From “Utilities“, open “Terminal“. Type the following, then press “Enter“: sudo spctl -master-disable; Type your administrator password, then press “Enter“. Select the “Apple” menu, then choose “System Preferences“. Open “Security & Privacy“. In the “Allow apps downloaded from:” area, select “Anywhere“. While the Mac is a little more open than iOS - the only way to get third party apps onto your iPhone and iPad is to download them from the iOS App Store - there are still a lot of hoops to jump. Apr 15, 2020 Doing this will allow you to install software from unsigned developers without having to confirm from within this menu. If you don't install any unsigned software within 30 days, you'll have to re-enable this settings. Click the lock icon if you'd like to prevent further changes. By default, macOS preventing apps from unidentified developers or sources from being launched. So you most likely will get an alert message that says: “macOS Catalina Patcher.app can’t be opened because it is from an unidentified developer”. To allow just one specific app to run do the following: Hold down the Control key and click the. Now, apps started through Terminal are also checked. These files get the same malware scan, signature check, and local security policy check. The difference: even on the first run, you only need to explicitly approve software launched in bundles, like a standard Mac app bundle, not for standalone executables or libraries.
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Apple released macOS Big Sur on November 13, 2020. macOS Big Sur continues the list of Central California landmarks as well as marks the new operating system for Mac. Those who tried it say that it’s more stable. It also sports a refreshed version of Safari that is 50% faster than Chrome. Here’s how to perform a clean install of macOS Big Sur with pictures and helpful tips along the way.
What is a clean install? (Big Sur or any other macOS)
A clean install means that you install the macOS onto the erased drive.
Why is clean install more preferable?
A clean install is the opposite of macOS upgrade. You format your hard drive, and therefore, it keeps no leftovers from the previous macOS.
A clean install is the opposite of macOS upgrade. You format your hard drive, and therefore, it keeps no leftovers from the previous macOS.
- macOS performs faster
- You get rid of apps you don’t use
- Persistent issues may go away
Basic steps to clean install macOS Big Sur
The first step is to clean and back up your Mac to some external source. Then, you’ll need to download macOS Big Sur package to your Applications. Next, you’ll need to create a bootable USB installer (involves another external drive). And lastly, we’ll use Disk Utility to erase your Mac and install macOS Big Sur using the bootable USB device.
1. Clean & Back up your Mac
Cleanup
Cleaning your Mac is generally a healthy practice but since we’re about to back your Mac up, it’s worthwhile to get rid of system junk first. After we’ve cleaned your Mac, you’ll end up with a refreshed system ready for a Time Machine backup.
Time Machine will make a snapshot of your system. And just like you “do yourself up” before a photo shoot, we’ll ensure your Mac looks good and tidy. To clean your machine automatically, you can run CleanMyMac X. This tool is the best-ever cleaning utility for Mac (no joke), and it’s been notarized by Apple.
Download the free version of CleanMyMac X cleaner here.
Install the app and click on System Junk to perform the scan.
Install the app and click on System Junk to perform the scan.
Back up your Mac
Now, you’re ready to back up your computer. There is a tool built just for that purpose, you guessed it, Time Machine. Time Machine needs a storage source onto which it will copy your system.
So, you’ll need an external drive. This is the first external drive that we will use to clean install macOS Big Sur. This is the reserve backup option for the worst-case scenario.
So, you’ll need an external drive. This is the first external drive that we will use to clean install macOS Big Sur. This is the reserve backup option for the worst-case scenario.
- Go to System Preferences > Time Machine.
- Connect an external drive (that’s more spacious than your current system).
- Select this Disk as a backup source in Time Machine.
Well done. The preliminary steps are done with, and we’re ready to clean install macOS Big Sur.
2. Download macOS Big Sur installer
macOS Big Sur has been released on November 12, 2020.
Since the public release in the fall of 2020, macOS Big Sur can be downloaded from the Mac App Store. It also can be found in the Software Updates pane in System Preferences.
So you’ll find it in System Preferences > Software Updates.
So you’ll find it in System Preferences > Software Updates.
- Click Upgrade Now
Wait for the installer to download onto your drive. You will see the macOS Big Sur intro screen.
Don’t click Continue but for now, close this window by choosing Quit Install.
We only want to make sure that the app called Install macOS Big Sur.App is now firmly sitting in your Applications.
This is the file we’ll use later to run the clean install of macOS Big Sur via Disk Utility.
Now, and only now have we come to clean installing macOS Big Sur. This is only a short stop on the road, so catch your breath, and let’s move along.
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3. Create a bootable Big Sur installer
Now, it’s time to grab another USB flash drive and connect it to your Mac. This drive should have at least 16 GB of storage space.
Wipe the drive clean with Disk Utility
- Pick this drive and click Erase in the top menu.
- Double-check what you’re erasing.
- Make sure the USB drive is shown as “Untitled”
- Under Format, choose: Mac OS Extended (Journaled)
All data on that disk will be lost, so beware.
Go to Terminal (Phew, we’re almost there)
This step will actually create the source disk so we can install Big Sur from bootable USB.
Launch Terminal app from your Launchpad.
Paste in the following command:
sudo /Applications/Install macOS Big Sur.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/Untitled
Type in your admin password and press Return and Y to confirm the action.
This command creates a bootable USB installer based on macOS Big Sur.app, which we’ve previously placed in your Applications.
4. Erase your startup drive in Disk Utility
It’s time to wave goodbye to your current configuration. Remember, we’ve already cleaned it up from junk with CleanMyMac X and backed it up onto our first reserve USB drive.
Now, start your Mac in Recovery mode:
- Turn off your Mac and hold down Command + R.
- Choose Disk Utility from the menu.
- Choose your main startup drive and click Erase.
Mac Os Terminal Install Command
Voila! Your Mac is now formatted. What you can do now (actually, this the only thing you can do now) is to clean install macOS Big Sur 11 from the connected USB installer drive. If it’s not connected, connect the bootable USB installer now.
- Go back to the original Disk Utility screen
(If you can’t return to Disk Utility, restart your Mac and hold down the Option key) - Click Install macOS and choose to install it from the selected USB drive.
- Click on “Install macOS”
How do I regularly install macOS Big Sur?
The regular install is done via upgrading your current macOS. That is, you don’t erase your entire disk. When the new macOS Big Sur is officially released, you just open the App Store > Updates.
Or even better, go to your System Preferences > Software Updates
How to reinstall macOS Big Sur?
If for some reason your Big Sur macOS doesn’t work as expected, you can reinstall it by sending your Mac into Recovery Mode.
- Restart your machine and hold down ⌘ + R
- Choose Reinstall macOS
That’s it.
As we’ve just seen, running a clean install of macOS Big Sur could be a crazy rabbit hole. We hope you survived. Now you’ll be rewarded with the best Apple’s operating system up to date. You’ll also have a clean Mac that works at blazing speed with a little extra help from our favorite Mac cleaner — CleanMyMac X. You can get started with a trial version — so download it here.
In recent software updates, Apple has included more stringent security measures in its OS with the goal of better protecting your Mac from malware. While this gives you an added layer of protection, it also makes it more difficult to open applications that Apple is not familiar with (such as those not in the App Store or those created by unidentified developers).
While it may be tricky, opening these apps is possible. Here, we’ll explain the reasoning behind Apple’s enhanced security, show you how to allow any and all apps on your Mac, and even briefly discuss keeping yourself safe from malware.
What does it mean to be able to download apps from anywhere?
Apple puts many safety measures in place in order to reduce users’ chances of being infected by viruses and other forms of malware. This is why Apple is known as a “closed platform”: It’s strict about what apps it allows to be easily downloaded onto and accessed from Apple devices.
The apps you can download onto an Apple device are generally limited to those that can be found in the App Store because they’re seen as more secure — they’re created by developers that Apple trusts and have been checked by Apple for malware.
In order to check an app’s safety, Apple uses a software called Gatekeeper.
Gatekeeper is Apple’s program that recognizes whether an app has been downloaded from the App Store. This program warns you when you’ve downloaded and attempted to run software from another location for the first time.
Downloading apps from anywhere, then, means accessing and using apps that either:
- Don’t come from the App store
- Were created by unidentified developers
It’s a good idea to know how to download and access these kinds of applications. So many of the great apps out there simply aren’t available on the App Store. This is a crucial skill for those who rely on apps that aren’t necessarily meant for Macs (such as Microsoft software), as well as those who have recently begun using Apple devices and want to be able to use non-iOS/macOS apps.
Luckily, your Mac does allow you to download apps from anywhere — it just requires a few more steps.
How to download apps that aren’t on the App Store or come from unidentified developers
There are two main ways to give your Mac access to a broader range of apps:
- Set your Mac to allow you to open apps that aren’t from the App Store
- Set your Mac to allow apps from unidentified developers
Both of these methods consist of changing your Mac’s Security & Privacy settings to allow you to open apps that haven’t been checked by Gatekeeper. Once you’ve bypassed Gatekeeper, you’ll be able to download and run all the apps you’d like. (To learn how to do this, check out our piece on how to open apps from unidentified developers.)
How to download apps from anywhere
Before macOS Sierra, it was much easier to set your Mac to allow you to download apps from anywhere. You’d simply go to System Preferences > Security & Privacy > General, then under Allow apps to be downloaded from, select Anywhere.
Since new updates to macOs, however, you’ll need to change a few more settings on your Mac in order to do so. Here’s how:
- Launch Terminal by going to Finder > Applications > Utilities or by locating it with Spotlight search (
[CMD] + [SPACE]
). - In Terminal, type the code
sudo spctl --master-disable
and hit Return. Enter your Mac’s password when prompted. - Go to System Preferences > Security & Privacy > General. At the bottom of the window, you’ll see multiple options under Allow apps to be downloaded from. Select Anywhere to allow your Mac to download any and all apps.
If you later decide that you’d like to return to your Mac’s default settings and no longer allow apps to be downloaded from anywhere, just follow these steps:
- Launch Terminal.
- Once it’s running, enter the code
sudo spctl --master-enable
You’ll no longer be able to select Anywhere.
After this is done, you will only be allowed to download apps from the App Store, unless you use the steps mentioned above to access apps from other locations.
How to open Mac apps bypassing Gatekeeper
There is another way to open restricted apps that many Mac users don’t know about.
- Open your Applications directory.
- Click Finder > Go > Applications.
- Now, Control + click on an app you’d like to open.
This way you can open apps no matter where they come from.
How many suspicious apps do you have?
You probably have downloaded apps from all kinds of sources. Some of them (especially, the dubious ones) may install additional components on top of their main functionality. Chances are, you wouldn’t even know.
Such invisible applications are sometimes called launch agents or daemons. They may stay in the background for years. Probably, you have a couple of those lurking on your Mac.
How to check your Mac for hidden background apps
To check it, you can run a free version of CleanMyMac X
CleanMyMac X itself comes from MacPaw, which is a popular Mac developer and its apps are notarized by Apple.
- So, download and install a free version of CleanMyMac X.
- Click on Optimization and choose Launch Agents
You’ll see background apps you can disable in one click.
- In the same app, click on Malware Removal.
When it comes to finding suspicious apps and adware trojans, CleanMyMac X is way ahead of many other antiviruses.
CleanMyMac X will check your computer for all potentially unwanted apps (PUA) and all kinds of malware. It also helps you keep track of malware regularly with a real-time malware monitor.
A free version of CleanMyMac X is available here.
Is it safe to download apps from anywhere?
There’s no guarantee that apps downloaded from outside of the App Store will be safe. As these apps haven’t been vetted for security by Apple, it’s more difficult to confirm whether they’re safe and free of malware.
Because of this, you should be wary in changing your settings to allow apps downloaded from anywhere. Doing so leaves your Mac vulnerable malware and malicious software, as Gatekeeper won’t be able to check if the app downloaded is legitimate (or just malware disguised as the desired software).
The safety of your Mac, then, is in your hands. The best you can do to try to make sure that an app is safe to download is to look into its reviews and the experiences other users have had. Doing your due diligence can help you avoid using untrustworthy apps.
Mac Can't Install Unidentified Developer
Downloading anti-virus software is another means of protection, as this software will check whether an app is safe for you. If, when researching all you can about an app, you decide you’d rather not download it, you can opt for a similar app with better reviews or one that is already in the App Store.