
In the previous version of Mac OS X, when you want to install an app that downloaded not from App Store, you can simply go to Security setting > General tab and tick “Allow apps downloaded from: Anywhere“
But unlike the previous version of Mac OS X, in macOS Sierra and High Sierra and above it slightly have different security setting by its default. You will no longer see “Allow apps downloaded from: Anywhere” feature in the Security setting.
In macOS Sierra and High Sierra when you need to install apps that you’ve download not from the official App Store you will receive an error message something like this: “Your apps” can’t be opened because it is from an unidentified developer.
This is because you only allowed to install app downloaded from the App Store and from the identified developer only.

When you go to the Security setting you notice that the “Anywhere” button disappeared! Don’t worry, there is nothing wrong with that.
Yeah! It can be really frustrating to find a way how to fix it if you have upgraded from the previous version of macOS and the first time using macOS Sierra.

It’s not a problem at all when you only install purchased apps from App Store. Actually this is how apple protects its user and that’s why we love Apple products. They guarantee user safety. But in many cases, we also need ‘others’ application to do some task.
So, in this post, I will show you how to enable it on macOS Sierra and High Sierra. But before we fix the “problem” it is better you know what causes it, right?
So .. this is why …
When you upgrade to macOS Sierra or High Sierra by default Apple Gatekeeper was already activated. That’s why you get the error message when you try to install an app that wasn’t downloaded from App Store.
What the heck is gatekeeper?
What is Gatekeeper?
As I’ve read, Gatekeeper is a security feature of the Mac operating system by Apple. Which was introduced in Mac OS X Leopard and expanded in Mac OS X Snow Leopard?
The feature originated in version 10.7.3 of Mac OS X Lion as the command-line utility. A graphical user interface was added in OS X Mountain Lion and later also in version 10.7.5 of Lion.
Okay! what we gonna do now is to disable the gatekeeper so you can get back the “Anywhere” option in the Security setting.
Disable Gatekeeper
We don’t have to do some high-class hacking stuff here! it’s easier than you think. Just open Terminal and write or you can just copy the command below:
You will be ask for password so type in your password and hit enter! logout from terminal and done! see picture below

Now open System preferences and then go to Security & Privacy and now you should see your “Anywhere” option again. Just like in the previous version of macOS.
Choose Allow apps downloaded from: Anywhere (click it)??see picture below.

Open the app that has an installation issue before, and run the app to test em out. Now it should work just the way it works on El Capitan, Yosemite, Mavericks, etc.
Is it still works on High Sierra?
Yeah! it’s still works!

The difference is, once you apply these Terminal commands, you will still get a warning from the macOS security system that said; “The App” can’t be opened because the identity of the developer cannot be confirmed. Just like the screenshot below for example when I try to Install the “Handshaker” app.
So, don’t worry just click OK to close it then go to System Preferences > Security & Privacy and after you disable the Gatekeeper you should see the “Open Anyway” button there.
So! that’s the magic button guys 🙂 it should look like screen shot below.

That’s how to open App from the unidentified developer on macOS High Sierra, just a bit differently. It because Apple has increased the security of the latest update of the macOS system.
And for app developer now is not easy to get their apps to get approved by Apple. That’s why you get the warning when trying to installing an app from a source other than from the App Store.
How to re-enable Gatekeeper?
Just in case if you want to enable back the gatekeeper. To do that just do the same thing as how to disable Gatekeeper, but this time change the command from disable to enable like this??
Just closing words
Back in the day when Apple releases the final version of the macOS Sierra on 20 September 2016 ago. The next day I quickly download and upgrade my Mac OS and do some tests and tweak on it. And ya! I notice there is a problem when I try to install some of the apps that not officially approved by Apple. And after a few minutes doing some research and finally found this simple solution.
So.. I hope this short post can help you Mac user or Hackintosher who recently upgrade to macOS Sierra and deal with the same issue!
Good luck!
Image of Gatekeeper credit: Wikipedia
i need to install filezilla on my mac os 10. Please help me in that. thanks
After disable gatekeeper just go to System Preferences > Security & Setting > Allow Apps from: Anywhere > drag filezilla to Aplication > done! ?
You can also allow only specific apps in by following the guide at: https://stackengineer.com/macos/allow-apps-anywhere.html
This would stop the need from disabling gatekeeper in general.
Hey Cravy!
Good info, Thanks for sharing! ?
Does this still work for Mojave?
Hi,
I don’t know man since I decide to stick with High Sierra due to my Graphics, which isn’t supported by Mojave and Catalina.
Try it anyway, and if it still works please share here. Manny peoples will thank you for that 🙂
Best Regards!