This is a friendly quick-start guide for Macs running macOS 14 or later. Current SlideScope builds are signed and notarized, so the normal install is: choose the Apple Silicon or Intel build, open the DMG, drag SlideScope into Applications, launch it, and click Open on the first macOS confirmation.
SlideScope requires macOS 14 or later. Choose the Apple Silicon build for M1, M2, M3, or M4 Macs, or the Intel build for an Intel-based Mac. The screenshots below show the browser download, drag-to-Applications window, and first launch confirmation.
If you are not sure which Mac download to pick, click the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen and choose About This Mac.
After that, return to the download section and select the matching Mac type.
Open the SlideScope download section, choose the Mac build that matches your computer, and click Download for Mac. If you received a download email, that link works too.
When the browser shows the SlideScope DMG is done downloading, click the downloaded file. You can also open it later from your Downloads folder.
The installer window opens after the DMG launches. Drag the SlideScope icon onto the Applications folder, then wait for the copy to finish.
After SlideScope is copied to Applications, open it from there. A quick way is to press Command-Space, type SlideScope, and choose the SlideScope app listed under Applications.
The first time you launch SlideScope, macOS may say the app was downloaded from the Internet. Click Open. This is the expected confirmation for a signed app downloaded outside the App Store.
If macOS shows a stronger warning instead of the blue Open button, open System Settings → Privacy & Security. Near the SlideScope warning, click Open Anyway.
macOS may ask you one more time if you want to open SlideScope. Click Open Anyway. If Apple asks for approval, use Touch ID or enter an administrator password to finish.
After clicking Open, or after the fallback approval if your Mac needed it, SlideScope opens normally. From there you can start loading microscopy files right away.
Try opening SlideScope once from Applications first. After macOS blocks it, return to System Settings → Privacy & Security and the button should appear near the warning.
That is normal on some Macs. Use an administrator password or Touch ID to approve the app the first time.
Yes. Email support@slidescope.science and include a screenshot of what you see on your Mac.
Download the macOS build, then come back here if you want a calm step-by-step install walkthrough.