More and more users are trading cryptocurrencies on Mac computers, and Binance provides a dedicated Mac client so you don't have to open a browser every time. However, installing third-party applications on Mac is quite different from Windows, especially because macOS's security mechanisms impose extra restrictions on software not sourced from the App Store. Many people get stuck at prompts like "cannot be opened because the developer cannot be verified" during their first installation. Don't worry, these prompts can be easily handled. First, you need a Binance account, which you can register on the Binance official website. Then, download the Mac client from the official website; the process is similar to downloading the official Binance APP to your phone—you just find the download button for the corresponding platform on the official download page. This article will explain how to install it on Macs with Intel chips and Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3/M4) chips respectively, ensuring users of both chip architectures can successfully complete the installation. If you also want to use it on your iPhone simultaneously, you can refer to the iOS installation guide.
Differences Between Intel and Apple Silicon
How to Check Which Chip Your Mac Has
Before installing, first confirm whether your Mac uses an Intel chip or an Apple Silicon chip, because the installation packages for the two chips may be different.
How to check:
- Click the Apple icon in the top left corner of the screen.
- Select "About This Mac".
- Look at the "Chip" or "Processor" information in the pop-up window.
If it displays "Apple M1", "Apple M2", "Apple M3", "Apple M4", or a newer model, it's an Apple Silicon chip. If it displays an Intel processor model like "Intel Core i5" or "Intel Core i7", it's an Intel chip.
A rough timeline: Most Macs released after November 2020 have Apple Silicon chips, while those before that have Intel chips.
What Impact Does It Have on Installation?
Apple Silicon chips use the ARM architecture, which is different from the x86 architecture of Intel chips. Ideally, you should download the version that matches your chip architecture (usually labeled "Apple Silicon" or "ARM64") for maximum operational efficiency.
If only the Intel version is available for download, an Apple Silicon Mac can still run it, because the built-in Rosetta 2 translation layer in macOS can translate Intel instructions into ARM instructions. The only difference is that the operational efficiency will be slightly lower, manifesting as slightly slower startup speeds and slightly shorter battery life.
However, in actual use, this difference is almost negligible for trading software.
Download Steps
Step 1: Visit the Binance Official Website Download Page
Open Safari or Chrome, visit the Binance official website, and find the download page. In the desktop client section of the download page, find the download button for the Mac version.
Sometimes the download page may provide two Mac download options:
- macOS (Apple Silicon): Suitable for Macs with M-series chips
- macOS (Intel): Suitable for Macs with Intel chips
- macOS (Universal): Universal version, can be used on both chips
If there is only one download button, it is highly likely the Universal version; just download it.
Step 2: Download the Installation Package
After clicking the download button, your browser will start downloading a .dmg file (macOS's disk image format). The file size is usually between 100-200MB.
Once the download is complete, you can find this .dmg file in your Finder's "Downloads" folder.
Installation Steps
Step 1: Open the DMG File
Double-click the downloaded .dmg file. macOS will mount this disk image and pop up an installation window. The window usually displays the Binance APP icon and a shortcut to the Applications folder.
Step 2: Drag and Drop to Install
Drag and drop the Binance APP icon onto the Applications folder. This completes the installation. Installing software on macOS is that simple, unlike Windows which has complex installation wizards.
Wait for the file copying to finish (when the progress bar completes), then you can close this installation window.
Step 3: Eject the DMG
After installation is complete, right-click the Binance disk image icon on the desktop or in the Finder sidebar, and select "Eject". Alternatively, you can drag it directly to the Trash. The downloaded .dmg file can also be deleted as it is no longer needed.
Step 4: First Startup
Open Finder -> "Applications" folder, find the Binance APP, and double-click to launch it. Or search with Spotlight (press Command + Space, type "Binance").
Important: Upon first startup, macOS is very likely to pop up a security warning. Let's handle these case by case below.
Handling macOS Security Prompts
Case 1: "Cannot be opened because the developer cannot be verified"
This is the most common prompt. macOS's Gatekeeper security feature by default only allows running applications from the App Store and applications from Apple-notarized developers. If the Binance client hasn't been notarized by Apple, this prompt will appear.
How to fix:
- Click "Cancel" when the prompt appears.
- Open "System Settings" (or "System Preferences") -> "Privacy & Security".
- Scroll down, and you will see a message: "Binance was blocked from use because it is not from an identified developer."
- There will be an "Open Anyway" button next to it; click it.
- The system may ask you to enter your Mac's administrator password to confirm.
- After confirming, the Binance client will launch normally.
- This prompt will not appear again the next time you open it.
Case 2: "App is damaged and can't be opened. You should move it to the Trash"
Encountering this prompt doesn't necessarily mean the file is actually damaged; it's more likely caused by macOS's security policies.
How to fix:
- Open "Terminal" (in Applications -> Utilities, or search "Terminal" with Spotlight).
- Enter the following command:
xattr -cr /Applications/Binance.app
- Press Enter to execute.
- You may need to enter your administrator password.
- After execution is complete, reopen the Binance APP.
This command removes the file's quarantine attribute (quarantine flag), so macOS no longer treats it as an untrusted application downloaded from the internet.
Case 3: Prompt "Are you sure you want to open an application downloaded from the Internet?"
This prompt is relatively mild; just click "Open". This indicates that the Binance client has passed Apple's basic security checks.
Apple Silicon Specific Issues
Rosetta 2 Installation Prompt
If you downloaded the Intel version, you may be prompted to install Rosetta 2 when running it for the first time on an Apple Silicon Mac. Just click "Install"; the installation process only takes a few seconds. Once Rosetta 2 is installed, it will remain there, and you won't need to reinstall it to run other Intel applications in the future.
Performance Differences
If you are using an Apple Silicon Mac and installed the Intel version (running via Rosetta), you might notice the following differences:
- Slightly longer initial startup time (needs to translate instructions)
- Memory usage might be slightly higher
- Battery life slightly reduced
These differences have a minimal impact on trading software. However, if Binance offers a dedicated Apple Silicon version, it is still recommended to use the native version for the best experience.
How to Check if You Are Using the Native Version
Open "Activity Monitor" (Applications -> Utilities -> Activity Monitor), find Binance in the process list, and look at the "Kind" column:
- Displays "Apple": Running natively on Apple Silicon
- Displays "Intel": Running translated via Rosetta 2
Basic Client Configuration
Language Settings
After launching and logging in, if the interface language is not Chinese, you can switch to "Simplified Chinese" (or your preferred language) in the settings.
Appearance Theme
Like the Windows version, the Mac version also supports dark and light themes. Mac users might also have a "Follow System" option, meaning when your Mac switches to dark mode, the Binance client automatically switches as well.
Notification Settings
macOS requires you to allow Binance to send notifications at the system level:
- Open "System Settings" -> "Notifications".
- Find Binance and ensure notification permissions are turned on.
- You can choose the notification style (Banners or Alerts).
Inside the Binance client, there are also notification settings where you can further customize which types of notifications should be pushed.
Launch at Login
If you want the Binance client to automatically start when your Mac boots up:
- Open "System Settings" -> "General" -> "Login Items".
- Click the "+" sign and select Binance from the applications list to add it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can't Find the APP After Installation
Make sure you dragged the APP into the Applications folder. If you double-click the APP directly from the DMG window to run it (without dragging it to Applications), the APP is only running temporarily and won't be found after ejecting the DMG.
Client Cannot Connect to the Network
Check the following points:
- Confirm your Mac can access the internet normally.
- Check firewall settings: "System Settings" -> "Network" -> "Firewall", ensuring it isn't blocking Binance's network access.
- If using a network proxy, ensure the proxy configuration is correct and the proxy tool is running.
Client Runs Sluggishly
Try the following methods:
- Close other unnecessary applications to free up memory.
- Reduce animation effects in the Binance client settings.
- Reduce the number of chart windows open simultaneously.
- Confirm whether you are using the native version (for Apple Silicon Macs).
Updating the Client
The update method for the Mac version is similar to Windows:
- Automatic Update: It will prompt for an update if a new version is detected upon startup.
- Manual Update: Re-download the latest DMG file from the official website and drag it to Applications to overwrite the old version.
You may need to close the running Binance client before overwriting the installation.
Complete Uninstallation
If you need to uninstall the Binance client:
- Ensure the Binance client is closed.
- Open Finder -> "Applications".
- Drag the Binance APP to the Trash (or right-click -> Move to Trash).
- Empty the Trash.
If you want to completely clear leftover configuration files and caches:
- Open Finder.
- Press Command + Shift + G to open the "Go to Folder" window.
- Go to the following paths respectively and delete Binance-related folders (if they exist):
~/Library/Application Support/Binance~/Library/Caches/Binance~/Library/Preferences/com.binance.*
macOS Version Compatibility
The installation experience may vary slightly across different macOS versions:
- macOS Ventura (13) and above: Security settings are in "System Settings" -> "Privacy & Security".
- macOS Monterey (12) and below: Security settings are in "System Preferences" -> "Security & Privacy".
- macOS Big Sur (11): Apple Silicon Macs can run it; the security settings interface has the older style.
- macOS Catalina (10.15) and below: Might not be supported by the latest client versions.
It is recommended to keep macOS updated to the latest version to get the best software compatibility as well as the latest security patches.
Conclusion
The core steps to install the Binance client on a Mac are: Download the DMG file from the official website -> Open the DMG -> Drag it to Applications -> Handle security prompts -> Log in and use. The whole process is even simpler than on Windows. The only thing that might stall you is macOS's security prompts, but following the methods in this article, they are very easy to resolve. Both Intel and Apple Silicon Macs can use it normally, and Apple Silicon Macs will provide a better experience if a native version is available. Once installed, configure your language, notifications, and window layout, and you can start your desktop trading experience.