Malware attacks against Apple devices are also increasing. This is the reason Apple keeps adding security features to keep macOS users safe. One of the important security features of macOS is Gatekeeper which protects macOS from viruses, spyware, and other malware by not allowing apps from unverified developers from being installed on your macOS. Although the feature blocks app installation, users can still install the app if they know what are they doing.
If you have downloaded an app from a third-party source and running it on macOS shows an error saying “macOS cannot verify that this app is free from malware,” the app may not be safe. Apple’s macOS includes a built-in security feature called Gatekeeper that prevents apps from untrusted sources from getting installed on your computer. If Gatekeeper detects an application that hasn’t been notarized by Apple, it shows a warning “macOS cannot verify that this app is free from malware.”
The error doesn’t always mean that the app is not safe. The macOS Catalina and later versions require software to be notarized. So, the error basically means that the app has yet to be notarized by Apple. It may or may not contain a virus. The app has not been reviewed, so macOS cannot tell if it is safe.
Can I open an app that macOS cannot verify?
Yes. You can open the app that macOS cannot verify. But do this only if you know that the app is from a trusted developer and is safe to use. The error “macOS cannot verify that this app is free from malware” occurs due to macOS’s built-in security feature, Gatekeeper. It throws the error when it finds that the app doesn’t feature a valid code signature and macOS cannot confirm its integrity.
If you are sure that the app is safe to run on your system, you can use the following ways to install and run the app even after it shows the “macOS cannot verify that this app is free from malware” warning.
Fix “macOS cannot verify that this app is free from malware” error
Follow these steps to fix “macOS cannot verify that this app is free from malware” and run the app on your system.
First, try to run the app. After it shows the “macOS cannot verify that this app is free from malware” warning, open System Preferences and Go to Security & Privacy. Here, click the Open Anyway button to confirm your intent to open or install the app.
You will be asked to enter the admin credentials to verify you are the owner of the system.
The warning prompt will reappear but it will also have an Open button to Open the software Gatekeeper was blocking.
Clicking on Open will run the app and it will also add the app as an exception to your security settings. So, the app won’t show any such warning the next time when you run the app.
This is how you can run the app that shows the “macOS cannot verify that this app is free from malware” warning on Mac. Try the given method to bypass this warning and run the app. I also recommend everyone download and run the apps only from a trusted developer and trusted source to keep their computer safe from malware.
