Removing an application from the Gatekeeper approval list is just as easy, simply switch out the –add flag with –remove, the syntax is otherwise the same:Īgain, you can prefix the command with sudo if desired, otherwise the familiar admin authentication pop-up will appear in Mac OS X to complete the removal of the application from Gatekeepers authorization list. Remove an Applications Gatekeeper Exception with spctl in Mac OS X You’ll need to enter an administrator password to approve the application with Gatekeeper, otherwise you can prefix the command with sudo if you’re performing this from SSH or want to automate the process. The following syntax style is appropriate:įor example, to add approval for the imaginary application called “GooseRoute” that resides in the users downloads folder, the syntax string would look like the following: To add an application to Gatekeepers exceptions and approved application launch list, use the –add flag with spctl to approve an application launch. Add an Application to Gatekeeper Approval from the Command Line in Mac OS X We’ll turn to the spctl command to achieve the desired effect here, which, as we’ve discussed before, users can also interact with to enable and disable Gatekeeper from Terminal.

This is great for advanced users who want to script or automate application approvals, but it can also be helpful for remote administration and in other situations as well.

Mac terminal commands for developers