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How to download and install Blender on Mac

Blender, the free 3D creation suite, comes from blender.org. Current versions run only on Apple Silicon Macs, so here is which version fits your Mac, how to install it and what to set up after the first launch.

Blender

  • macOS 13 or later
  • Apple Silicon only
  • Free, open source
Official Blender websiteblender.org ↗

Or the installer straight from the developer’s server:

For Apple Silicon.dmgFor Intel.dmg

The links go to the developer’s website (blender.org, download.blender.org). MacWashing is not affiliated with the developer and keeps no installers.

Open Terminal (Applications › Utilities) and run:

brew install --cask blender

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

Blender 5 and later need a Mac with Apple Silicon, macOS 13 Ventura or later and at least 8 GB of memory (32 GB recommended). To check your Mac:

  1. Choose Apple menu › About This Mac.
  2. If you see Chip with Apple M1, M2 or later, download the current Blender for Apple Silicon. If you see Processor with Intel, you need Blender 4.5 LTS.

Blender 4.5 LTS is the last version for Intel Macs. It needs macOS 11.2 or later and is on blender.org in the LTS section. Download Blender only from blender.org: copies from other sites may come with extra software.

How to install Blender

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

What to set up after the first launch

  • Quick setup. On the first launch the splash screen asks for your language, shortcut style and theme. You can change them later in Blender’s preferences.
  • Settings from an older version. Each Blender version keeps its own settings in ~/Library/Application Support/Blender. After an update, the splash screen offers to load the settings of the previous version.
  • Disk space. Renders, baked simulations and caches can take gigabytes. Keep projects in one folder and delete the caches and renders you no longer need.
  • The installer. Move the .dmg from Downloads to the Trash once Blender runs: it takes over 300 MB.

If Blender won’t install or open

  • «Blender is damaged and can’t be opened». The download was incomplete. Delete it and download it again from blender.org.
  • Blender doesn’t start on an Intel Mac. Current versions are for Apple Silicon only. Delete it and install Blender 4.5 LTS instead.
  • Blender doesn’t start on an older Mac. Check your macOS version in About This Mac: Blender 5 and later need macOS 13 or later.

Keep your Mac tidy

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System Junk in MacWashing finds the caches apps build up over time and shows how much space they take. And if you decide to remove Blender, the Uninstaller takes its files with it.

Download MacWashingHow it works

Free trial · macOS 14 or later

Questions and answers

Is Blender free?

Yes. Blender is free and open source, for any purpose, commercial work included. The Blender Foundation accepts donations through its Development Fund.

Is Blender in the Mac App Store?

No. Blender comes from blender.org. The Blender Foundation also publishes it on Steam, and you can install it with Homebrew.

Can I run Blender on an Intel Mac?

Yes, Blender 4.5 LTS: it is the last version for Intel Macs and keeps getting fixes during its long-term support. Blender 5 and later run only on Apple Silicon.