Open a blocked .pkg installer on your Mac, safely

Why it happens

Gatekeeper, the Mac's built-in guard, checks that an installer has been notarised, which means the developer sent it to Apple for a malware scan. If the package isn't notarised, or your Mac can't check it, macOS stops it to protect you. Open Anyway lets you make an exception for that one file, while every other protection stays on.

How to fix it

1. First make sure the installer came straight from the developer's own website or another source you trust. If you're not sure where it came from, stop here and don't open it.

2. Double-click the .pkg file. When the warning appears, click Done to close it. Don't pick Move to Trash unless you've changed your mind.

3. Open System Settings > Privacy & Security and scroll down to Security. You'll see a line saying the installer was blocked to protect your Mac. Click Open Anyway next to it.

   Privacy & Security›Security›Open Anyway

4. Enter your login password or use Touch ID, and confirm once more if your Mac asks. The installer then opens and you can carry on.

5. Open Anyway only shows for about an hour after you try the file. If you don't see it, double-click the installer again, then go back to Privacy & Security.

Still not fixed?

1. If your Mac says the installer is damaged, the download may be incomplete. Delete it and download it again from the developer's site.

2. If macOS warns that the file contains malware or will damage your computer, don't open it. Move it to the Trash and get the software from the developer's official site instead.

3. Ask the developer whether they have a notarised version of the installer, or whether the app is available in the App Store. Either way, your Mac can open it without an exception.

4. If Open Anyway never appears, your Mac may be managed by a school or company that blocks it. Ask whoever looks after your Mac.

5. If an installer from Apple itself is blocked, don't make an exception. Contact Apple Support so they can check what's going on.