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Improve macOS installation instructions for unsigned apps
Add four methods to bypass Gatekeeper for unsigned applications:
- Right-click → Open (simplest)
- System Settings approach
- Terminal xattr command (most reliable)
- Run from source (bypasses entirely)
🤖 Generated with [Claude Code](https://claude.com/claude-code)
Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.5 <noreply@anthropic.com>
Copy file name to clipboardExpand all lines: README.md
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@@ -60,19 +60,57 @@ A powerful native macOS application for converting, splitting, and merging JSON,
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1. Download the DMG file
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2. Double-click the DMG to mount it
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3. Drag "FileShift" to your Applications folder
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4.**First time running**: The app will show a security warning because it's not signed with an Apple Developer certificate
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4.**First time running**: The app will show a security warning because it's not signed with an Apple Developer certificate ($99/year). See below for how to bypass this.
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### Security Warning Fix
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### Opening an Unsigned App on macOS
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Since the app isn't signed with an Apple Developer certificate, macOS will block it on first launch. Here's how to open it:
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macOS Gatekeeper blocks apps without Apple Developer certificates. Choose one of the methods below:
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1.**Try to open the app** - You'll see a warning saying "FileShift.app cannot be opened because Apple cannot verify it is free of malware." Click **Done** (not "Move to Trash").
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#### Method 1: Right-Click → Open (Simplest)
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2.**Open System Settings** - Go to **Privacy & Security** and scroll down to the **Security** section. You'll see a message: *"FileShift.app" was blocked to protect your Mac.* Click **Open Anyway**.
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1.**Right-click** (or Control-click) on FileShift.app in Finder
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2. Select **Open** from the context menu
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3. Click **Open** in the dialog that appears
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3.**Confirm** - A final dialog will appear asking if you're sure. Click **Open Anyway**to launch the app.
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This presents a different dialog that allows youto open the app directly.
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After this one-time setup, the app will open normally without any warnings.
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#### Method 2: System Settings (If Method 1 Doesn't Work)
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1.**Try to open the app normally** (double-click) — You'll see a warning. Click **Done** (not "Move to Trash").
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2.**Open System Settings** → **Privacy & Security**
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3.**Scroll down** to the Security section. You'll see:
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> *"FileShift.app" was blocked from use because it is not from an identified developer.*
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Click **Open Anyway**
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4.**Enter your password** if prompted, then click **Open Anyway** again in the confirmation dialog.
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#### Method 3: Terminal Command (Most Reliable)
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If the above methods don't work, remove the quarantine flag using Terminal:
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