[Solved] MacOS will not open OpenOffice.app

[yohejohn]

Hello,

I just downloaded onto my new MacBook Air. OS Big Sur 11.1 but when I try to open it, I receive this message:

“OpenOffice.app” cannot be opened because the developer cannot be verified.
macOS cannot verify that this app is free from malware.
Firefox downloaded this file today at 3:42 PM from sourceforge.net.

What do I do?

Thank you in advance.

John

[robleyd]

See the Installation Instructions for Apple Macintosh.

[yohejohn]

Ok, just FYI that link and page was useful, but at first didn't show the same 'Security' box as what I had, and they talk about earlier OS's, so I was confused. My box wasn't showing the 'open anyway' button in the box. So I went and chatted with an Apple person, in confusion. But apparently, you need to try to open OpenOffice, get the warning window, and THEN go to the System Preferences, Security box, and THEN the 'open anyway' button appears. I was just going to the Security box after closing the warning box.

That probably makes no sense to anyone, but yes, I can now open OpenOffice.

Thank you for the start!

John

[b4integrity]

"you need to try to open OpenOffice, get the warning window, and THEN go to the System Preferences, Security box, and THEN the 'open anyway' button appears."

I had same problem trying to install OpenOffice 4.1.9 on macOS Big Sur Version 11.2.3
Following your suggestion worked!
Thanks, John.

[EricaB.]

Although I have used the method John suggested in the past, it did not work for me this time. What did work was as described in the pop-up MacOS User Guide (when you type a subject into the "help" menu):

Open an app by overriding security settings

You can open an app that isn’t allowed to open by manually overriding the settings in Security & Privacy preferences.

1. In the Finder on your Mac, locate the app you want to open.

Most apps can be found in the Applications folder.

2. Control-click the app icon, then choose Open from the shortcut menu.

3. Click Open.

The app is saved as an exception to your security settings, and you can open it in the future by double-clicking it, just as you can any authorized app.

I hope that helps the next person.