How to fix git cannot be opened because the developer cannot be verified in Git

The easiest fix is to approve Git through macOS Security settings:

1. When you see the "developer cannot be verified" dialog, click Cancel (not "Move to Trash")

2. Open System Settings (or System Preferences on older macOS):

open "x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.security"

3. Go to Privacy & Security

4. Scroll down to the Security section. You should see a message saying:
> "git" was blocked from use because it is not from an identified developer.

5. Click Open Anyway

6. Enter your administrator password when prompted

7. A new dialog will appear - click Open to confirm

Git should now work without the warning. This approval is remembered permanently.

macOS adds a quarantine flag to downloaded files. Removing it allows Git to run:

# First, find where Git is installed
which git
# Common locations:
# /usr/local/bin/git
# /opt/homebrew/bin/git (Apple Silicon Macs)
# /usr/bin/git (Xcode Command Line Tools)

# Remove quarantine attribute (replace path with your git location)
sudo xattr -rd com.apple.quarantine /usr/local/bin/git

# If Git is a complete application bundle
sudo xattr -rd com.apple.quarantine /Applications/Git.app

# For Homebrew installations on Apple Silicon
sudo xattr -rd com.apple.quarantine /opt/homebrew/bin/git

The -r flag applies recursively to all files in a directory, and -d deletes the attribute. After running this command, Git should execute without the Gatekeeper warning.

The most reliable solution is to install Git via Homebrew, which properly signs and handles macOS security:

# Install Homebrew if you don't have it
/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"

# Remove any existing problematic Git installation
# (Skip if Git is the Xcode version at /usr/bin/git)
sudo rm -rf /usr/local/git

# Install Git via Homebrew
brew install git

# Verify installation
git --version
which git

Homebrew-installed Git is typically located at:
- Intel Macs: /usr/local/bin/git
- Apple Silicon Macs: /opt/homebrew/bin/git

Make sure Homebrew's bin directory is in your PATH (Homebrew will provide instructions during installation).

Apple provides a signed and notarized version of Git through Xcode Command Line Tools:

# Install Xcode Command Line Tools (includes Git)
xcode-select --install

# A dialog will appear - click "Install" and accept the license

# After installation, verify Git is available
git --version
# Should show something like: git version 2.39.2 (Apple Git-143)

# Check the path
which git
# Should show: /usr/bin/git

The Apple-provided Git at /usr/bin/git is always trusted by Gatekeeper. While it may not be the absolute latest version, it's reliable and requires no additional security approvals.

If you're using a Git GUI application (like GitKraken, Sourcetree, or Fork), use the right-click method:

1. Find the Git application in Finder (usually in /Applications)

2. Control-click (or right-click) on the application

3. Select Open from the context menu

4. In the dialog that appears, click Open

This bypasses Gatekeeper for that specific app. Unlike double-clicking, the right-click method gives you the option to override the security check.

For command-line Git that's part of an app bundle:

# Control-click method via Terminal
open /Applications/YourGitApp.app
# Then click Open in the dialog

You can adjust which apps macOS allows:

# Check current Gatekeeper status
spctl --status
# Output: assessments enabled (Gatekeeper is active)

# View security assessment for Git
spctl -a -v /usr/local/bin/git

Modify allowed sources in System Settings:
1. Open System Settings > Privacy & Security
2. Under "Allow applications downloaded from:", select:
- App Store and identified developers (recommended)
- App Store (most restrictive - may cause Git issues)

Note: The "Anywhere" option that existed in older macOS versions is no longer available in the GUI. You can enable it via Terminal, but this significantly reduces security:

# NOT RECOMMENDED - disables Gatekeeper entirely
sudo spctl --master-disable

# To re-enable Gatekeeper
sudo spctl --master-enable

Only disable Gatekeeper if absolutely necessary and re-enable it immediately after.