Mac App Not Opened Because Developer Cannot Be Confirmed

By Tasnia Salinas, on November 12, 2020, in Mac Uninstaller| SOLVED

I run a Mac Book Pro, 13', mid-2009, 8 GB, 2.26 GHz 1067 MHz DDR3. The OS is 10.9.5. (I'll be 75 next month; live mostly on Social Security, so it might be imprudent for me to talk about donating to your worthy cause.). If you don't set it to Anywhere, to run the app right-click (⌃ ctrl-click) on the app and select Open, then take it from there (this is only needed the first time you launch the app). I downloaded LibreOffice 4.1.2 on OS X 10.9 and tested this (I have my security setting at Mac App Store and identified developers) and was able to launch. Surprise: Software from a verified developer could do the same, because Apple does not verify every program written for the Mac. You just give a “verified developer” more confidence. The developer of the software could of course register with Apple, but would then have to pay money for it and would also be considered a verified developer.

  • I am creating Mac os x App on 10.9 with Xcode 6. I have created Distributed App outside the Mac App Store using Developer ID. It works fine on my Mac, but when I test on other Mac with same configuration, It gives 'app can't be opened because identity of developer cannot be confirmed' Message.
  • 'ConnectEasy' can't be opened because the identity of the developer cannot be confirmed. This error may occur during the initial launching of ConnectEasy, due to recent security changes in Mac OS X 10.10 and 10.11. Fortunately, the error is benign and it is easy to workaround.
  • Oct 30, 2019 Apple is no better than Microsoft! I put off updating to Catalina until I couldn't stand the forced dialog to update any more. Now my printer can't be used. I researched this and it's a gatekeeper feature that Apple has determined we can't live without. I found a help site that says just right click on the file in Preferences and the app will work.
  • Can't be opened because the identity of the developer cannot be confirmed. Google Chrome downloaded this file today at 01:33 from mysite.org I'm using Xamarin Studio 5.2.1 (build 1).

Summary: Trying to install an app on macOS Big Sur but get an error message saying XXX app can't be opened because Apple cannot check it for malicious software. Check this complete macOS Big Sur Problem troubleshooting article.

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User feedback: I'm trying to open a .pkg package from Skype for passcode management on macOS Big Sur. When I go to open the package it tell me: 'Skype can't be opened because Apple cannot check it for malicious software.' I've checked in System Preferences but can't figure it out. Any help is appreciated.

Other Affected Apps:

App NameError MessageStatus
Adobe Creative Cloud 'com.adobe.acc.installer.v2' can't be opened because Apple cannot check it for malicious software.
Adobe Flash Player 'pepperflashplayer.plugin' can't be opened because Apple cannot check it for malicious software.
Visual Studio Code Visual Studio Code can't be opened because Apple cannot check it for malicious software.
Katalon Studio 'Katalon Studio' can't be opened because Apple cannot check it for malicious software.
Java Update 'Java 8 Update 231' can't be opened because Apple cannot check it for malicious software.
Android Studio Android Studio can't be opened because Apple cannot check it for malicious software.
Steam Steam can't be opened because Apple cannot check it for malicious software.
Spotify Spotify can't be opened because Apple cannot check it for malicious software.
Skype Skype can't be opened because Apple cannot check it for malicious software.
VirtualBox virtualbox.pkg can't be opened because Apple cannot check it for malicious software.
Docker com.docker.vmnetd can't be opened because Apple cannot check it for malicious software.
Origin Origin can't be opened because Apple cannot check it for malicious software.
FireFox FireFox.app can't be opened because Apple cannot check it for malicious software.
League Of Legends 'League Of Legends' can't be opened because Apple cannot check it for malicious software.
Java Update 'Java 8 Update 231' can't be opened because Apple cannot check it for malicious software.
Guild Wars 2 'Guild Wars 2 64 bit' can't be opened because Apple cannot check it for malicious software

Diagnosis: Modern macOS, like Mojave and Big Sur, includes a technology called Gatekeeper, which is built to help you safely open apps on your Mac. For sure Apple App Store is the best place to get software applications, but in many cases, you'll need to download and install apps out of the store. To distribute apps without App Store, it requires the developer to have valid Apple Developer ID and get their apps notarized. Otherwise, it has large chance that they'll get the following error: 'XXX can't be opened because Apple cannot check it for malicious software.'

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Table of Content:

Part 1: Open Apps That Apple Cannot Check for Malicious Software

Keep it in mind that, by bypassing this Apple gateway protection method, you may expose your computer and personal information to malware (Check Malware App List on macOS) that can harm your Mac or compromise your privacy. So make sure that this app you want to install on macOS Big Sur is from a trustworthy source and hasn’t been tampered with. You can temporarily override your Mac security settings so as to run this software that hasn’t been signed and notarized (Learn How To Uninstall Programs on macOS Big Sur).

  1. Step 1:

    In macOS Big Sur (or macOS Mojave), to open an app that fails to be opened because it hasn't been notarized or is from an unidentified developer, open System Preferences > Security & Privacy:

    How To Fix App Can't Be Opened on macOS Big Sur Step 1
  2. Step 2:

    Click Open Anyway to confirm your intent to open or install the app.

    How To Fix App Can't Be Opened on macOS Big Sur Step 2
  3. Optional Method:

    An alternative method to bypass this error is to click on the “Show in Finder” button > Go to 'Applications' folder to locate the app > Control click or right click on the application file and choose 'Open' option.

  4. Optional Method:

    You will get a similar error message for malicious software checking like below. However, this time you will see an additional 'Open' button.

    Control Click App To Open

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Part 2: Additional Tips To Open Apps on macOS Big Sur Safely

One more side note is that, Apple designed this Gateway method is for protecting your Mac from malicious malware. 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 (Uninstall Program on Mac). It also requires software to be notarized. To open apps safely on macOS Big Sur, consider these following tips.

General Tips for Open Apps Safely on macOS Big Sur:

  • Keep away from malicious apps: The method mentioned above is not always working because Apple has more restrict standard to keep your Mac from malicious apps. Never continue installing apps if you have this message.
  • No more 32-bit apps on macOS Big Sur: Apple completely steped out 32-bit apps on macOS Big Sur so beware if you count largely on these apps.
  • Uninstall not working apps: It's another option to uninstall apps that are not working in macOS Big Sur.
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    Still get stuck by error: 'XXX App can't be opened because Apple cannot check it for malicious software'? Here is an alternative method that can fix this issue. In the Finder > Control-click the app DMG/PKG file > choose Open from the menu, and in the dialog that appears, click Open. Enter your admin name and password when prompted. Have other macOS Big Sur app not working issue? Try Omni Remover >


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    Requirements: OS X 10.8+ , 13.1Mb free space
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    Mac App Not Opened Because Developer Cannot Be Confirmed Stopped

    So I was downloading Xbox 360 controller drivers and then it asked me to restart my mac, then i when i log in my computer functions as normal but some applications show this message: 'can not open application because it may be damaged or incomplete', my first instinct was to restart my computer but it only made it worse happening to ALL my finder applications and files. Please Help my mac is unusable at this point!!!!


    Mac App Not Opened Because Developer Cannot Be Confirmed To Be


    Developer

    Mac App Not Opened Because Developer Cannot Be Confirmed Filed

    I tried A. 'fake reinstalling macos' (without deleting files)

    The Application Can't Be Opened

    B. First Aid w/ disk utility

    C. Apple support

    Mac App Not Opened Because Developer Cannot Be Confirmed Unto


    Mac App Can't Be Opened Because The Identity Of The Developer Cannot Be Confirmed

    I don't want to reinstall mac os entirely so if anyone can help it would be greatly appreciated.