How to install NitroAI on Mac

Before you start

These are one-time installs. If you have used Terminal before, you may have them already — the first step checks.

1. 1

   Install Git

   Apple opens a small installer.

   Type this into Terminal, then press Return.

   xcode-select --install

   You know this worked when: Git responds with a version number

2. 2

   Install Node LTS

   Choose the macOS Installer (.pkg).

   Open download ↗

   You know this worked when: Node responds with a version number

Install NitroAI

1. 3

   Open Terminal

   Keep it open beside this page.

   You know this worked when: Terminal is open

2. 4

   Check Git and Node

   Node 20.19+ or 22 LTS is required.

   Type this into Terminal, then press Return.

   git --version
   node --version

   You know this worked when: Git works and Node is a supported version

3. 5

   Copy NitroAI to this Mac

   Type this into Terminal, then press Return.

   cd ~
   if [ ! -d NitroAI/.git ]; then
   git clone https://github.com/Blueturboguy07/NitroAI.git
   fi

   You know this worked when: The NitroAI folder exists

4. 6

   Open the NitroAI folder

   Type this into Terminal, then press Return.

   cd NitroAI

   You know this worked when: Your terminal prompt is inside the NitroAI folder

5. 7

   Use the reviewed version

   Type this into Terminal, then press Return.

   git checkout 4df4aaee787ee09b9b5062119e37b4a9816fa808

   You know this worked when: Git reports the reviewed commit

6. 8

   Install dependencies

   Type this into Terminal, then press Return.

   npm ci

   You know this worked when: The command finishes without an error

7. 9

   Build the app

   Type this into Terminal, then press Return.

   npm run dist:mac

   You know this worked when: A NitroAI .dmg appears in release

8. 10

   Put NitroAI in Applications

   Copy the freshly built app into Applications so it's a real, launchable Mac app.

   Type this into Terminal, then press Return.

   if [ "$(uname -m)" = "arm64" ]; then
   ditto release/mac-arm64/NitroAI.app /Applications/NitroAI.app
   else
   ditto release/mac/NitroAI.app /Applications/NitroAI.app
   fi

   You know this worked when: NitroAI.app is in your Applications folder

9. 11

   Open NitroAI

   Built on your own machine, so macOS opens it without any warning.

   Type this into Terminal, then press Return.

   open /Applications/NitroAI.app

   You know this worked when: NitroAI opens

10. 12

    Choose local or cloud AI

    Use Ollama locally, or add a provider key. Ollama downloads on first use.

    You know this worked when: NitroAI finishes its first-run setup

11. 13

    Try one real task

    Turn a real lecture, PDF, or video into notes, flashcards, and a quiz.

    You know this worked when: Generated notes appear in the installed app

If something goes wrong

Nothing here can damage your computer, and every step can be run again safely. If a command fails, the usual cause is the step before it not having finished.

Still stuck? Tell us what happened and we will fix the guide. Include the step number and we can usually reproduce it.