Mac OS X Gatekeeper (Unidentified Developer Message)
What is Gatekeeper?
Gatekeeper is a feature in OS X introduced in Mountain Lion (10.8) that helps protect users from downloading and installing malicious software. Information about Mac Security features in Mountain Lion are available on the Apple web site: http://www.apple.com.
Managing Gatekeeper
Gatekeeper is managed in the Security & Privacy preference pane of System Preferences. The default Gatekeeper setting allows you to download apps from the Mac App Store as well as those signed with a Developer ID.
If you attempt to install or run an app that hasn't been signed by an Apple Developer ID, you'll receive an error message, and you will be unable to install or run the app: AccountEdge ... can't be opened because it is from an unidentified developer.
Since the Developer IDs are new with Mountain Lion, you will receive an error if you attempt to install:
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Canadian AccountEdge and AccountEdge Network Edition, releases older than AccountEdge Pro 2012 and AccountEdge Network Edition 2012
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US AccountEdge and AccountEdge Network Edition, releases older than 2012
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US AccountEdge Pro 2012 and AccountEdge Network Edition, releases older than version 16.1.4
You can change your Gatekeeper settings to allow your app to install and run, and even restore them to the stricter setting once you successfully launch the app.
You can change the Gatekeeper preference to Anywhere and older AccountEdge apps will install and open. This is a global preference so it's all or none HOWEVER, if you change it to Anywhere, launch your app and then change the preference back to Mac App Store and identified developers, you can continue to open your app.
Receiving an Error Message on 10.9.5 or later
Starting with Mac OS X 10.9.5 and OS X 10.10, a change has been made to gatekeeper which will generate an error message when launching AccountEdge the first time:
AccountEdge" can't be opened because it is from an unidentified developer.
To bypass this error and allow AccountEdge to run on this computer, follow the instructional video: AccountEdge and Gatekeeper changes in Mac OS X 10.9.5 and Yosemite OS 10.10
To view text instructions, visit: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5290
Gatekeeper on macOS 10.12 Sierra
Please Note: This solution involves editing default settings that Apple has set on their new Operating System. We suggest that if you are going to attempt to do this you contact an IT professional. AccountEdge Technical Support is not able to assist with this process and you change this setting at your own risk.
If you are using a machine that has macOS Sierra installed and it did not previously have El Capitan or earlier you will be missing the option to allow software to be opened from any developer - regardless of whether it is made by an approved developer.
You can find this setting by going to Apple > System Preferences > Security & Privacy.
Setting on Mac OS X 10.11 El Capitan and Earlier
Setting on macOS 10.12 Sierra
To add this setting back in on Sierra you can:
- Go to Spotlight in the Upper Right corner of your screen
- Type in Terminal
- Enter the command (minus the quotes) "sudo spctl --master-disable" and hit return
- Type in the Mac Administrator password
If you then go back to Apple > System Preferences > Security & Privacy you will see the "Anywhere" option again.