# macOS

> Install and update freemkv on macOS, find your settings and output, and troubleshoot optical-drive access.

Source: https://freemkv.org/docs/platforms-macos/

freemkv provides a native desktop app and a command-line interface on macOS. Both use the same ripping engine. Choose **Apple Silicon** or **Intel** for your Mac on the **[Download page](https://freemkv.org/download/)**.

![The freemkv desktop app on macOS with a UHD Blu-ray open — the first title expanded into its HEVC 4K HDR10 video, TrueHD, AC-3 and DTS-HD audio and PGS subtitle tracks with checkboxes, and the Output panel with the destination folder, Selected titles → MKV and Run Now (macOS)](https://freemkv.org/freemkv-gui-macos-titles.png)

![The freemkv desktop app on macOS with the output menu open — selected titles to MKV, MP4, M2TS, separate track files, or video, audio or subtitle tracks only; the whole disc to an ISO image or a decrypted folder; or chapters, title info as JSON, or a video index (macOS)](https://freemkv.org/freemkv-gui-macos-formats.png)

![The freemkv Settings window on macOS, Recovery tab — multi-pass rip mode, maximum recovery passes, abort on lost seconds, keep encrypted (raw passthrough) and overwrite existing files (macOS)](https://freemkv.org/freemkv-gui-macos-settings.png)

![The freemkv desktop app on macOS ripping a UHD Blu-ray to MKV — source, output file, read rate and free space above a progress bar at 10% with elapsed and remaining time, and a Cancel button (macOS)](https://freemkv.org/freemkv-gui-macos-rip.png)

## Requirements

- macOS 11 or later.
- An Apple Silicon (`aarch64`) or Intel (`x86_64`) Mac. Each has its own download.
- An optical drive. See [OEM (stock) drives](https://freemkv.org/docs/drives-oem/) and [Unlocked drives](https://freemkv.org/docs/drives-unlocked/) for drive support.

## Install

### Desktop app

With Homebrew:

```bash
brew install --cask freemkv/tap/freemkv-app
```

Or download the matching `.dmg` (`freemkv-aarch64-macos.dmg` or `freemkv-x86_64-macos.dmg`), open it and drag `freemkv.app` into **Applications**.

Open freemkv, select a disc, image or folder, choose the titles and tracks, select an output location and press **Rip**. You can also drag a supported media file onto the window.

### Command line

With Homebrew:

```bash
brew install freemkv/tap/freemkv
freemkv --version
```

For a standalone download, use `freemkv-aarch64-macos` on Apple Silicon or `freemkv-x86_64-macos` on Intel. For example:

```bash
chmod +x freemkv-aarch64-macos
./freemkv-aarch64-macos --version
```

The desktop app also contains the CLI:

```bash
/Applications/freemkv.app/Contents/MacOS/freemkv --version
```

Running `freemkv gui` opens the desktop interface. See the [CLI reference](https://freemkv.org/docs/cli/) for ripping commands and options.

### Verify the download

Each `.dmg` and standalone binary on [GitHub Releases](https://github.com/freemkv/freemkv/releases) has a matching `.sha256` file. Compare the hash of your download with the line for the same file name:

```bash
shasum -a 256 freemkv-aarch64-macos.dmg
cat freemkv-aarch64-macos.dmg.sha256
```

<a id="apple-could-not-verify-freemkv-on-first-launch"></a>

## First launch

A browser download may prompt macOS to verify the app or CLI. If macOS cannot verify the developer or notarization, and you trust the official download:

1. Try opening the app or running the binary, then dismiss the prompt.
2. Open **System Settings → Privacy & Security**.
3. Choose **Open Anyway** for freemkv and confirm.

This creates an exception for that app. Different warnings, such as a damaged file or detected malware, need separate investigation. See [Apple's first-launch guidance](https://support.apple.com/en-us/102445).

## Update or remove

| Installation | Update | Remove |
|---|---|---|
| Homebrew app | `brew update`, then `brew upgrade --cask freemkv/tap/freemkv-app` | `brew uninstall --cask freemkv/tap/freemkv-app` |
| Homebrew CLI | `brew update`, then `brew upgrade freemkv/tap/freemkv` | `brew uninstall freemkv/tap/freemkv` |
| `.dmg` or standalone CLI | Close freemkv and replace the app or binary with the new release | Delete the app or binary |

Settings and ripped movies are separate from program files, so updating or removing freemkv leaves them in place.

## File locations

| What | Location |
|---|---|
| Desktop settings | `~/Library/Application Support/freemkv/gui-settings.json` |
| Desktop diagnostic log | `log.txt` in the same folder, written only when the app's log level is **Verbose** or debug messages are on |
| Finished movies | The output location you choose before ripping; the desktop app suggests `~/Movies` |
| AACS keys | See [Decryption Keys](https://freemkv.org/docs/decryption-keys/) |
| CLI diagnostic log | Off by default; `--log-level 3` writes `log.txt` in the current folder |

To capture a CLI log at a specific path:

```bash
freemkv info disc:// --log-level 3 --log-file "$HOME/Desktop/freemkv-log.txt"
```

Use the path to your downloaded binary if you did not install it with Homebrew.

## Drive access

freemkv uses IOKit to obtain exclusive access to the optical drive. It unmounts the disc before direct reads, so the disc disappearing from Finder while ripping is expected. Devices appear as `/dev/diskN`.

Close other software using the disc. If access fails, reconnect the drive and try again.

## autorip

For automatic ripping through a browser, see [autorip Service](https://freemkv.org/docs/autorip/). The prebuilt macOS autorip binary is available for Apple Silicon; Intel users can build it from source.

## Troubleshooting

- **macOS blocks the app or CLI:** review [First launch](#first-launch).
- **The disc disappears from Finder:** freemkv unmounts it to take exclusive drive access.
- **No drive is available:** check the connection, close other disc software and review [Drive access](#drive-access).
- **A movie is missing:** check the output location selected for that rip.

## See also

- [Decryption Keys](https://freemkv.org/docs/decryption-keys/) for key setup
- [Troubleshooting](https://freemkv.org/docs/troubleshooting/) for logs and shared fixes
- [CLI reference](https://freemkv.org/docs/cli/) for ripping commands and options
- [autorip Service](https://freemkv.org/docs/autorip/) for automatic ripping