Mihomo (formerly Clash Meta) for macOS: download, install, and first run

Understand the project relationship and intended users

Mihomo is a proxy core, not a complete graphical client. Desktop users commonly manage it through clients such as Clash Verge Rev, while server and router environments may run the core directly.

Verify the release source, not just the “latest” label

Confirm the project owner and release tag through the repository, formal release page, or platform store. A mirror can change delivery speed, but the filename, version, signature, or hash should match the release record. Search snippets labeled latest may be stale.

Confirm operating system and CPU architecture

Use About This Mac to identify the chip. Apple M-series devices need Apple Silicon, arm64, or aarch64; Intel Macs need x64. Check the minimum macOS release as well.

Read package formats and filenames

A DMG is normally opened and the app dragged into Applications. Archives must be fully extracted. Apple Silicon and Intel files are not interchangeable.

Complete three checks before installation

Close old instances, back up required configuration or recovery information, and confirm free disk space, system time, and network access. Before an upgrade, note the old version and data directory so a program change can be separated from a configuration change.

Installation steps and permissions

Run only a package traceable to a verified release. Grant required permissions through normal system prompts and do not permanently disable protection. Launch once and confirm the interface, version, and data directory open normally. Gatekeeper may block the first launch. Verify the formal release, then use Privacy & Security to allow it; do not permanently disable platform protection.

1. Download the correct platform and architecture build
2. Back up configuration, data, or recovery information
3. Close old instances and install
4. Prepare one known-good configuration or account
5. Validate one explicit function
6. Enable advanced options individually

Complete the smallest first-run loop

Confirm whether the package is a graphical client or a raw core. A client imports configuration and enables a proxy; a raw core also needs a correct configuration path, listening ports, and management method.

Validate with a real outcome, not a colored button

Test an explicit outcome such as opening the app, loading a configuration, reaching one target, or sending a test message. A status indicator alone is not evidence; compare logs with real application behavior.

Status looks normal but the feature fails

Common causes include the wrong chip build, quarantine, missing VPN permission, and a conflicting data directory from an older build.

Updates, backup, and rollback

Back up before updating, then check client, core, and configuration state separately. Preserve logs and return to the last known-good release if necessary; repeated reinstalls often remove useful evidence.

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