How to Properly Download Software on Mac Updated

How to Properly Download Software on Mac

If you're switching to macOS from Windows, you might be confused about installing software. Sure, there's the Mac App Store, but not everything is in in that location.

If you lot expect for apps outside the store, you'll observe different kinds of installers: DMG files with apps in them, PKG installers, and simple applications inside ZIP archives. It tin seem overwhelming, simply it's relatively straightforward once you become the hang of it. Hither's how to install software on your Mac, from the App Shop and across, and why all these different methods exist.

Mac App Store: Click a Button to Install an App

We're all used to app stores on our phones, only on the desktop they remain an oddity. Yet, the Mac App Shop is a decent first identify to check. Open up the shop, search for the app you want, and click "Get" then "Download."

Your awarding will download and show up in your "Applications" folder. Updates are all handled by the shop, which is user-friendly, and whatever awarding you buy on ane Mac will piece of work on another. There are all kinds of upsides here.

Still, you lot probably won't install all of your software this way, because the App Shopdoesn't accept all the applications you want. There are several reasons for this. First: apps from the Store aresandboxed, which is great for security, but limits what applications can do. Pretty much whatever awarding that customizes macOS can't run in a sandbox, which is why yous'll take to look elsewhere for tools like Dropbox, which past definition need to work outside the sandbox in order to function properly.

There'south also the matter of money. Apple gets a cut of all sales in the Mac App Store, and companies similar Microsoft and Adobe don't like that, which is why Microsoft Office and Adobe Creative Suite won't be in the Store someday soon. Fifty-fifty some smaller companies avoid the Mac App Shop for this reason.

Nosotros could continue, but needless to say non everything you want volition exist in the App Store.

DMGs and Other Archives: Just Drag and Drop

Near macOS applications downloaded from outside the shop come inside a DMG file. Double-click the DMG file to open it, and yous'll run into a Finder window. Oftentimes these will include the application itself, some form of arrow, and a shortcut to the Applications folder.

Simply drag the awarding's icon to your Applications binder and y'all're done: the software is now installed. It'due south so simple it confuses some people—surely there must be more to it than that? At that place isn't: dragging the awarding to your Applications folder is the entire process.

You don'thave to put your programs in the Applications binder, though: they'll run from anywhere. Some people create a "Games" directory, to keep games split from other applications. Only Applications is the most convenient place to put things, so nosotros suggest you lot just put everything at that place.

DMG files are mounted by your system, like a sort of virtual hard drive. When you're done installing the application, it's a good idea to unmount the DMG in Finder when you're done installing: merely click the "Eject" arrow.

And then you can feel complimentary to delete the original DMG file: y'all don't need it anymore.

Other Archive Files, and Loose Application Icons

Occasionally, applications will come in Cipher, RAR, or 7Zip athenaeum instead of the standard DMG. In these cases, you lot need to open up the archive.

ZIP files open fine out of the box, but you'll need something likeThe Unarchiver in social club toopen RAR and 7Zip athenaeum on macOS. In one case yous open the archive, you'll see the Application icon announced in the same folder.

Just drag this icon to your Applications binder and you're done.

Some applications don't come in whatsoever sort of archive at all; instead, you'll download the application file direct. In these cases, only elevate the icon to Applications in order to install information technology.

PKG Installers: Installation Wizards Like On Windows

Every once and a while you lot'll come across a PKG file. Sometimes this will be within a DMG; sometimes you will download it direct. In all cases, you lot need to double-click the PKG file to run it instead of dragging it somewhere. You lot'll come across an interface not that different from Windows installation wizards.

These sorts of installers can do things the drag and drop installers tin't do, like installing system services and putting files elsewhere on the estimator. When y'all're done installing the app, you tin can delete the PKG file and any DMG file it came in (after ejecting it, of form).

How to Bypass Gatekeeper and Run Applications From Unidentified Developers

By default, your Mac won't open whatever software fabricated past "unidentified developers". This is a security feature called "Gatekeeper", intended to stop the spread of malware and other unwanted software, but every once and a while a plan you want to run fall into this category, showing you a message like saying your programme "can't be opened because it is from an unidentified developer."

If you lot're admittedly certain the application in question is trustworthy, you tinopen apps from unauthorized developers by property Choice, right-clicking the application, and clicking "Open." You can too disable Gatekeeper entirely, if you so choose.

To disable Gatekeeper, open the System Preferences window—click the Apple tree icon at the superlative-left corner of your screen or click the Organisation Preferences icon on your dock—and click the Security & Privacy icon. Click the lock icon, enter your password, and set the "Allow apps downloaded from" option to "Anywhere." This will reduce your security equally it allows unsigned apps to run, so exist sure you lot know what you're doing if yous utilise this option.

Steam and Other Third Party App Stores

The Mac App Store isn't the only app shop out there for the Mac. Gamers are no uncertainty familar withSteam, and it offers a Mac version capable of installing any game supported on macOS. Installing software works the same every bit on Windows systems.

At that place are few other notable app stores out at that place.Setapp offers unlimited admission to dozens of pop Mac applications for $10 a month. Installing is dead unproblematic, but you'd have to desire a lot of the applications offered for that price point to be worthwhile. At that place's alsoHomebrew, which lets yousinstall costless command line software chop-chop the way you lot tin can on Linux systems.

None of these tools can completely replace the other methods of installing Mac software, but they're all worth knowing about.