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Opening SpreadPaper for the first time

macOS warns you the first time you open SpreadPaper, because the project does not have a paid Apple developer signing account yet. Allow it once and it opens normally from then on.

Install

Drag it into Applications

Open the disk image. SpreadPaper sits beside a shortcut to your Applications folder, so drag it across.

Both routes below need the app in Applications, and one of them will only work there.

The SpreadPaper disk image open in Finder, with the SpreadPaper app icon beside a shortcut to the Applications folder, which is what you drag it onto.
The disk image as it opens.

First launch

Open it, and click Done

Open SpreadPaper from Applications. macOS shows the warning beside this.

Click Done. Move to Trash is the blue default button, so it is the one your eye lands on. It deletes the app you just downloaded.

The macOS warning dialog, titled "SpreadPaper.app" Not Opened, reading: Apple could not verify "SpreadPaper.app" is free of malware that may harm your Mac or compromise your privacy. Move to Trash is the highlighted default button, with Done below it.

Allow it

Allow it, either way

Two routes do the same thing. Take whichever you would rather.

In System Settings

  1. Open System Settings, then Privacy and Security.
  2. Scroll to Security.
  3. Click Open Anyway beside SpreadPaper.
  4. Enter your login password.

The button appears once macOS has blocked a launch, and stays for about an hour. If it is missing, open SpreadPaper again and click Done on the warning.

Or clear the flag in Terminal

One line, before you open the app. It clears the quarantine flag macOS attached on download, so the warning never appears.

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

SpreadPaper opens straight away, with no warning.

Keep the app in Applications under its own name so the path matches.

The Security section of System Settings, Privacy and Security, reading: "SpreadPaper.app" was blocked to protect your Mac, with an Open Anyway button beside it.

Questions, problems and ideas

Ask for what you need and it gets looked at. Bugs and ideas go to the same place.

Open an issue on GitHub

Reporting a bug? Include your macOS version, from System Settings, General, About, and your SpreadPaper version, from the app's About window.

Prefer email? hello@spreadpaper.app reaches the same person.

Requirements

macOS
15.0 Sequoia or later
Mac
Intel or Apple silicon
Displays
Any number, any arrangement
Account
None