How to install TorMonitor on your Mac
Short answer
Download the Universal .dmg from the download page, open it and drag TorMonitor to Applications. If macOS says it can't verify the app, open System Settings ▸ Privacy & Security and click Open Anyway. TorMonitor needs macOS 12 Monterey or later and runs on Apple silicon and Intel Macs.
Steps to install#
- Go to the download page. It detects your Mac and recommends a build; Universal works on every supported Mac.
- Open the downloaded
TorMonitor-<version>-universal.dmg. - Drag TorMonitor onto the Applications folder in the window that opens.
- Eject the disk image and open TorMonitor from Applications or Launchpad.
- If macOS says "TorMonitor can't be opened" or that Apple could not verify it, click Done, then open System Settings ▸ Privacy & Security, scroll to Security and click Open Anyway next to TorMonitor. Confirm with your password. You only need to do this once per version.
If macOS says "TorMonitor is damaged and can't be opened"#
TorMonitor isn't notarized by Apple yet, and macOS sometimes shows this message for apps downloaded from the internet instead of the usual "could not verify" warning. The app isn't actually damaged. To open it:
- Move TorMonitor to Applications first.
- Open Terminal (in Applications ▸ Utilities) and run:
xattr -dr com.apple.quarantine /Applications/TorMonitor.app- Open TorMonitor again. This removes the "downloaded from the internet" flag for TorMonitor only and doesn't change any other security setting on your Mac.
If you prefer, verify the SHA-256 checksum first so you know the file is exactly the one published here.
Which download should I choose?#
| Build | For | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Universal | Every Mac on macOS 12+ | Contains Apple silicon and Intel code. Choose this if unsure. |
| Apple silicon | M1, M2, M3, M4 and later | Smaller download. |
| Intel | Macs with an Intel processor | Smaller download. Also runs on Apple silicon through Rosetta 2. |
To check your Mac, open ▸ About This Mac and look at Chip (Apple M…) or Processor (Intel).
Verify the download (optional)#
Each file on the download page lists its SHA-256 checksum. To compare, open Terminal and run:
shasum -a 256 ~/Downloads/TorMonitor-*-universal.dmgThe long string printed must match the one on the download page exactly.
First launch#
- TorMonitor opens magnet links from your browser and .torrent files from Finder.
- Choose your Default download folder under Preferences ▸ Directories.
- Settings are saved per macOS user in
~/Library/Application Support/com.tormonitor. - To keep downloading with the window closed, turn on Keep running in the menu bar when the window is closed under Preferences ▸ General.
Updating and going back#
Download the new version and drag it to Applications, replacing the old one. Your torrents and settings are kept. If you need an earlier version, every past release is listed under Older versions.
Questions#
Why does macOS warn me when I first open TorMonitor?#
TorMonitor isn't signed with an Apple Developer ID yet, so Gatekeeper asks you to confirm the first launch. Click Open Anyway in System Settings ▸ Privacy & Security once, and macOS remembers your choice for this version.
Does TorMonitor need Homebrew or other software?#
No. The libraries it needs are inside the app.
Is TorMonitor on the Mac App Store?#
No. Torrent clients need to write to any folder you choose, which the App Store sandbox doesn't allow, so TorMonitor is distributed from this website.
How do I uninstall it?#
Quit TorMonitor and drag it from Applications to the Bin. To remove its settings too, delete ~/Library/Application Support/com.tormonitor.