Installing Anaconda on Intel MacBook- Via Terminal

Step-by-step installation of Anaconda on an Intel Macbook Via terminal.

When you want to install Anaconda on your intel Macbook Pc, it is recommended to do it through the terminal. This way, it is more reliable, and you have control over the installation process. It avoids the common problems caused by macOS security restrictions that sometimes block the graphical installer. I will be demonstrating a step-by-step process on how to get Anaconda on your Intel MacBook via terminal.

Step 1

Check your Mac type first. This is very crucial.

 Apple Silcon ( M1/M2/M3)

         OR
 Intel

To check this, Click On the Apple Menu > About the Mac and look for

Chip - M1/M2/M3

Processor -Intel -intel Mac

How to Check MacBook Processor

Step 2

Downloading the correct installer

The Intel Mac Version is no longer shown on the main download page Main download page. Anaconda officially stopped publishing new Intel-Mac Installers in 2025, but it is still kept on the archive page. For intel Mac book users, you should download the Legacy Intel Installer manually.

1. Open the archive Download page

Hit click on this official archive.

1. Find the Intel Installer

Scroll down and look for the latest file, preferably (2025) with a name ending with.

MacOSX-x86_64.sh

Note you shoould select -x86- (which is intel)

Not

• arm64- which is Apple Silicon
• Linux
• Windows

Download the sh. not the .pkg

Step 3

Installing via Terminal

Open your terminal. Click command+ Space and type terminal.

Open the terminal and run:

Bash

cd ~/Downloads

Then:

Bash

bash Anaconda3-MacOOOX-x86_64.sh

Follow the prompt -type

yes or press enter

conda will now work automatically in termininal.

After hitting enter it will say

modified /User/mac/ .Zshrc

Installation is complete

Final step

Restart terminal

Close the Terminal and the reopen.

In the new terminal window type

Bash

conda --version

If you see that, you have successfully installed Anaconda in your Intel Mac- via Terminal. To open the installed Anaconda now, still on the terminal, type

Anaconda-Navigator

An ancadonda Navigator icon will pop up at the taskbar.

Click the icon, and you will see Applications on the Anaconda Navigator dashboard.

Conclusion

I hope this article was able to show you how to install Anaconda on your Intel MacBook.In the upcoming series i will be showing you how to navigate through different applications on the Anaconda Navigator to get you started in your journey as a data scientist/analyst/Engineer or a software engineer.If you have any questions, feel free to leave them in the comments area.