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Install guide

How to install Sideme on your Mac

It takes about a minute. The only extra step is allowing Sideme once in System Settings, because it isn't notarized by Apple yet.

Download SidemeGet help
  1. 1

    Download Sideme

    Download Sideme-macOS.dmg and open it from your Downloads folder. Sideme needs macOS 14 Sonoma or later and runs natively on Apple silicon and Intel Macs.

  2. 2

    Drag Sideme to Applications

    In the window that opens, drag Sideme onto the Applications folder. Then eject the disk image. You can delete the .dmg file afterwards.

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  3. 3

    Open it once, then click Done

    Open Sideme from Applications. Because Sideme isn't notarized by Apple yet, macOS stops it the first time. Click Done. Don't choose Move to Trash.

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  4. 4

    Choose Open Anyway in System Settings

    Open System Settings › Privacy & Security and scroll down to Security. Next to “Sideme was blocked to protect your Mac,” click Open Anyway, then confirm with your password or Touch ID. This button appears for about an hour after step 3.

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  5. 5

    Confirm, and you're done

    Click Open Anyway once more. macOS remembers your choice, so Sideme opens normally from now on. When you download a future version, you may need to allow it once more.

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Why does macOS ask?

Apple shows this for apps that aren't notarized, a paid Apple review program for developers. Sideme is code-signed, runs entirely on your Mac, and has no analytics or cloud backend. Notarization is on our roadmap and will remove this step.

Only allow apps you downloaded from a source you trust. Sideme's official downloads come from ballmac.com.

On macOS 14 Sonoma

In Applications, Control-click (or right-click) Sideme, choose Open, then click Open in the dialog. That's all you need; the System Settings step above is for macOS 15 and later.

Prefer Terminal?

After step 2, this removes the download quarantine flag from Sideme so it opens without prompts. It's also the fix if macOS says Sideme “is damaged and can't be opened.” Only use it for apps you trust.

$ xattr -dr com.apple.quarantine /Applications/Sideme.app

Allow direct paste

To paste straight into the app you were using, Sideme needs Accessibility permission. Open Settings › General › Permissions in Sideme and click Open Settings, then turn Sideme on in System Settings › Privacy & Security › Accessibility. Without it, Sideme copies the clip and you press ⌘V yourself.

Uninstalling

If you have Pro, open Settings › License and click Deactivate first, so you can use your key on another Mac. Then quit Sideme and drag it from Applications to the Trash.

Your history stays in ~/Library/Application Support/Sideme (or the Sideme folder in iCloud Drive if you turned on sync). Delete that folder to remove it.

Still stuck? Contact support and tell us your macOS version.