Install on macOS

Install path

1. 01

   1 · Get the zip

   Prefer NX2Apple-macOS-arm64.zip. Some releases also list NS-Port-Builder-macOS-arm64.zip. Direct download uses GitHub; if it fails, open Assets.

2. 02

   2 · Unzip locally

   Extract on the internal disk. Avoid network volumes and heavily synced folders for the first launch.

3. 03

   3 · Right-click → Open

   Finder: right-click the app → Open → confirm. Unsigned builds hit Gatekeeper once; afterward normal launches work.

4. 04

   4 · Setup wizard

   Follow in-app checks for Xcode and tools. Update if older builds show Repository: not found after engine packaging changes.

5. 05

   5 · Stay updated

   Use Settings → Check for updates, or re-download from Releases when notes mark a required version.

Why Gatekeeper appears

NX2Apple community builds are not signed with a paid Apple Developer certificate the way Mac App Store apps are. macOS therefore warns on first launch. The supported response is not to disable Gatekeeper globally and not to download random re-uploads from unofficial mirrors. Use right-click → Open from Finder on the copy you extracted from GitHub Releases, confirm the dialog, and continue. If you only double-click and macOS refuses, return to right-click Open rather than hunting for cracked copies. After the first successful Open, subsequent launches behave like other local apps. If Gatekeeper prompts return after an update, treat the new binary as a first launch again.

Detailed install notes

Keep the unzipped app on a short path to reduce tooling friction during builds. You do not need Homebrew simply to install the launcher. You do need Xcode when you are ready to build games; opening the empty library may succeed earlier than a full build. When README or release notes pin an Xcode build for NVN titles, install that build from Apple’s downloads and select it with xcode-select if multiple Xcodes coexist. That selection step is the rare moment a terminal command appears in an otherwise GUI-first flow; it is optional until a build demands it. Direct download is convenient, but opening the Assets list remains the reliable fallback when filenames rotate. Engine zips and source tarballs are not substitutes for the macOS launcher zip unless a note says they are.

• Apple silicon Mac; launcher opens on macOS 13+
• Xcode with iOS SDK for building games
• Enough free space for tools, dumps, and output

Step cards are text-first. Real Finder screenshots are not bundled on this site yet.

After the app opens

Continue to First-time setup for keys, dumps, and Build order. If the app opens but cannot fetch tooling, update to a current release before debugging older repository clone flows. If the app will not open at all, confirm the zip came from LNPANDY/NX2Apple Releases and that you are on Apple silicon. Personal backup and circumvention rules differ by country. You are responsible for knowing the law where you live. Never distribute dumps, keys, firmware, or the packages you build. If you enjoy a game, buy it from legitimate storefronts. This independent guide does not provide a ROM search, key database, or firmware mirror.

This site is not official. We do not host installers, prod.keys, firmware, or game dumps. Downloads go to GitHub Releases. Bring your own legally obtained dumps and keys.

FAQ

Why does macOS block the app?

Unsigned community builds trigger Gatekeeper. Right-click → Open on first launch is the normal path.

Do I need terminal commands to install?

No for unzip and first open. Optional xcode-select appears only when multiple Xcodes must be selected for builds.

Intel Mac?

The published zip is macOS arm64. This guide does not cover Intel.

Can I keep old and new versions?

Yes by keeping separate app copies in different folders, but prefer updating when Releases require it for engine compatibility.