Overview
Newer versions of macOS come equipped with additional security measures in place to prevent the installation of unknown/unauthorized apps, and apps that were downloaded outside of the Apple App Store.
If you experience any issues installing VirtualShield or any other apps on your Mac computer, this article will help you adjust your security settings in order to complete the installation.
This article only applies to macOS 13 (Ventura) or later. On older versions, you can simply download the macOS application from our website.
In this article
Allow Downloads Access
During first installation, if the following security prompt is not approved, the installation will fail as the installer does not have access to the Downloads folder.
If you clicked Don't Allow by mistake, you will need to manually grant access to the Downloads folder from your Privacy & Security settings.
Open your Settings app, it looks like a cog/gear shaped icon.
Navigate to Privacy & Security > Files and Folders.
Click the arrow to the left of Installer which brings up the option to allow access to the Downloads folder. This needs to be toggled on.
If you do not see the Installer under Files and Folders, then navigate to Privacy & Security > Full Disk Access and toggle the Installer here.
That's it! You will now be able to install our macOS application on your computer.
If you have any questions or need assistance, please don't hesitate to contact us.
Bypass Security Settings
If you see this error message when you attempt to install VirtualShield, it means your security preferences only allow installation of apps from the Apple App Store.
Open Finder by clicking the face icon near the bottom of your screen.
You can also press Option + Command + Space on your keyboard.
Select Applications from the Favorites pane on the left-hand side of this window.
Find the VirtualShield application, then Control-click the shield icon and select Open from the popup menu.
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 other app.
Common Questions
Do I need to leave this option turned on?
No, you can turn off access to the Downloads folder again once the installation is complete. It is entirely up to you.
Why can't I find this option on my computer?
This article only applies to computers running macOS 13 (Ventura) or later. This message will not appear on older versions of macOS.