Why does Windows or macOS show a security warning?

When you open Tegra for the first time, Windows or macOS may say that the app comes from an unknown publisher or developer.

In simple terms, the operating system does not recognize Tegra as coming from a developer registered and verified by Microsoft or Apple. This does not automatically mean that the file contains a virus, but you should confirm that you downloaded the official copy before continuing.

Why is Tegra not recognized yet?

To remove or reduce these warnings, I need to pay for services that verify my identity as a developer and allow me to sign every version of the app.

On Windows, the installer does not yet have a recognized public certificate. SmartScreen may therefore display “Windows protected your PC” or “Unknown publisher.”
On macOS, Tegra is not yet part of Apple’s paid developer program. The app only has the technical signature it needs to work, which does not confirm my identity to Apple. The system may therefore say that it cannot verify the developer.

The warning appears because this paid identification is missing. It does not mean that the operating system has found a specific threat in Tegra.

A personal explanation

Tegra is an independent project that I develop and maintain myself. For now, I have decided not to purchase these signing services because their annual cost is still high for the project’s current size. I would rather direct that budget toward keeping the infrastructure running and continuing to improve the launcher.

Here are some current reference prices:

Platform and option	Annual reference price	Note
macOS with the Apple Developer Program	US$99.00	Allows the app to be signed and submitted for Apple’s checks.
Windows with Microsoft Artifact Signing Basic	US$119.88	Equivalent to US$9.99 per month, but public signing is not currently available to individual developers in Brazil.
Windows with a commercial SSL.com example	about US$309.00	US$129 for the certificate plus US$15 per month for its cloud signing service.

Using Apple and the commercial Windows example would cost approximately US$408 per year, before taxes and currency conversion. These prices were checked on August 29, 2026, and may change.

This does not mean that Tegra will never be signed. I can revisit the decision as the project grows and the cost becomes sustainable.

How to download it safely

Download Tegra only from the official page. Do not use reuploads, URL shorteners, or installers sent by third parties.
Make sure you selected the correct operating system and architecture.
For an additional check, compare the file’s SHA-512 checksum with the value shown on the page after the download starts.

The checksum works like a fingerprint for the file. If the values match, you received exactly the same file that was published on the website. If they differ, delete the file and download it again.

Additional checksum verification

This step is optional and a little more technical.

On Windows, open PowerShell and replace the file name with the installer you downloaded:

[Convert]::ToBase64String(([Security.Cryptography.SHA512]::Create()).ComputeHash([IO.File]::ReadAllBytes("$HOME\Downloads\Tegra-Windows-...-Setup.exe")))

On macOS, open Terminal and replace the file name with the downloaded file:

openssl dgst -sha512 -binary "$HOME/Downloads/Tegra-Mac-...-Installer.dmg" | openssl base64 -A

The result must exactly match the checksum displayed on the website, including every letter, number, and symbol.

How to open it on Windows

After confirming that the file came from the official website:

In the Microsoft Defender SmartScreen window, click More info.
Check the application and file name again.
Click Run anyway to start the installer.

You do not need to disable SmartScreen or your antivirus software.

How to open it on macOS

After confirming that the file came from the official website:

Try to open Tegra from Applications, then dismiss the warning.
Open System Settings › Privacy & Security.
Under Security, click Open Anyway next to the message about Tegra.
Confirm by clicking Open.

If the button does not appear, follow the instructions and Terminal alternative in Install Tegra on macOS.

When you should not continue

Delete the file and do not run it if:

it did not come from tegramc.com;
its checksum does not match the published value;
your antivirus identifies a specific threat rather than only an unknown publisher or an app without reputation;
the installer asks for unexpected actions, such as permanently disabling system protections;
the warning differs from the cases described on this page.

If you are still unsure, send a screenshot of the warning and the exact file name by following how to report a problem.