Open Anyway is the button in System Settings that lets you run an app macOS has blocked because Apple has not checked it. It appears for a short while after a blocked launch, and it only affects the one app you tried to open. Whether you should click it depends on where the app came from, not on the button itself.
Why macOS blocks an app
Gatekeeper is the part of macOS that checks software before it runs. Apple's guidance is that apps should be signed and notarized: notarization means Apple has scanned the app for malicious content. When an app is not notarized, macOS shows a warning along the lines of "Apple cannot check the app for malicious software" and will not open it on a normal double-click.
The warning is about verification, not about quality. A small developer can ship a perfectly good app that is simply not notarized, and a notarized app is not automatically good either. All the warning tells you is that Apple has not vouched for it. Apple's own support page says running software that has not been signed and notarized may expose your Mac and personal information to malware, so treat the decision seriously.
How to use Open Anyway
Apple documents this in its support article on opening a Mac app from an unknown developer. The sequence is:
- Try to open the app once. macOS shows the warning and blocks it. Click Done or OK; do not move it to the Bin.
- Open the Apple menu, choose System Settings, then click Privacy & Security.
- Scroll down to the Security section and click Open Anyway next to the message about the app.
- Open the app again. A final warning appears; click Open. macOS may also ask for your login password.
Apple says the app is then saved as an exception to your security settings, and you can open it normally in future. If the button is missing, you probably waited too long or opened a different copy of the app. Try launching it again and go straight back to Privacy & Security.
What changed in macOS Sequoia
Older advice says to Control-click (or right-click) the app and choose Open. In macOS Sequoia (macOS 15) Apple removed that shortcut, as AppleInsider reported. On current versions the supported route is the Privacy & Security one above. If a tutorial tells you to right-click and the dialog has no Open button, that is why.
How to decide whether it is safe
Open Anyway removes the block. It does not scan the app or make it safer. A few checks before you click:
- Source. Did you download it from the developer's own site or a well-known project page, or from a link someone sent you? Go to the developer's site yourself rather than trusting a link.
- Developer. Is there a named person or company, a support contact and a privacy policy?
- What it asks for. Be extra careful with apps that request Accessibility, Full Disk Access or Screen Recording. Our guide to the Screen Recording permission explains that one.
- The exact warning. "Not notarized" is different from a message saying the app contains malware. If macOS says it found malware, do not override it. Delete the file.
If anything feels off, walking away costs you nothing.
Example: FoldMyMac
We will be straight about our own app. FoldMyMac is not notarized yet. It is ad-hoc signed, which means it has no Apple Developer ID behind it, so macOS blocks the first launch. The README and the FAQ both describe the same fix: click OK on the warning, then click Open Anyway in System Settings under Privacy & Security.
After that, the app asks for Screen Recording permission so it can show your real desktop folding as the lid closes. What it does with that is covered on the how it works and privacy pages. We would rather say this up front than have you find out at the warning screen. You can check the other requirements, such as macOS 14 or later and a lid-angle sensor, on the compatibility page before you buy.
If you allowed something by mistake
- Quit the app, drag it from Applications to the Bin and empty the Bin.
- Open System Settings and go to Privacy & Security. Look through lists such as Screen & System Audio Recording and Accessibility, and switch off or remove anything you do not recognise.
- If the app asked for your password or you suspect real damage, change important passwords from another device and run a malware scan with a tool you trust.
FAQ
Is it safe to click Open Anyway?
It is safe if you trust the source and the developer, and unsafe if you do not. Open Anyway does not make an app safer; it only tells macOS you accept the risk for that one app. Never use it on an app that triggered a malware warning.
Will macOS ask again after I click Open Anyway?
Not for the same app. Apple says it is saved as an exception, and you can open it normally afterwards. If macOS shows the warning again for a new copy of the app, such as a fresh download, repeat the same steps.
How do I remove an app I allowed by mistake?
Quit the app, drag it from Applications to the Bin and empty the Bin. Then check System Settings, Privacy & Security for permissions you granted, such as Screen Recording, and remove the app from those lists.
Why do some trusted apps need this and others do not?
Notarization is a step the developer chooses to do. Mac App Store apps and notarized apps open normally; others need your approval. The warning tells you about Apple's verification, not the quality of the software.