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Follow the steps below to install an app from an Xcode Project on to your non-jailbroken iOS device: Download and install Xcode on your Mac. Open Xcode and go to Xcode Preferences. Click on the â+â button in the Accounts panel and enter your Apple ID details. This will turn your Apple ID into a free developer account. To open a file on your Mac using a different program, navigate to the file you wish to open and right-click on it to see the file menu as shown below. When the file menu opens, click on the Open.
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, weâll explain the reasoning behind Appleâs 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 usersâ chances of being infected by viruses and other forms of malware. This is why Apple is known as a âclosed platformâ: Itâs 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 theyâre seen as more secure â theyâre created by developers that Apple trusts and have been checked by Apple for malware.
In order to check an appâs safety, Apple uses a software called Gatekeeper.
Gatekeeper is Appleâs program that recognizes whether an app has been downloaded from the App Store. This program warns you when youâve 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:
Itâs a good idea to know how to download and access these kinds of applications. So many of the great apps out there simply arenât available on the App Store. This is a crucial skill for those who rely on apps that arenât 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 â it just requires a few more steps.
How to download apps that arenât 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:
Both of these methods consist of changing your Macâs Security & Privacy settings to allow you to open apps that havenât been checked by Gatekeeper. Once youâve bypassed Gatekeeper, youâll be able to download and run all the apps youâd 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. Youâd simply go to System Preferences > Security & Privacy > General, then under Allow apps to be downloaded from, select Anywhere.
Since new updates to macOs, however, youâll need to change a few more settings on your Mac in order to do so. Hereâs how:
If you later decide that youâd like to return to your Macâs default settings and no longer allow apps to be downloaded from anywhere, just follow these steps:
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 donât know about.
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 wouldnât 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.
Youâll see background apps you can disable in one click.
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?
Thereâs no guarantee that apps downloaded from outside of the App Store will be safe. As these apps havenât been vetted for security by Apple, itâs more difficult to confirm whether theyâre 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 wonât 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.
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 youâd rather not download it, you can opt for a similar app with better reviews or one that is already in the App Store.
Are you facing issues with the Mail app opening randomly on your Mac? You are not alone. It could pop up while you are in the midst of work to display a new email. Or it could bug you for no obvious reason at all. Annoying. So, can you do anything to stop that from happening?
Connectivity issues with certain email accounts (such as Gmail) can trigger the Mac's Mail app to open randomly. So far, Apple has not released a permanent fix to this issue. But thankfully, there are a few fixes that you can apply to patch things up. Without any further ado, let's get started.
Minimize Instead of Close
If the Mail app opens without warning while running in the background, try minimizing the app instead of closing itâclick the orange-colored icon to the top-left of the window to do that. You can also use the Command+H keyboard shortcut to minimize the Mail app quickly.
That isn't a permanent fix by any means and could take some getting used to. Mac app specific password. But it's a surprisingly quick way to put a pause to the Mail app's odd behavior.
Also on Guiding TechAirmail vs. Spark: The Battle for Best Mail Client on MacRead MoreUse Gmail App Password
Are you using Gmail on the Mac? At times, the Mail app may fail to connect to your Google Account, especially if it's secured with two-factor authentication. That could result in the app opening automatically whenever it re-establishes the connection.
Thankfully, you can fix this issue with an App Password.
Step 1: Use a web browser to sign in to your Google Account. Click the Security side-tab, and click App Passwords (located within the 'Signing in to Google' section).
Step 2: Generate an App Password for the Mac's Mail app. Copy it to your clipboard.
Whistle app on mac. Step 3: Open the Mail app. Next, click Mail on the menu bar, and then click Preferences. Switch to the Accounts tab, and then remove your Gmail account.
Step 4: Re-add the Gmail account.
Step 5: When prompted for your password, add the App Password instead of your Google Account password.
That should likely stop the Mail app from facing connectivity issues with Gmail going forward.
Note:
Need New App To OpenIf you want to revoke the App Password for the Mail app, re-visit your Google Account and click Security > App Passwords.Use a Separate Space
Give the Mail app a separate desktop space. Open Mission Control, create a new space (click the Add icon to the top right), and then drag the Mail app into it. That should prevent the Mail app from opening randomly and interrupting you.
Click the Mail app on the dock whenever you want to check your email. Alternatively, you can visit the desktop space manually via Mission Control.
Check for New Messages Manually
Are you still having issues with the Mail app opening randomly on your Mac? Try checking for new messages manually. To do that, go to the Mail app's Preferences screen (Mail > Preferences), and then set 'Check for New Messages' to Manually.
Click the Get Mail iconâlocated to the top-left corner of the Mail app windowâwhenever you want to fetch new messages manually.
Note: This isn't a viable fix for most and isn't recommended if you receive urgent emails frequently.
Also on Guiding Tech#macosClick here to see our macos articles pageDisable Messages in Split-View
Is the Mail app opening new emails automatically in Split-View while using another app in full-screen mode?
To stop that from happening, open the Mail app's Preferences screen (Mail > Preferences), and then disable the 'Prefer opening messages in split view when in full screen.'
Delete non-Essential Email Accounts
Try removing non-essential email accounts from the Mail app. That should further reduce odd connectivity issues from causing the Mail app to pop up on your screen randomly. To do that, go to Mail > Preferences.
Disable Open at Login
Is the Mail app only opening automatically while booting up your Mac? That isn't an issue, but rather happens when the app is configured to open at startup.
To stop the Mail app from doing that again, simply right-click the Mail icon on the dock, point to Options, and then uncheck Open at Login.
Alternatively, go to Apple menu > System Preferences > Users & Groups > Login Items, and then remove Mail from the list of startup items.
Also on Guiding TechApple Mail vs Outlook for Mac: Which macOS Email App Is BetterRead MoreBottom Line
Most fixes that stop the Mail app from opening randomly aren't very practical, but they should help you until Apple resolves this issue for good. Hence, make it a point to install the latest updates for your Mac whenever they become availableâto do that, go to Apple menu > System Preferences > Software Update.
So, know of any other fixes that can stop the Mail app from popping up on the screen all the time? Drop in a comment and let us know.
Next up:Getting bombarded with spam on your Mac? Check out what you can do to protect yourself from that.
The above article may contain affiliate links which help support Guiding Tech. However, it does not affect our editorial integrity. The content remains unbiased and authentic.Read Next3 Tips to Protect Your Mac Against Spam in MailAlso See Open Apple Apps On Pc#emailHow To Open Non Apple Apps On Macbook Pro#troubleshootingDid You Know
Ray Tomlinson is credited as the first person to send an email message.
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