Apple is further complicating strengthening to not launch incorrectly signed software with macOS 26 «Tahoe». I didn’t even remember that manual steps were needed – already since macOS Sierra (!) – to allow Apps from unverified sources from launching. And still in Sequoia, there was this easy workaround to right-click & manually select «Open» to overrule Gatekeeper’s App protection.
As these days seem to be over now, I went at it again to provide an updated solution to circumvent the launch error «App is damaged. You should move it to the Trash».
Allow Apps «from Anywhere» to open in newest macOS versions
I found that only using the xattr com.apple.quarantine command was sometimes sufficient to allow a particular application to launch.
However, enabling system-wide «Allow Apps from Anywhere» did still NOT allow to launch certain Apps from opening… Requiring the removal of the quarantine-flag as well.
A bit confusing I find, but hope this information helps anyway.
Enable System-wide «Allow applications from Anywhere» via System Settings
- Open System Settings » Privacy & Security
- Keep System Settings open & separately launch the «Terminal.app»
IMPORTANT: do NOT CLOSE System Settings!
- Run this command in Terminal:
sudo spctl --master-disable
[confirm your user admin password] - Again in System Settings: select another Setting – e.g. «Lock Screen»
- Now go right back to the «Privacy & Security» Setting
- Scroll down to the «Security»-section & click on «Allow applications from…»
- You can now select the «Anywhere»-option from the dropdown!
- Confirm with your password & confirm the separate warning-popup. Done
App still not launching? Remove an App’s «Quarantine»-status.
As mentioned in the note above, enabling system-wide «Allow Apps from Anywhere» did for me sometimes still NOT allow to open certain Apps… It was then further required to remove the App’s quarantine-flag as well. Use the «Terminal.app» to do so:
xattr -r -d com.apple.quarantine /path/to/blocked/Application.appConclusion: here’s an overview, which methods in what macOS version work to «Allow Apps from Anywhere»
| Method | macOS 26 | macOS 15 | macOS 14 & earlier |
|---|---|---|---|
Disable «System Integrity Protection»spctl --master-disable | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| System Security setting «Allow Apps from Anywhere» | ⚠️ partially | ✅ | ✅ |
| Right-click & «Open» | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
Remove App from System Integrity Protectionspctl --remove | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
Remove App’s «Quarantine»-flagxattr -r -d com.apple.quarantine | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Sources used
- Apple Community Thread «Globally disabling the assessment system needs to be confirmed in System Settings» response by jorgberg
- Chapter «Use the Xattr Command» from «Fix: App Is Damaged and Cannot Be Opened on Mac» on appletoolbox.com
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