30 seconds one-time setup

Opening an app from the web.

Our apps come straight from this website instead of the Mac App Store, so the first time you open one, macOS asks you to confirm. After that it opens like any other app.

Option 1 · System Settings

Buy, download and drag to Applications

Buy the app on its page — your license key arrives by email. Then use the page’s Already bought? Download link, open the .dmg and drag the app onto the Applications folder.

See all apps.

Open it once

Double-click the app in Applications. macOS shows a message that it can’t verify the developer. Click Done (or OK).

Allow it in Privacy & Security

Open System Settings → Privacy & Security, scroll down to Security, and click Open Anyway next to the app’s name. Confirm with your password or Touch ID.

Enter your license key

The first time the app opens it asks for your license key. Paste the key from your email and click Activate. Moving to a new Mac later? Choose Deactivate this Mac in the app first.

That’s it

From now on the app launches normally. Some apps ask for a permission they need — for example Nook asks for your folders, Reelcast for screen recording, Utter for the microphone. Each one explains why first.

Option 2 · One line in Terminal

Downloads, installs to Applications and opens the app — no prompts. Paste into Terminal:

curl -fsSL https://newmac.app/install.sh | bash -s nook

Replace nook with the app you want: devsweep, clipnest, reelcast, transmute, folio, utter, ribbon, mailcellar, nightwatch, shareline or mantel.

Already downloaded the app? This removes the “downloaded from the internet” flag so it opens straight away:

xattr -dr com.apple.quarantine /Applications/Nook.app

Use the app’s name in place of Nook.

Why does macOS ask? Apps from the Mac App Store, or signed with a paid Apple developer certificate, skip this step. Ours are signed locally instead, so macOS asks you to confirm once. The apps run on your Mac and don’t need an account. They contact the internet only to check your license with Dodo Payments (when you activate, about once a week, and when you deactivate), to check newmac.app for updates, and to reach services you set up yourself, such as your mail server in Mailcellar or your file servers in Shareline. Privacy policy.

Troubleshooting

I don’t see “Open Anyway”

Try to open the app once first — the button only appears for about an hour after macOS blocked it. Then go back to System Settings → Privacy & Security.

“The app is damaged and can’t be opened”

That’s the same quarantine check with a scarier message. Run xattr -dr com.apple.quarantine /Applications/Nook.app (or DevSweep.app) in Terminal, then open it again.

Nook doesn’t show files from Desktop or Documents

Open System Settings → Privacy & Security → Files and Folders, and turn on Desktop, Documents and Downloads for Nook. For the most complete view, add Nook under Full Disk Access.

Where is my license key?

In the email you received right after paying. If you can’t find it, check your spam or promotions folder for the receipt.

I got a new Mac. How do I move my license?

On the old Mac, choose “Deactivate this Mac” in the app, then enter the same key on the new Mac. Need more Macs at once? Each app also comes in 3-Mac and 5-Mac plans.

How do I update?

Updates are free. The apps download new versions in the background and install them when you quit. You can also download the latest version from the app’s page and replace the old app in Applications — your settings and license are kept.

How do I uninstall?

Drag the app from Applications to the Trash. To remove its saved index too, delete ~/Library/Application Support/Nook.