Open App Store Apps Install Downloaded Apps

Mac App Store and identified developers (default in OS X) Only allow apps that came from the Mac App Store and developers using Gatekeeper can open.

When someone downloads an app from somewhere other than the Mac App Store they will get one of a few warning messages depending on what security settings theyve set in System Preferences.

Open App Store Apps Install Downloaded Apps

Well show users how to set the security settings in Security Privacy section of the OS X System Preferences using any version of OS X after Mountain Lion so they can install downloaded apps from outside the Mac App Store.

Why Cant I Install 3rd-Party Apps By Default If you dont care about why this works, skip to the next section.

Heres why Apple sets OS X to disallow 3rd-party apps by default, for those who like to understand why things work as they do.

Cynics will say that Apple does this because they dont get a 30 cut from applications bought directly from third-party apps instead of their curated app store.

The developer gets the entire 10 if the app is sold directly.

Apple says they set things blocking third-party apps because they want to protect users who might install downloaded apps with malware or viruses.

They take the 30 cut to cover the cost of hosting the Mac App Store and testing apps to keep malware out of the store.

Apple offers three setting options in the Security Privacy Settings in System Preferences.

Apple set the default to help protect users from Malware or to lock down computers depending on which explanation you prefer.

Apple created Gatekeeper, a program to protect users from Malware.

Developers can get a security certificate from Apple through the Apple Developer program.

If a developer distributes their app on the Mac App Store, they have to follow certain guidelines to get approved.

Developers can also add a security certificate to their apps.

Users can set their machines to allow third-party apps downloaded from the Internet, but only if they include one of these security certificates.

Find out how to change the settings below so you can install downloaded apps from trusted third-party websites.

Dont install apps from just any site because relaxing security settings could potentially open the door to malware and viruses.

How to Install Apps from Outside the Mac App Store To install third-party apps, the user must change a setting in the Security Privacy section of System Preferences, the Settings app in OS X.

Open OS X System Preferences by clicking on the app icon from OS X Dock or by clicking the Apple icon in the Menu Bar in the upper left corner of the screen.

Click on Security Privacy from the top row of the System Preferences app.

The OS will ask the user to enter their administrators password.

The settings we need to work with show up at the bottom half of the dialog box.

Mac App Store Only apps that came from the Mac App Store can open.

Open App Store Apps For Mac