--- title: "Install SMBAct on macOS: dmg, first open and permissions" description: "Install SMBAct on macOS: pick the Apple Silicon or Intel dmg, drag it to Applications, open it, allow Accessibility and Screen Recording, then activate." canonical: https://smblob.com/products/smbact/documentation/install-macos/ date: 2026-11-09 locale: en --- # Install SMBAct on macOS: dmg, first open and permissions > Markdown version of https://smblob.com/products/smbact/documentation/install-macos/ > Same content as the HTML page without navigation, styling or scripts. Cite the HTML URL. > Site structure and the full page list for agents: https://smblob.com/llms.txt Install SMBAct on macOS: pick the Apple Silicon or Intel dmg, drag it to Applications, open it, allow Accessibility and Screen Recording, then activate. [SMBAct](https://smblob.com/products/smbact/) › [Documentation](https://smblob.com/products/smbact/documentation/) › Install on macOS ## Install SMBAct on macOS SMBAct for macOS comes as a disk image (`.dmg`) for Apple Silicon and for Intel Macs. The app is signed with a Developer ID and notarized by Apple, so macOS opens it after one ordinary confirmation. To arrange other apps’ windows and react to hotkeys, SMBAct then needs two macOS permissions: **Accessibility** and **Screen Recording**. Screenshots: macOS 27.2 on Apple Silicon, SMBAct 2.0.0. ## Short version > - Download the dmg for your Mac › drag **SMBAct** onto **Applications** › eject the dmg. > - Open SMBAct › **Open** in “…is an app downloaded from the internet”. > - Allow **Accessibility** and **Screen Recording** for SMBAct in **System Settings › Privacy & Security**. > - Paste your license key › **Activate**, or start the 14-day trial. ## 1. Download the dmg for your Mac On the [download page](https://smblob.com/products/smbact/download/) choose the macOS build for your processor: **Apple Silicon** (`SMBAct-…-darwin-arm64.dmg`) or **Intel** (`SMBAct-…-darwin-x64.dmg`). Not sure which Mac you have? Open the Apple menu › **About This Mac**: the **Chip** line says Apple M…, the **Processor** line says Intel. ## 2. Drag SMBAct to Applications Open the downloaded dmg. A window shows SMBAct and a shortcut to your Applications folder: ![SMBAct disk image window: SMBAct.app, an arrow and the Applications folder](https://smblob.com/docs/smbact/install-macos/dmg-window.webp) Drag **SMBAct** onto **Applications**. When the copy is done, eject the disk image (the eject button next to it in the Finder sidebar) — SMBAct runs from Applications, not from the dmg. ## 3. Open SMBAct Open SMBAct from Applications or Launchpad. The first time, macOS asks whether you want to open an app downloaded from the internet and confirms that Apple checked it: ![macOS dialog: SMBAct.app is an app downloaded from the internet. Are you sure you want to open it? Apple checked it for malicious software and none was detected. Cancel / Open](https://smblob.com/docs/smbact/install-macos/gatekeeper-open.webp) Click **Open**. macOS remembers the choice and does not ask again. ## 4. Allow Screen Recording and Accessibility SMBAct asks macOS for two permissions. Both are granted in **System Settings › Privacy & Security**, and macOS shows a prompt with an **Open System Settings** button for each: ![macOS prompt: SMBAct.app would like to record this computer's screen and audio. Open System Settings / Deny](https://smblob.com/docs/smbact/install-macos/screen-recording-prompt.webp) - **Screen Recording** (Privacy & Security › **Screen & System Audio Recording**): turn SMBAct on. SMBAct uses it to read the titles and previews of other apps’ windows for the switcher; it does not record anything. If macOS offers to quit and reopen SMBAct, let it. - **Accessibility** (Privacy & Security › **Accessibility**; on macOS 27 the pane is called **Device Control and Data Access**): turn SMBAct on. This is what lets SMBAct move and resize other apps’ windows. If you missed the prompt, SMBAct shows a banner with an **Open Accessibility settings** button. macOS lists the app as **SMBAct** only — there is no separate entry for its helper process. ## 5. Activate SMBAct or start the trial Until SMBAct is activated, hotkeys are off and the Dashboard says so: ![SMBAct Dashboard: SMBAct is not activated, hotkeys are off; Activate SMBAct with the tabs I have a key and Start a trial](https://smblob.com/docs/smbact/install-macos/dashboard-not-activated.webp) - **I have a key**: paste your license key and click **Activate**. Keys from the previous version are migrated automatically on first start. - **Start a trial**: 14 days with full functionality, one trial per email. After the trial a license is required. - **Buy a license**: licenses and downloads are managed in your [GigLabo account](https://giglabo.com). Prices are on the [product page](https://smblob.com/products/smbact/#pricing). More on activation: [Activation](https://smblob.com/products/smbact/documentation/#activation). ## Good to know - **Updates**: on macOS SMBAct updates itself from inside the app; there is no need to download the dmg again. - **Notifications** are off until you turn on **Desktop notifications** in SMBAct’s settings; macOS asks for permission the first time one is shown. - **Start at login**: if macOS needs your approval, SMBAct shows a warning with an **Open Login Items** button. - **The switch is on but windows don’t move?** Turn SMBAct off and on again in the Accessibility list, or remove it with the **–** button and let SMBAct ask again. As a last resort, quit SMBAct and run `tccutil reset All com.smblob.SMBAct` in Terminal; SMBAct then asks for both permissions again. ## Other platform guides - [Install SMBAct on Windows](https://smblob.com/products/smbact/documentation/install-windows/) — getting past the Edge download warning and SmartScreen. - [SMBAct on Ubuntu GNOME (Wayland)](https://smblob.com/products/smbact/documentation/gnome-wayland/) — installing and updating the GNOME Shell extension. - [SMBAct on KDE Plasma (Wayland)](https://smblob.com/products/smbact/documentation/kde-plasma-wayland/) — nothing to install, and what to do about Plasma’s own shortcuts. - [Download SMBAct](https://smblob.com/products/smbact/download/) · [Documentation](https://smblob.com/products/smbact/documentation/) · [Control windows with keyboard](https://smblob.com/products/smbact/features/control-with-keyboard/) ## Related - HTML version of this page: https://smblob.com/products/smbact/documentation/install-macos/ - Site map for agents: https://smblob.com/llms.txt