v2rayN macOS Installation Guide: Fix “Cannot Be Opened,” Unverified Developer, and Network Permissions

1. Choose a macOS installer: ARM64 or x64

On a Mac, choose the macOS installer for v2rayN Desktop—not the Windows WPF edition. Desktop uses a cross-platform UI framework, but executables for different operating systems are not interchangeable. If the filename says WPF or Windows, go back to the download page and choose the correct build.

Check your Mac’s chip under Apple menu → About This Mac. Choose ARM64 if it shows an Apple M-series chip, or x64 if it shows an Intel processor. Check the release notes for the minimum macOS version; matching the processor alone doesn’t guarantee the app will run on an older system.

2. Install from the DMG and launch the app

Copy the app to Applications, then launch it from there. Running it directly from the mounted DMG adds variables when troubleshooting updates, file access, and permissions. If reinstalling, make sure you aren’t opening an older copy from Downloads.

1. Check your chip

   Open Apple menu → About This Mac, note your chip and macOS version, then choose the matching macOS installer from this site’s download center.

2. Copy the app

   Double-click the DMG and drag v2rayN into Applications as instructed by the installer window. Once the copy finishes, eject the disk image. Don’t leave only an app shortcut on your desktop.

3. Launch for the first time

   Open v2rayN from Finder → Applications. If macOS blocks it, note the exact alert, then follow the next section to approve it under Privacy & Security. Don’t keep double-clicking and hoping it works.

4. Import your configuration

   In the client, open Subscription Group → Subscription Group Settings, add the subscription URL from your service provider, and save it. Then use the Subscription Group menu to update. Menu labels may vary by version; follow the labels in your current app.

5. Test the regular proxy first

   Choose a server and test browser access with the system proxy. Once you’ve confirmed the core starts, you can try TUN. For a first install, avoid changing the core, routing, DNS, and traffic capture settings all at once.

A subscription URL provides server configuration; it isn’t an app installer or a place to enter your account password. If no servers appear after importing it, check the subscription response and update logs. If the app opens but the server list is empty, there’s no need to repeat the macOS security approval steps.

3. “Cannot verify developer”: approve the app in macOS settings

“Cannot verify developer” means macOS couldn’t confirm the app under its current security policy. It doesn’t mean macOS has determined that the file is damaged. First check the download source and file type. If you can’t verify where a copy came from, stop and download it again from a trusted source instead of approving it.

On macOS 13 and later, go to Apple menu → System Settings → Privacy & Security. After trying to open the app, look in the Security section for a record of the block and an “Open Anyway” button. Click it, authenticate if prompted, then choose Open in the confirmation dialog.

On older systems, the equivalent setting is System Preferences → Security & Privacy → General. Managed Macs may prevent users from approving apps. Contact your device administrator rather than trying to remove management restrictions.

4. “App is damaged”: download again, then check quarantine attributes

“The app is damaged and can’t be opened” may indicate an incomplete download, a modified app bundle, a signing issue, or macOS quarantine handling. This alert alone doesn’t prove the file on disk is actually damaged, and it isn’t a reason to remove quarantine attributes immediately.

• Check the disk image: If the DMG won’t mount or copying fails, delete that download and download the complete installer again.
• Check which copy you’re opening: Quit the client and launch the new copy from Applications instead of an older app on a mounted disk image.
• Check system requirements: If your macOS version is too old or the architecture doesn’t match, choose a supported build or upgrade macOS. Changing permissions won’t make an unsupported setup compatible.
• Keep the exact error message: Invalid signatures, unverified developers, and malware warnings require different responses. Don’t lump them all together as a permissions problem.

Only consider checking the app’s extended attributes if you’ve verified its source, downloaded it again, and still encounter a quarantine-related block—and you understand the risks. These commands assume the app is located at /Applications/v2rayN.app. If its name or location differs, use the actual path; you can also drag the app from Finder into Terminal to enter its path.

# Read-only check: see whether the app has a download quarantine attribute
xattr -p com.apple.quarantine "/Applications/v2rayN.app"

# Optional: remove the quarantine attribute only from this verified app bundle
xattr -r -d com.apple.quarantine "/Applications/v2rayN.app"

5. System proxy permissions and local port checks

The system proxy routes requests from apps that respect macOS proxy settings through the local client. It doesn’t configure the remote server’s port. Seeing the v2rayN interface doesn’t mean the proxy core is listening successfully, or that every app will use the system proxy.

The examples below use 127.0.0.1:10808; not every version uses the same port. First check the actual local listener settings in v2rayN under Settings → Parameter Settings. Some older configurations use separate HTTP and SOCKS ports, so don’t enter a SOCKS-only port in the HTTP proxy field.

If the proxy settings still aren’t applied after approval, check whether you’re using Wi-Fi or Ethernet and whether device management policies apply. Don’t enable Full Disk Access for this: it isn’t needed to update network proxy settings.

# Check system proxy status without changing settings
scutil --proxy

# Check whether a process is listening on the example port; change it to match your setup
lsof -nP -iTCP:10808 -sTCP:LISTEN

# Test only if this port supports HTTP proxy connections
curl -I --connect-timeout 10 --proxy http://127.0.0.1:10808 https://example.com/

An HTTP response means this request connected through the proxy at least once. A timeout doesn’t necessarily indicate a permissions issue; the node, DNS, or remote connection could also be failing. If the port supports SOCKS, test it with curl -I --connect-timeout 10 --proxy socks5h://127.0.0.1:10808 https://example.com/. With socks5h, the proxy resolves the destination hostname.

6. TUN, network extensions, and local network permissions

TUN and the system proxy are different ways to route traffic. TUN typically uses a virtual network interface, routes, and DNS settings to capture traffic, and may require elevated permissions. The implementation depends on the client version and selected core, so not every TUN startup involves installing a macOS network extension.

• Regular system proxy: First use a browser to confirm the node and core are working. Some apps ignore the system proxy; that doesn’t mean the client failed to install.
• TUN permission prompt: Approve it only when you’ve intentionally enabled TUN and confirmed the request comes from the running client. If it fails, check the logs for permission, virtual interface, or routing errors.
• Approve a network extension: Follow these steps only if your version actually uses a network extension and macOS prompts you. On newer systems, check System Settings → General → Login Items & Extensions → Network Extensions. On other versions, follow the prompt and check Privacy & Security.
• Local network permission: On systems that provide this setting, go to System Settings → Privacy & Security → Local Network and check whether the app is allowed to access your LAN. This permission doesn’t allow all internet connections or replace TUN authorization.

When troubleshooting TUN, quit other tools that are routing traffic, then test with only one traffic capture method enabled. If the system proxy works but TUN doesn’t, check permissions, interfaces, routes, and DNS before reinstalling the client or replacing all your servers. FakeDNS isn’t required for installation and shouldn’t be enabled just to fix an app that won’t open.

7. Verify the installation and restore your settings

After installation, verify the setup with a repeatable test instead of relying only on a “Connected” status. The client interface, proxy core, system traffic routing, and remote server each have a different role, so check them one at a time.

1. App: Launch it from Applications without a security block. Quit and reopen it to confirm you’re using the same copy.
2. Configuration: Confirm the subscription populated the server list and the selected VMess or VLESS profile matches your provider’s requirements. Don’t guess or change protocol, transport, or TLS settings.
3. Core: Check that startup logs show no recurring crashes or listener failures and that the local port belongs to the expected process. Don’t run multiple client instances that compete for the same port.
4. Traffic routing: Test the system proxy first, then TUN separately. Change one setting at a time and note the results before and after.
5. Restore settings: Turn off TUN before quitting, then set the system proxy to “Clear system proxy.” After an unexpected exit, check the Proxies page for your current macOS network service for leftover settings.

If no websites load after you quit the client, macOS may still be pointing to a local port that is no longer listening. Clear the leftover proxy settings and try a direct connection; don’t delete the entire network service. Back up any needed configuration before reinstalling. Before sharing logs, redact subscription URLs, server credentials, and account details.

A practical troubleshooting order is: choose the right build, copy it to your Mac, approve the app individually, confirm the core is listening, check the system proxy, and then address TUN permissions. This helps pinpoint launch problems without confusing them with server connection issues.