Choose which apps your Mac allows: App Store or known developers
Quick answer
Open System Settings, click Privacy & Security, scroll to Security and set Allow applications from to App Store, or to App Store & Known Developers.
Why it happens
Your Mac checks where an app came from before it opens it. App Store is the strictest choice, while App Store & Known Developers also allows apps signed by registered developers. There is no Anywhere option any more, so for one app you trust, use Open Anyway instead.
How to fix it
Open System Settings from the Apple menu.
Click Privacy & Security in the sidebar, scroll down to Security, and pick the choice you want under Allow applications from.
Privacy & Security›Security›Allow applications from
Type your Mac login password if asked. The change only works for an administrator account.
Still not fixed?
If one app you trust is still blocked, try to open it once. Then come back to the same Security section and click Open Anyway next to its name. The button only shows for a while after you try.
Privacy & Security›Security›Open Anyway
If the setting is greyed out and your password doesn't help, a school or company profile may be locking it. Ask whoever manages the Mac.
If an app says it is damaged even after Open Anyway, download a fresh copy from the developer's own website.
If the Security section is missing or won't change on your own Mac, contact Apple Support.
Questions people ask
How do I allow apps from anywhere on a Mac?
The Anywhere option is gone. Choose App Store & Known Developers, and for a single app you trust, use Open Anyway in Privacy & Security.
Why is App Store the only option allowed on my Mac?
Someone set Allow applications from to App Store, or a work profile set it. An administrator can change it in Privacy & Security, under Security.
Is it safe to allow known developers?
It's the usual choice. Those apps are signed by a developer registered with Apple, and your Mac checks them for known malware before they open.
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