How to Fix “Cannot be opened because the developer cannot be verified” Error on Mac

Are you having some trouble while installing an app on macOS? Are you stuck with the “Cannot be opened because the developer cannot be verified” error on Mac? Don’t worry! You can easily troubleshoot this issue by making a few quick changes in your device’s settings.

Well, as a security measure macOS allows you to download and install applications from trusted sources. So, if the developer of a certain app is not registered with Apple, you may encounter this error on your Mac. In a way, Apple prevents you to download an app from an unreliable source and throws this error on the screen thereby hindering you to install the app on your device. If the developer is not verified with Apple, you may see the “App cannot be opened because the developer cannot be verified” error. This app blocking measure by Apple protects your Mac from malware and other threats that may sabotage your data or privacy.

But if you still want to proceed and install the app anyway on your Mac, here are a few solutions that you can try to bypass the error message on macOS.

Let’s get started.

Also read: How Apple is Notarizing Mac Apps from Developers Outside Own App Ecosystem

Method 1: Update the Security Settings

To bypass the security block created by Apple, here’s what you need to do.

Tap the Apple icon placed on the top menu bar, and select “System Preferences”.

Tap on “Security and Privacy”.

Switch to the “General” tab and then tap on the lock icon placed at the bottom.

Enter your Apple ID username and password to authenticate and hit the “Unlock” button.

Under the “Allow apps downloaded from” section, select “App Store and Identified developers”.

After making these changes, try downloading the app again and hit on the “Open Anyway” button to install the app.

Method 2: Use the Safari Browser

Another effective workaround to bypass the developer cannot be verified on Mac issue is by using the Safari browser to install the app instead of App Store. Also, compared to Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox, Safari is more compatible with macOS. So, there will be fewer chances for you to encounter the error if you are downloading the app using Safari.

Also read : 10 Best Mac Apps you don’t want to miss

Method 3: Check for a Newer Version of the App

There may be a chance that you’re trying to download an older version of an app. To make sure that’s not the case, head on to the App Store and check if a newer update is available. Perform a quick search and see if the developer has released a newer version of the app.

Method 4: Use Mac’s Terminal

Another way to bypass Apple’s security block is by making changes in the OS using Mac’s Terminal. Follow these quick steps to resolve the Mac cannot verify developer error.

Press the Command + Space key combination to launch Spotlight search. Type “Terminal” and hit Enter.

In the Terminal window, type the following command and press Enter to execute it:

sudo spctl --master-disable

Mac will now prompt you to enter the password. Fill in the password and hit Enter.

Now, press the Apple icon placed on the top menu bar, and select System Preferences> Security and Privacy.

Under the “Allow apps downloaded from” section, pick the “Anywhere” option.

Try reinstalling the app again and check if the issue persists.

So, by overriding the security settings on your Mac, you can easily get rid of the error.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What to do when Mac says Cannot be opened because the developer Cannot be verified?

If you are unable to install an app due to the Mac cannot verify developer error, head on to System Preferences> General and then press the lock icon. Under the “Allow apps downloaded from” section, select “App Store and Identified developers”. Try downloading the app again and hit the “Open Anyway” button.

Q2. What does it mean if the developer Cannot be verified?

Apple follows a strong security system when it comes to installing apps from untrusted sources. If a certain app or developer is not registered with Apple, you may not be able to download the app right away.

Q3. How do I open unverified apps on Mac?

To open unverified apps on Mac, follow any of the above-listed methods to bypass security restrictions. Also, try downloading the app using the Safari browser instead of Chrome or Firefox and see if this hack works.

Also read: How to Control+Alt+Delete on a Mac and Force Quit apps

This wraps up our quick guide on how to fix the “Cannot be opened because the developer cannot be verified” error on Mac. You can use any of the above-listed methods to bypass the security restrictions on Mac.