’s guidance on safely opening apps on your Mac and its overview of Gatekeeper.
- Mac App Store: Prefer the listing in the store, and check that its developer name matches the one you expect.
- Developer website: Navigate to the developer’s authentic site yourself rather than relying on an unfamiliar download mirror or a link in an unsolicited message. Compare the app name and developer details with the developer’s official information.
- Unclear source: If you cannot establish who supplied the app or verify that the source is the developer’s, do not install it.
For an internet download, Gatekeeper checks information including the developer’s identity, notarization, and whether the software appears to have been altered since it was signed. A download from a known site is a good starting point, not a reason to ignore what macOS reports.
Understand the warning before deciding what to do
A first-open approval prompt for software from an identified developer can be a normal part of macOS’s security process. Other alerts communicate a problem or an uncertainty; read the wording rather than clicking through reflexively. Apple explains the warning types in its safe app-opening guidance.
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- A routine approval prompt: macOS may ask you to confirm that you want to open an app downloaded from an identified developer. This is not, by itself, a malware finding.
- “Apple cannot check … for malicious software”: macOS could not check the app. Treat that uncertainty as a reason to verify the source and look for a safer, updated version—not as a harmless formality.
- Unverified developer: macOS cannot establish the developer’s identity. On macOS Catalina and later, this warning also means the app has not been notarized.
- “Will damage your computer” or a revoked authorization alert: macOS has detected malicious content or the app’s authorization has been revoked. Do not open it.
- Damaged app: The app may be corrupted or tampered with. Delete it and, if you still need it, obtain a fresh copy from the developer’s authentic source.
If an alert appears for an app you expected to be safe, stop and check that you downloaded the right app and that the developer has not published a newer version. When the reason for the warning remains unclear, choose another app rather than overriding the alert.
What a signature and notarization tell you
Developer ID signing
A Developer ID signature helps establish that an app came from an identified developer and has not changed since it was signed. That helps answer who signed the software and whether it was modified afterward; it does not establish that the app’s behavior is benign.
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Apple notarization
Notarization is Apple’s automated scan for known malicious content. Apple says it is not a review of an app’s features, business practices, privacy policy, or usefulness. In Apple’s words, “Notarization of macOS software is not App Review.” See Apple’s notarization documentation and its explanation of Developer ID and notarization.
A successful notarization is a useful security signal, not a guarantee that an app is safe for every person or purpose. Combine it with a trustworthy source, macOS’s warning status, and a review of the app’s requested access.
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Check whether the requested permissions make sense
When macOS asks for access to a privacy-protected resource, such as the microphone or files, compare the request with the app’s stated function. A recording app may reasonably need microphone access; a simple utility with no audio feature may not have an obvious reason to request it.
- Pause when a request seems unrelated to the app’s purpose.
- Decline access you do not want to grant, and see whether the app still works as expected.
- Remember that a permission prompt is not a safety certificate. macOS uses code identity to remember authorization for resources such as the microphone, but the prompt itself does not prove the app is trustworthy. Apple documents this behavior in its media-capture authorization guidance and its privacy settings guidance.
Compare the main download paths
| Download path | What it tells you | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Mac App Store | Apple identifies the App Store as its safest source for Mac apps. | Confirm the listing and developer name match the app you intend to install. |
| Developer’s direct download with Developer ID and notarization | The signature helps identify the developer and show that the app has not changed since signing; notarization means Apple’s automated scan found no known malicious content in the submitted software. | Use the developer’s authentic site, read any macOS warnings, and judge requested permissions against the app’s purpose. |
| Download that cannot clear or explain macOS checks | macOS may be unable to verify the developer or check the app, or may report damage, malware, or revoked authorization. | Do not bypass a malware or damage alert. Seek an updated copy from the developer or choose another app. |
The store route and a properly signed, notarized direct download are different distribution paths, but neither removes the need to pay attention to identity, warnings, and permissions.
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When an override is—and is not—reasonable
Apple provides an Open Anyway flow for certain warnings. Using it is an explicit override and saves an exception. Treat it as a last resort, not a general way to install unfamiliar software. Consider it only when you have independently verified the source and have a good reason to believe the warning does not reflect a real problem. Apple describes the flow in its instructions for opening Mac apps safely.
Do not turn off Gatekeeper globally to get a single app working. If you cannot explain why an alert appeared, look for an updated version or use a different app.
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Optional: verify the app from Terminal
For a technical check, Apple’s archived code-signing note documents these commands for an app bundle at /path/to/App.app:
codesign --verify --deep --strict --verbose=2 /path/to/App.app
spctl -a -t exec -vv /path/to/App.appReplace /path/to/App.app with the actual path to the app. The first command verifies the code signature; the second assesses the app against Gatekeeper policy. Apple’s archived code-signing technical note documents these checks. Because that note is archived, confirm the syntax and output on the macOS version you are using. A successful result is about signing and policy assessment; it cannot rule out malicious, deceptive, or privacy-invasive behavior.
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