BirdDog Knowledge Base · Cam Control
Cam Control for macOS: approving the application on first launch
macOS blocks Cam Control the first time it is opened and reports that Apple could not verify the application. The application must be approved once in System Settings before it will run.
- Product
- Cam Control 6.x
- Platform
- macOS 15 and later
- Permissions
- Local administrator
- Last reviewed
- 14 Sep 2026
Symptom
Double-clicking the Cam Control application does not launch it. macOS displays a dialog titled “CamControl” Not Opened, stating that Apple could not verify the application is free of malware. The only available buttons are Move to Trash and Done.
Cause
macOS Gatekeeper verifies an application the first time it runs. Applications distributed outside the Mac App Store whose signature cannot be verified are blocked until the user approves them explicitly. The message does not indicate that the download is incomplete or corrupt.
In macOS 15 Sequoia, Apple removed the Control-click override that previously allowed an application to be opened from Finder. Approval must now be granted in System Settings.
Before you begin
- Confirm the application was obtained from birddog.tv or an authorised BirdDog reseller. If the origin of the file is unknown, delete it and download Cam Control again.
- An administrator account on the Mac is required. On Macs enrolled in an MDM solution, the approval may need to be performed by the organisation’s IT administrator.
- Where possible, move Cam Control to the Applications folder before approving it. Approving the application in one location and then moving it can cause the prompt to reappear.
Resolution
Attempt to open Cam Control, then dismiss the dialog
Double-click the application in Finder. When the dialog appears, click Done. Do not click Move to Trash. The launch attempt is required to register the application for approval.
Open Privacy & Security in System Settings
Select Apple menu → System Settings, click Privacy & Security in the sidebar, and scroll to the Security section at the bottom of the pane.
Click Open Anyway
The Security section displays a line indicating that CamControl was blocked. Click Open Anyway.
Allow applications from should remain set to App Store & Known Developers. Approving an individual application does not modify this setting. Note: macOS retains the entry for approximately one hour after a launch attempt. If Cam Control is not listed, repeat step 1 and return to this pane.
Confirm the prompt
A confirmation dialog appears. Click Open Anyway.
Move to Trash is the default button in this dialog. Select Open Anyway directly rather than pressing Return. Authenticate
Enter the user name and password of an administrator account on the Mac and click OK. Touch ID may be used where it is configured. These are macOS credentials, not BirdDog account credentials.
Cam Control launches
The application opens and cameras can be selected. The approval is retained, and subsequent launches proceed without a prompt or password.
Cam Control 6.0 running after approval.
Expected behaviour after approval
- macOS may separately request permission for Cam Control to find devices on the local network. This permission is required for camera discovery over NDI and should be allowed.
- Each Cam Control release is verified independently, so the approval process is repeated once after each update.
- Moving the approved application to a different location may cause macOS to request approval again.
Troubleshooting
| Condition | Action |
|---|---|
| Cam Control does not appear in the Security section | Repeat the launch attempt to refresh the entry. If the entry still does not appear, the Mac is likely managed by an MDM profile that suppresses user approvals. The application must then be allowed by the IT administrator. |
| macOS reports that the application is damaged | This is a separate condition, usually caused by an incomplete download or by expanding the archive with a third-party utility. Delete the file, download Cam Control again from birddog.tv, and expand it using the built-in Archive Utility. |
| Cam Control launches but no cameras are detected | Unrelated to Gatekeeper approval. Verify that the Mac and the cameras are on the same subnet, that local network permission has been granted, and that camera firmware is current. |
Setting Allow applications from to Anywhere, or disabling Gatekeeper from Terminal, is not required and is not recommended. Both apply to every application on the Mac.
If the issue persists, contact BirdDog Support and include the macOS version and the Cam Control version in use.