Mac Won't Allow App To Be Default

Confirm proper installation of the latest player

Once again, you will hopefully find the printer in the Default listings. If so, select it in the list and then click Add. Use an IP address: Networked printers sometimes take a little extra work. The difference: even on the first run, you only need to explicitly approve software launched in bundles, like a standard Mac app bundle, not for standalone executables or libraries. With macOS Catalina, perhaps more significantly, Gatekeeper will also check non-quarantined apps and files for problems. Oct 22, 2020 By default, you’ll be on the General tab. If you are not, click on General tab and then uncheck the box beside Allow Apple Watch to unlock your Mac. Check again in few seconds to turn it back on. Sep 05, 2019 By default, your Mac will open it with TextEdit, Apple’s built-in simple text-editing app. To change that, Ctrl+click the file in question, then click Get Info. This will bring up a new window. The potential move comes after criticism that the tech giant gives its in-house apps an unfair advantage and undue prominence on the App Store. As it stands, Apple doesn't allow users to replace. You will see the default app at the top of the list. Select the alternative app you want to use. The file will now open in that app. How To Change The Mac Default App Settings. If you think you’re going to use alternative apps for a long time, it’s better to just set them up as default apps instead of doing the method above every single time.

For Windows, see Flash Player installation problems (Windows).

For Mac OS, see Flash Player installation problems (Mac OS).

Ensure that Adobe Flash Player is the default player

If another player installed on your computer is set as the default player, information may not get to your Flash Player. Make Flash Player the default player and try to watch the video again.

Allow the website Flash content to play on your system

View the Adobe Flash Player Settings Manager for your Flash Player installation:

  1. Right-click (Windows) or Control-click (Mac OS) any Flash content.

  2. Select the Global Storage Settings panel. The Adobe Flash Player Settings Manager opens.
  3. Select Allow third-party Flash content to store data on your computer.

  4. Restart your browser and try playing an embedded video.
  • To view or change the privacy settings for websites you have visited, use the Website Privacy Settings panel.
  • To view, change, or delete the storage settings for websites you have visited, use the Website Storage Settings panel.

Make sure that the security level is not set to High or to a custom level that doesn't allow viewing of ActiveX controls. Typically, the default security level (medium) allows you to view Flash content. For a custom level, ensure that both Download Signed ActiveX Controls and Run ActiveX Controls And Plug-ins are set to Prompt. For example, in Internet Explorer:

  1. In the section ActiveX Controls and Plug-ins, make the following changes:

    • Set Download Signed ActiveX Controls to Prompt.
    • Set Run ActiveX Controls and Plug-ins to Prompt.

Some Internet utilities function similar to a firewall and can restrict viewing of ActiveX controls. In some cases, they block Flash Player content. Ensure that firewall or utility settings are set to allow ActiveX controls, Flash Player content, and the website you are visiting.

More like this

Mac won

The safest place to get apps for your Mac is the App Store. Apple reviews each app in the App Store before it’s accepted and signs it to ensure that it hasn’t been tampered with or altered. If there’s ever a problem with an app, Apple can quickly remove it from the store.

If you download and install apps from the internet or directly from a developer, macOS continues to protect your Mac. When you install Mac apps, plug-ins, and installer packages from outside the App Store, macOS checks the Developer ID signature to verify that the software is from an identified developer and that it has not been altered. By default, macOS Catalina also requires software to be notarized, so you can be confident that the software you run on your Mac doesn't contain known malware. Before opening downloaded software for the first time, macOS requests your approval to make sure you aren’t misled into running software you didn’t expect.


Running software that hasn’t been signed and notarized may expose your computer and personal information to malware that can harm your Mac or compromise your privacy.

View the app security settings on your Mac

By default, the security and privacy preferences of your Mac are set to allow apps from the App Store and identified developers. For additional security, you can chose to allow only apps from the App Store.

In System Preferences, click Security & Privacy, then click General. Click the lock and enter your password to make changes. Select App Store under the header “Allow apps downloaded from.”

Open a developer-signed or notarized app

If your Mac is set to allow apps from the App Store and identified developers, the first time that you launch a new app, your Mac asks if you’re sure you want to open it.

An app that has been notarized by Apple indicates that Apple checked it for malicious software and none was detected:

Prior to macOS Catalina, opening an app that hasn't been notarized shows a yellow warning icon and asks if you're sure you want to open it:

If you see a warning message and can’t install an app

If you have set your Mac to allow apps only from the App Store and you try to install an app from elsewhere, your Mac will say that the app can't be opened because it was not downloaded from the App Store.*

If your Mac is set to allow apps from the App Store and identified developers, and you try to install an app that isn’t signed by an identified developer or—in macOS Catalina—notarized by Apple, you also see a warning that the app cannot be opened.

If you see this warning, it means that the app was not notarized, and Apple could not scan the app for known malicious software.

You may want to look for an updated version of the app in the App Store or look for an alternative app.

Mac Won't Allow App To Be Default Password

If macOS detects a malicious app

If macOS detects that an app has malicious content, it will notify you when you try to open it and ask you to move it to the Trash.

How to open an app that hasn’t been notarized or is from an unidentified developer

Running software that hasn’t been signed and notarized may expose your computer and personal information to malware that can harm your Mac or compromise your privacy. If you’re certain that an app you want to install is from a trustworthy source and hasn’t been tampered with, you can temporarily override your Mac security settings to open it.

In macOS Catalina and macOS Mojave, when an app fails to install because it hasn’t been notarized or is from an unidentified developer, it will appear in System Preferences > Security & Privacy, under the General tab. Click Open Anyway to confirm your intent to open or install the app.

The warning prompt reappears, and you can click Open.*

Mac Won't Allow App To Be Default Browser

The app is now 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.

Mac Won't Allow App To Be Default Mode

*If you're prompted to open Finder: control-click the app in Finder, choose Open from the menu, and then click Open in the dialog that appears. Enter your admin name and password to open the app.