For macOS 10.14, 10.15 or later macOS versions, the users may encounter this issue when they are going to open a installed software from Launchpad, the issue is “xxxx can’t be opened because Apple cannot check it for malicious software.” For example. App can’t be opened because Apple can’t check it for malicious software. Using an app that can’t be checked for malicious software might harm your Mac or compromise your privacy. If you’re certain that the app you want to use is from a trustworthy source, you can override your Mac security settings to open it.

1. App Cannot Be Opened Mac Malicious Software
2. Mac Software Can T Be Opened Because It Is From An Unidentified Developer
3. Mac Application Can't Be Opened

One of the most important new security features in the recently released macOS Catalina is that it’s much more difficult to run software that contains malware. Apple is now requiring that all software be submitted to them to be “notarized”, indicating that they have checked it for malicous activity.

Notarization is not foolproof, as something could slip by them, but it should significantly cut down on the recent growth of malware attacks on Mac.

Don’t worry though, this is not the same as App Store approval. Apps in the App Store often get rejected for violating a long list of Apple requirements. It’s their store so they control what goes onto it. The only thing they are checking for with notarization on Mac is that it’s not malicious.

However, suppose you need to run software that isn’t notarized. Perhaps it’s something you wrote yourself, it’s open source software that doesn’t have a large organized backing, or maybe it’s just old software that was released before Apple started this requirement.

Apple does have a way around this. They have said that on Mac they never have any intention of preventing you from running your own software. Just be extra careful before you do this. Make sure you trust the source of the software, since this feature is there to protect you.

When you start to run software like this just click the “Show in Finder” button (see above), then right-click (or hold control while you click) the app or installer in question and choose “Open”.

Now when the warning box comes back up you’ll have an option to “Open” and from now on the App will run without those extra steps.

App Cannot Be Opened Mac Malicious Software

As developers take a little time to get on board with this new process, this will become less of an issue in the future. But right now you may run into this often.

Mac Software Can T Be Opened Because It Is From An Unidentified Developer

Problem:

After upgrading to macOS Catalina, some mac users found that some apps can’t be opened because Apple cannot check it for malicious software. A dialog box pops up, click 'OK' button and the application will close.

Solution: Make sure you have dragged the installer package to /Applications to complete the installation. Our users have found that dragging the package into the Applications folder works best. This package appears after the installer .dmg file is opened.

Problem:

Mac Application Can't Be Opened

If you try to open the installer you downloaded, and you are blocked by the Mac System. You may need to disable the Gatekeeper within your system preferences. You may see a prompt like this:

Solution:

1. Go to “System Preferences” then “Security & Privacy”. Under the General tab, you will see a message at the bottom, “Application HX Edit was blocked from opening because it is not from an identified developer.”

2. Click on “Open anyway” and the application will be opened.