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How to download and install Zed on Mac

Zed is a fast, open-source code editor, and its Mac builds come from Zed’s own website. Here is which build to pick, how to install it and what to set up so it feels like home.

Zed

  • macOS 10.15 or later
  • Apple Silicon and Intel
  • Free, AI plans are paid
Official Zed websitezed.dev ↗

Or the installer straight from the developer’s server:

For Apple Silicon.dmgFor Intel.dmg

The links go to the developer’s website (zed.dev). MacWashing is not affiliated with the developer and keeps no installers.

Open Terminal (Applications › Utilities) and run:

brew install --cask zed

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 version to download

Zed has separate builds for Apple Silicon and Intel Macs. Zed’s download page usually picks the right one. 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 build for Apple Silicon. If you see Processor with Intel, take the one for Intel.

Zed fully supports macOS 12 Monterey and later. On macOS 10.15 and 11 it runs, but screen sharing in Zed’s collaboration doesn’t work. Download Zed only from zed.dev.

How to install Zed

  1. Open the downloaded Zed-aarch64.dmg or Zed-x86_64.dmg in your Downloads folder.
  2. In the window that opens, drag Zed to the Applications folder.
The Zed disk image window: Zed and the Applications folder to drag it to
  1. Eject the Zed disk: click the eject button next to it in the Finder sidebar.
  2. Open Zed from Applications and click Open when macOS asks about an app downloaded from the internet.

After the first install, Zed checks for updates by itself.

What to set up after the first launch

  • Settings from VS Code. During setup, Zed offers to import your main VS Code settings and to use the VS Code keymap. To import later, press Command-Shift-P and run zed: import vs code settings. Extensions and keybindings are not imported.
  • The `zed` command. Press Command-Shift-P and run cli: install cli binary. After that, zed . in Terminal opens the current folder.
  • Signing in. Zed works without an account. Signing in with GitHub is needed only for collaboration and for AI features with Zed as the provider.
  • The installer. Once Zed runs, move the .dmg from Downloads to the Trash.

If Zed won’t install or open

  • «Zed is damaged and can’t be opened». The download was incomplete. Delete the file and download it again from Zed’s website.
  • Zed doesn’t start on an older Mac. Check your macOS version in About This Mac: Zed needs macOS 10.15 or later, and macOS 12 or later for every feature.
  • An old copy gets in the way. Quit Zed, move it from Applications to the Trash and install it again from Zed’s website.

Alternatives to Zed

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Questions and answers

Is Zed free?

Yes. The editor is free and open source, and the free plan includes 2,000 accepted AI edit predictions. Pro costs $10 a month and adds unlimited predictions and $5 of hosted AI use. It comes with a 14-day free trial.

Do I need an account for Zed?

No. You need to sign in only for collaboration and Zed’s hosted AI. Zed isn’t in the Mac App Store: download it from zed.dev or install it with Homebrew.

Does Zed run on Intel Macs?

Yes. Zed has a build for Intel Macs as well as one for Apple Silicon. Take the one that matches your chip.