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How to download and install Positron on Mac

Positron is a free data science IDE for Python and R from Posit, the makers of RStudio, built on the same open-source base as VS Code. Here is which file to take from Posit’s site, how to install it and how to connect Python or R.

Positron

  • macOS 12 or later
  • Apple Silicon and Intel
  • Free
Official Positron websitepositron.posit.co ↗

Or the installer straight from the developer’s server:

For Apple Silicon.dmgFor Intel.dmg

The links go to the developer’s website (positron.posit.co, cdn.posit.co). MacWashing is not affiliated with the developer and keeps no installers.

Open Terminal (Applications › Utilities) and run:

brew install --cask positron

Homebrew downloads the app from the developer’s server, checks the file and puts the app in Applications.

No Homebrew yet? How to install Homebrew: one command from brew.sh.

Which file to download

Posit’s download page usually suggests the right file. Under macOS there are two .dmg files of about 1 GB each, one for Apple Silicon and one for Intel. To check your chip yourself:

  1. Choose Apple menu › About This Mac.
  2. If you see Chip with Apple M1, M2 or later, take the file for Apple Silicon (arm64). If you see Processor with Intel, take the one for Intel (x64).

The current Positron needs macOS 12 Monterey or later. Download it only from positron.posit.co.

How to install Positron

  1. Open the downloaded Positron-….dmg in your Downloads folder.
  2. In the window that opens, drag Positron to the Applications folder and wait for the copy to finish: the app is large.
The Positron disk image window: Positron and the Applications folder to drag it to
  1. Eject the Positron disk: click the eject button next to it in the Finder sidebar.
  2. Open Positron from Applications and click Open when macOS asks about an app downloaded from the internet.

What to set up after the first launch

Positron runs without any language installed, but you need Python or R to work with data:

  • Python. Positron finds Python installed with venv, uv, pyenv or conda, and can install a Python for you if none is found. See how to install Python on Mac.
  • R. Positron needs R 4.2 or later, which comes from CRAN. Positron doesn’t include it. The RStudio guide shows how to install R.
  • Updates. Positron checks for updates by itself once it is installed.
  • The installer. Move the .dmg from Downloads to the Trash once Positron runs: it takes about 1 GB.

If Positron won’t install or open

  • «Positron is damaged and can’t be opened». The download was incomplete. Delete it and download it again from Posit’s site.
  • Positron doesn’t start on an older Mac. Check your macOS version in About This Mac: the current version needs macOS 12 or later.
  • Positron doesn’t see R or Python. Install the language first, then restart Positron so it finds it.

Alternatives to Positron

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Questions and answers

Is Positron free?

Yes. Positron is free to download and use. By downloading it you accept Posit’s license agreement. Posit also offers Positron Pro on its paid Workbench platform for companies.

Is Positron in the Mac App Store?

No. Download Positron from Posit’s site or install it with Homebrew.

Does Positron replace RStudio?

Not necessarily. RStudio is still developed. Positron is Posit’s newer IDE for both Python and R, and you can keep both on one Mac.