How to install QGIS on Mac

One of the best user-friendly options for Mac users who want to run GIS software natively is QGIS.

What is QGIS?

QGIS is an open-source GIS software package that can be freely installed on a variety of computer operating systems, including Mac OS.

Anita Graser provides an overview of the QGIS ecosystem, which includes a desktop GIS component, cloud hosting, and a mobile app. QGIS offers compatibility with a variety of vector and raster GIS file types (such as shapefiles, KML, and GeoTIFF), so it works well for those who need to migrate back and forth between other GIS platforms and maps. For more information on QGIS, see Getting Started with QGIS.

Check the minimum requirements for your computer

Before downloading QGIS, make sure your Mac meets the minimum system requirements. QGIS runs efficiently on macOS 10.13 (High Sierra) and later. You will need at least 4 GB of RAM (8 GB recommended) and enough hard drive space for installation and data storage.

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Installing QGIS on Mac

Installing QGIS on Mac requires a few specific steps due to the architecture of macOS. Apple uses Gatekeeper to determine the risk of newly installed applications on your Mac OS computer.

Since QGIS is not part of the App Store, you will need to override the security settings on your computer. Follow the steps below to successfully install and run QGIS on your Mac.

QGIS download

To install QGIS on your Mac, the first thing you need to do is visit the QGIS download page and download a copy of the QGIS installer. The download page provides access to the required installers and the QGIS download link for various operating systems: Windows, Mac, Linux, BSD and Android.

When you visit the download page, you will need to decide which version of QGIS you will install on your computer.

There are always two options: the latest version of QGIS and the so-called LTR version. LTR stands for long term release. These LTR releases are versions of QGIS software that are intended to be more stable and better supported over a longer period of time than regular releases.

The latest version will include more new features and improvements than the LTR version. However, the newer version may contain more bugs and instabilities compared to the LTR version.

Installing QGIS on Mac

Installation is quite simple. Once you have selected the version of QGIS you want to keep, click the link and select the location on your computer where you want to save the .dmg file.

Locate the downloaded .dmg file on your computer and double-click to start the installation process. Once Mac OS has verified the installation, the license agreement interface will appear.

QGIS relies on several open-source packages and libraries to function properly, which are often included with the installation. These dependencies provide various functionalities, from data rendering to spatial analysis. Some of these open-source packages and libraries that typically install with QGIS are:

1. GDAL/OGR: Geospatial Data Abstraction Library (GDAL) is for reading and writing raster geospatial data formats, while OGR is for vector formats. Together, they support multiple geographic data formats and provide features such as spatial data transformation and reprojection.
2. DESIGN: This library is responsible for performing cartographic projections and other coordinate transformations. It is essential to ensure that spatial data from different sources and projections can be used together accurately.
3. SQLite/SpatiaLite: SQLite is a lightweight database system that QGIS uses for various internal functions. SpatiaLite extends SQLite with support for spatial data types and operations, enabling spatial queries and GIS operations directly in the SQLite database.
4. PostgreSQL/PostGIS: Although QGIS is not necessarily installed automatically with QGIS, it supports connections to PostgreSQL databases with PostGIS extensions that add support for geographic features enabling spatial queries.
5. Qt: It is a cross-platform application framework that QGIS uses to manage its graphical user interface. Qt provides tools for creating applications with graphical user interfaces in C++.
6. Python: QGIS includes a built-in Python interpreter for scripting and automation in the software. Python allows you to extend QGIS functionality through scripts and custom plugins.
7. GIS for grass: Often bundled with QGIS, especially for advanced installers, GRASS GIS is a powerful open source GIS software that provides QGIS with additional analytical capabilities, including complex geoprocessing and modeling.

To proceed with the installation, click the “I agree” button to accept the open source license agreement for QGIS.

Move the QGIS installation to the Applications folder

Once you accept the licensing requirements, you will be prompted with instructions on how to drag and drop the QGIS icon to your Applications folder:

If you already have a version of QGIS installed in your Applications folder, you will be asked if you want to keep both versions or replace the QGIS version. If you simply want to upgrade to a newer version of QGIS, select the “Replace” button. If you want to run different versions of QGIS, for example both the latest and the LTR, select the “Keep Both” button.

Once you have made your selection, the QGIS software package will be copied to the Applications folder. The status interface will be displayed until installation is complete:

Once you have finished copying QGIS to the Applications folder, you can run the software. The first time you try to open a newly installed version of QGIS, Mac OS Gatekeeper will display a warning. Follow the steps below to enable QGIS to run on your Mac.

Bypassing Mac security preferences to install QGIS

To launch QGIS for the first time, open Finder. Then, on the left side of the Finder panel, find the Apps icon and click it. In the list of applications in the right panel, find the QGIS icon.

Typically, to run a program on a Mac, you need to double-click the icon to launch it. When you do this for the first time with QGIS, the following will happen:

Gatekeeper will attempt to verify your QGIS installation. When it cannot, the following message will appear: “Cannot open ‘QGIS’ because the developer cannot be verified. macOS cannot verify that this application is free of malware.”

To enable QGIS to run on a Mac OS computer, you must manually override this security setting by following these steps:

• In the application folder, right-click the QGIS icon.
• Select “Open” from the menu options.
• This will display a new warning pop-up that now includes the option to open QGIS anyway:

• Select “Open” to continue launching QGIS.
• You will only have to do this once. Selecting “Open” modifies your Mac’s security settings to allow future QGIS launches without a security warning. The next time you double-click the QGIS icon, the software will simply open.

Add the QGIS launcher icon to the Dock

To launch the QGIS installation faster, add the QGIS icon to the Dock on your Mac. To do this, open Finder and click on the application shortcut. Find the QGIS icon and select it. Now drag it with your mouse to the dock and drop the icon where you want it to appear. You’ll be able to drop it when you see the separate icons in the Dock.

Now when you want to launch QGIS, just click the icon in the Dock.

Cleanup: Delete the QGIS installation file from your computer

Once you have successfully installed QGIS, the installation file will no longer be needed. Find the QGIS .dmg file and move it to the trash on your computer. Empty the trash to reclaim space occupied by the QGIS installer file, which is approximately 1.6 GB in size.

You should also eject the QGIS installer file from the Finder locations section by clicking the icon next to the QGIS installer name to unmount it.

Video tutorial: How to install QGIS on Mac versions 2.x and 3.x

If you prefer, this tutorial is available in video form:

UPDATE: : The instructions in this video no longer apply to installing QGIS 3.x on newer versions of Mac OS.

QGIS tips for Mac

QGIS file type association

QGIS projects are saved with the .qgs extension. Older versions of QGIS may have the .qgis extension. To associate an older extension type so that double-clicking a file automatically opens QGIS, do the following: select the file, then click it to open options. Then select Open with -> Other… Browse through your applications to find the QGIS icon. Select the icon, check the box at the bottom that says “Always open with,” and then click Open. All future cases of opening a file with a .qgis extension should now automatically launch QGIS.

Deleting imported QGIS styles

If you have hundreds of imported QGIS styles and want to clear the imported styles without having to delete them one by one from within QGIS, you can clear the settings from the hidden QGIS folder located in the root direction. Access this folder in Finder by clicking the Go menu and selecting Go to Folder. Then type ~/.qgis and click Go (it is highly recommended that you back up all files in this folder before deleting or changing them).

This article was originally written on June 27, 2017 and has since been updated to include newer QGIS installation instructions.

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