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README: Gatekeeper steps when macOS can't verify the app #24

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AlexTkDev merged 1 commit into from
Oct 30, 2026
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README: Gatekeeper steps when macOS can't verify the app #24

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15 changes: 10 additions & 5 deletions README.md
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Expand Up @@ -84,11 +84,16 @@

1. **Direct Download:** Grab the latest `.dmg` from [GitHub Releases](https://github.com/AlexTkDev/MacOSCleaner/releases/latest).
2. **Mount & Drag:** Open the `.dmg` and drag `MacOSCleaner.app` into `/Applications`.
3. **First Launch (Gatekeeper):** If macOS shows a Gatekeeper warning on locally built/unnotarized apps:
```bash
sudo xattr -r -c /Applications/MacOSCleaner.app
```
> *Note: This removes the quarantine attribute set by macOS. It does not modify app files, system security, or grant persistent permissions.*
3. **If macOS says it can't verify MacOSCleaner:** On macOS 26, Gatekeeper can block the first open (“Apple could not verify “MacOSCleaner” is free of malware”, or a dialog that it cannot verify the app is free of malware) because the app is ad-hoc signed. Only do this with the DMG from the official [GitHub Releases](https://github.com/AlexTkDev/MacOSCleaner/releases/latest) page.
1. Move `MacOSCleaner.app` to `/Applications` (step 2).
2. Try to open it once. Then go to **System Settings → Privacy & Security**, scroll down, click **Open Anyway**, and confirm.
3. Or, in Terminal:

```bash
xattr -dr com.apple.quarantine /Applications/MacOSCleaner.app
```

> *This clears the quarantine flag macOS sets on that download. It does not change the app or system security.*

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