Mac OS 11 Upgrade. Mac users who upgrade to the latest version of macOS 11 (Big Sur) should uninstall the Pulse Secure client prior to the upgrade and then install the latest version available after the macOS upgrade is complete. Keybase is for keeping everyone's chats and files safe, from families to communities to companies. MacOS, Windows, Linux, iPhone, and Android.

This article covers how students, faculty, and staff install the Pulse Secure VPN client on Mac OS X 10.13 or macOS 10.14 and higher.

If you need assistance or if you are not running MacOS 10.13 or higher, submit a support ticket to the Technology Support Center.

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Mac OS 11 Upgrade

Mac users who upgrade to the latest version of macOS 11 (Big Sur) should uninstall the Pulse Secure client prior to the upgrade and then install the latest version available after the macOS upgrade is complete. Use the 'Simple Removal' instructions on the Removing the Pulse Secure Desktop Client guide.

If you upgrade to macOS 11 (Big Sur) ) with a version of Pulse Secure older than 9.1.9 installed it can cause a Mac running Big Sur to crash and restart 4-5 times before recovering.

  1. Download the Pulse Secure Desktop client for Mac OS 11.
  2. Click on the file to extract the installer.
  3. Double click on the pkg file to initiate the install process.
  4. Once the installer begins, click Continue.
  5. Click Install to begin the installation.


You may encounter several popups during and after the install process when attempting to connect to the UConn network.

System Extension AND Network Content Filtering:

This prompt below will pop up after installation (If your Mac is managed by ITS you will not see this pop up).


  1. Click Ok
  2. Click the lock in the bottom left corner to make changes (You will be prompted for your user password).
  3. Click Allow


Filter Network Content:

This prompt will popup during the connection process the first time press Allow; if you do not press Allow the VPN will not work correctly.

If you don't press anything or if you press Don't Allow you will soon see this popup:

Press Retry and then press Allow when the popup pictured above re-appears.

  1. Download the Pulse Secure Desktop client for Mac OS.
  2. Click on the file to extract the installer.
  3. Double click on the pkg file to initiate the install process.
  4. Review the following warning, select 'OK'
  5. Click on the Apple icon in the top-left of your screen. Choose System Preferences > Security & Privacy > General
  6. Find the warning 'PulseSecure.pkg' was blocked from use because it is not from an identified developer.' Select 'Open Anyway'
  7. Review the following warning, select 'Open'.
  8. Run through the installation process.
  1. Download the Pulse Secure Desktop client for Mac OS X.
  2. Click on the file to extract the installer.
  3. Double click on the pkg file to initiate the install process.
  4. Once the installer begins, click Continue.
  5. Click Install to begin the installation.
  6. During the installation process you should expect to see several pop-up messages informing you of security steps that need to be taken to complete the install.
    1. Click OK on the first two messages.
    2. Click 'Open Security Preferences' in the third message to open up the 'Security & Privacy' settings window.
  7. Once the Security & Privacy window has opened, look for the following message: System software from developer 'Pulse Secure LLC' was blocked from loading.
  8. Next to the message, click Allow to enable the extension.

  9. If you do not receive the above mentioned pop-up messages, you will need to manually permit the Pulse Secure Client the required access.

    If you wait longer than 30 minutes to complete this process, you will need to uninstall and reinstall the client and then follow this process again.
    1. To manually permit access to the client,
      1. Click the Apple menu at the top left of your desktop.
      2. Click System Preferences.
      3. Click Security & Privacy.
      4. Click the lock to make changes.
      5. Click the General tab.
      6. Under Allow apps downloaded from, select App Store and identified developers
      7. Look for the following message: System software from developer 'Pulse Secure LLC' was blocked from loading.
      8. Next to the message, click Allow to enable the extension.
  10. Close the Security & Privacy window. The kernel extension will have been authorized and full functionality of the Pulse Desktop client should be available.

Configuring the Pulse Secure VPN Client after installation is complete

  1. Open the Pulse Secure client, which should be shown at the top right corner of the screen.
  2. Create a new connection using the + in the bottom left corner.
  3. Enter the following info:
    • Connection name of your choosing
    • The server URL, vpn.uconn.edu
  4. Click Add.
  5. Close the client.
  6. To start the VPN session, go back to the Pulse Secure client in the top right corner of the screen.
    1. Select the connection you created.
    2. Select Connect.
  7. When prompted for a username and password, enter your NetID and NetID password.
  8. When attempting to connect, you may receive the following prompt. Select 'Open Security Preferences'.
  9. Within 'Security Preferences', select the lock on the bottom left corner. Once unlocked, select Allow, for the system to allow Pulse Secure to load.
  10. Once you receive this prompt, select Allow to allow Pulse to operate. After this, you should be all set to connect via Pulse Secure.

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