Are you curious about how to enable the ability for apps to be downloaded and opened from any source on MacOS Sonoma or Ventura? You might have noticed that the “Allow applications downloaded from anywhere” option is no longer available by default in these versions of MacOS. However, this doesn’t mean it’s impossible to run apps from unknown sources. Advanced users can still activate this feature manually through System Settings.

It's important to note that changing Gatekeeper settings can affect your system's security and privacy. This should only be done by experienced users who understand the implications. The typical Mac user shouldn't modify Gatekeeper settings or alter how app and system security are managed.

Steps to Enable Apps from Any Source on MacOS Sonoma / Ventura

Here’s how to re-enable the “Anywhere” option in the security preferences panel:

1. Close the System Settings if it is currently open

2. Launch Terminal, either via Spotlight using command spacebar by typing Terminal and pressing return, or from the Utilities folder

3. Enter the following command exactly as shown: sudo spctl --master-disable

4. Press return and provide an admin password; the characters won't appear on screen as you type, which is standard for Terminal

5. From the ? Apple menu, navigate to “System Settings”

6. Proceed to “Privacy & Security” and scroll down until you reach the ‘Security’ section of the preference panel

7. You will now see the “Anywhere” option selected and accessible under the “Allow apps downloaded from” options

8. You can leave this enabled or switch between other options; the “Anywhere” option for apps will remain active and visible in System Settings until turned off again via the command line

With this setting enabled, you can download and launch apps from any source on your Mac, which may be beneficial for advanced users, developers, and tech enthusiasts. However, there are potential security risks involved, so it is advised not to enable this for everyday users. This is because malicious developers could potentially embed malware or other harmful components within an app, hence the assumption should always be to avoid untrusted software from unreliable sources.

Bypassing Gatekeeper Using a Click

An alternative method that doesn’t involve Terminal and works for individual apps is the simple Gatekeeper bypass trick:

1. Right-click or control-click on the app you want to open from an unidentified developer
2. Choose “Open”
3. Confirm that you wish to proceed with opening the app despite it being from an unknown developer

This method doesn't affect other apps and is applied individually. It has no effect on the Mac's Privacy & Security settings and doesn’t influence the ‘Anywhere’ option for allowing apps from all sources.

How to Remove “Anywhere” from ‘Allow Apps Downloaded From’ Options on MacOS Sonoma / Ventura

If you prefer to revert to the original setting or hide the ‘Anywhere’ option from System Settings, simply go back to Terminal and enter this command:

sudo spctl --master-enable

Press return, authenticate with your admin password once more, and the default setting will be restored, removing “Anywhere” as an option in the Security screen.

Feel free to share your thoughts or questions in the comments regarding security and Gatekeeper settings in MacOS Ventura 13.0, MacOS Sonoma 14.0, or newer releases!

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