Fractal

Download Fractal

For macOS 12.3 Monterey or later. macOS 13 Ventura or later is recommended.

Getting started

Installing Fractal

The first time takes about five minutes.

1. Choose the right download

Open the Apple menu and choose About This Mac.

  • Chip: Apple M1, M2, M3… → Apple silicon
  • Processor: Intel → Intel

The wrong one won't open.

2. Install

Open the downloaded .dmg and drag Fractal into Applications.

3. Open it the first time

Fractal isn't notarised by Apple yet, so the first time you open it your Mac says it can't verify the app. Click Done, not Move to Trash, and then:

macOS 15 Sequoia or later

  1. Open System Settings → Privacy & Security.
  2. Scroll to "Fractal" was blocked to protect your Mac.
  3. Click Open Anyway and confirm with your password or Touch ID.
  4. Click Open in the box that appears.

macOS 12 to 14

  1. Right-click Fractal in Applications.
  2. Choose Open, then click Open again.

You do this once per version. After that, Fractal opens normally.

4. Add your files

Fractal asks you to choose each place it should read, using the standard Mac folder picker.

  • Google Drive: needs Google Drive for Desktop, signed in. Choose the whole CloudStorage folder for every account, or one GoogleDrive-… folder.
  • iCloud Drive or any folder on your Mac.

Add more later from the gear menu → Add account…

Updating to a new version

Until Fractal is signed by Apple, macOS treats each version as a new app:

  • Repeat step 3 once.
  • If an account says it's showing older results, click Choose folder… and pick the same folder again. Nothing is lost.
Uninstalling

Removing Fractal

Quit Fractal and drag it from Applications to the Bin. Then, in Finder, choose Go → Go to Folder…, type ~/.fractal and delete that folder. That removes everything Fractal stored.