aria2
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Install · macOS

Install aria2 on macOS

The aria2 project does not publish a Mac download, but every Mac package manager has the current 1.37.0. Homebrew is the easiest.

Last updated: Tested with aria2 1.37.0

Install with one command

Open Terminal and run the line for the package manager you use.

brew install aria2

Needs Homebrew from brew.sh. Ready-made builds exist for Apple Silicon Macs on current macOS; on Intel Macs Homebrew compiles aria2 itself, which takes a few minutes.

Check the installaria2c --versionaria2 version 1.37.0

Which method should you use?

Use the package manager you already have. If you have none, install Homebrew.

MethodVersionUpdatesGood for
Homebrew1.37.0brew upgrade aria2Most Macs
MacPorts1.37.0sudo port upgrade aria2MacPorts users
conda-forge1.37.0conda update aria2Python and data work

Step by step with Homebrew

From a Mac without Homebrew to a working aria2.

  1. Install Homebrew

    Follow the one-line installer on brew.sh. It also installs Apple's command-line tools if they are missing.

  2. Install aria2

    Homebrew also installs the libraries aria2 needs: c-ares, libssh2, OpenSSL, SQLite and gettext.

    brew install aria2

  3. Test it

    Homebrew puts aria2c on your Path, so it works right away.

    aria2c --versionaria2 version 1.37.0

Where aria2.conf goes on macOS

aria2 reads ~/.aria2/aria2.conf. Create the folder and the file:

mkdir -p ~/.aria2 && touch ~/.aria2/aria2.sessionopen -e ~/.aria2/aria2.conf

Config generator →

Start aria2 at login

macOS starts background programs with launchd. Save this as ~/Library/LaunchAgents/org.aria2.plist, change the paths to yours (Apple Silicon Homebrew uses /opt/homebrew/bin, Intel /usr/local/bin), then load it:

~/Library/LaunchAgents/org.aria2.plist
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
<plist version="1.0"><dict>
  <key>Label</key><string>org.aria2</string>
  <key>ProgramArguments</key><array>
    <string>/opt/homebrew/bin/aria2c</string>
    <string>--conf-path=/Users/you/.aria2/aria2.conf</string>
  </array>
  <key>RunAtLoad</key><true/>
  <key>KeepAlive</key><true/>
</dict></plist>

Load it with launchctl load ~/Library/LaunchAgents/org.aria2.plist. Do not add -D to the arguments: launchd expects the program to stay in the foreground.

Update and uninstall

Homebrew
brew upgrade aria2 · brew uninstall aria2
MacPorts
sudo port upgrade aria2 · sudo port uninstall aria2
conda
conda update aria2 · conda remove aria2

Things that are different on macOS

"cannot be opened because the developer cannot be verified"

This appears for programs downloaded by hand. Packages from Homebrew, MacPorts or conda do not trigger it.

command not found: aria2c

Homebrew's folder is not on your Path. Run the two "Next steps" lines that the Homebrew installer printed, then open a new Terminal window.

Downloads folder access

The first time aria2 writes to Downloads or Desktop, macOS may ask Terminal for permission. Allow it in System Settings → Privacy & Security → Files and Folders.

Questions

Is there an official aria2 download for Mac?
Not for 1.37.0: the release has source code, Windows and Android builds only. Homebrew, MacPorts and conda-forge all provide 1.37.0.
Does aria2 run on Apple Silicon (M1 to M4)?
Yes. Homebrew and conda-forge have native Apple Silicon builds.
Is there a Mac app with a window for aria2?
Use AriaNg Native, which runs on macOS and controls aria2 over RPC, or a browser WebUI. Motrix 2 no longer uses aria2's RPC.

Installed? Start here