Install Software on a Mac
So you've got a Mac, it's got so many cool programs out-of-the-box but you've got to have another program. But how do you install this sweet piece of a software on your Mac? This article gives you the three main ways applications can be installed and how to do it.
Contents
Steps
- Determine what you have. If you have a file ending in dmg you have a disk image. If it ends in zip then you have a compressed file. If it ends in pkg you have a package file. There are other ways of bundling applications but these are the most common.
- Uncompress, mount, or execute the given file. The methods below show how to perform each of the tasks depending on the given file.
- Drag and drop the now exposed application to the Application folder.
Disk Images
Disk images have a .dmg extension and can be mounted as removable drives.
- Double Click on the disk image and it should mount the image and open a new window with its contents.
- A drive appears with your contents. Look through the given files to find the application.
Compressed Files
- Uncompress the file. If you have a file that ends in .zip you only have to double-click on the file and OSX will uncompress it into a new folder.
- Open the new folder to find the application.
Package Files
If an application needs to make changes to the system in order to run (add fonts, preference panes, services, helper modules, etc.) than it may be distributed as a package file, with a .pkg extension.
- Double-click on the package. This will launch an installation wizard for the application. The installation wizard will perform all the necessary tasks to correctly install the application. Once the installation wizard has finished the application will typically be found in the Applications folder, ready to run.
Tips
- Sometimes, though not very often, you may already have the application file. Just move that to the Application folder and it will be installed.
- You have to have administrative rights in order to install programs in the Applications folder. Otherwise you can make a new folder in your home directory and and install the applications there.
- You can install applications to other folders but Spotlight may not index them.
- If you have trouble many times where you got the software will have instructions on how to install their software.
- Sometimes you have to read the manual. If you see a readme file, read it.
- If you install applications to your dock your computer and the application will start and run slower.
Warnings
- There are dangerous applications so always know and trust the source of your applications before you run or install them.
