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Emacs

Q: How do I uninstall Emacs?

Open Terminal and run `brew uninstall --cask emacs-app`. Homebrew will remove Emacs and all associated files cleanly. You can verify it was removed by running `brew list`.

Q: How do I update Emacs to the latest version?

Run `brew upgrade --cask emacs-app` in Terminal to update to the latest version. You can also run `brew outdated` to check if an update is available.

Text editor

For Mac

Official website

Free

CategoryMedia & Entertainment

PlatformmacOS

InstallationHomebrew

Version30.2-1Catalog version

PublishedJanuary 1, 2026•UpdatedAugust 10, 2026

What is Emacs?

Text editor

Install with Homebrew

brew install --cask emacs-app

Official Website

Are you the maker of Emacs?

How to Install Emacs on Mac

Follow these steps to install Emacs using Homebrew, the most popular package manager for macOS. This works on both Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3/M4) and Intel Macs.

1
Open Terminal
Launch Terminal from your Applications > Utilities folder, or press Cmd + Space and type "Terminal".
2
Install Homebrew
If you don't have Homebrew yet, paste the install script from brew.sh into Terminal and follow the prompts.
3
Run brew install --cask emacs-app
Paste the following command into Terminal and press Enter:
brew install --cask emacs-app
4
Verify Installation
Run `brew list` to confirm emacs-app is installed, then try `emacs-app --version` to check the version number.
5
Launch Emacs
Run `emacs-app` in your Terminal to start using it.

Troubleshooting

• If you see a permission error, try prefixing the command with sudo.
• If Homebrew can't find the package, run brew update first to refresh the package list.
• On Apple Silicon Macs, make sure Homebrew is installed at /opt/homebrew (the default for M-series chips).

Key Features

Easy installation via Homebrew

Regular updates and maintenance

Free to use

Professional support available

Pros

Simple one-command installation
Well-maintained and regularly updated
Completely free to use

Cons

Requires Homebrew to be installed
macOS only

Frequently Asked Questions about Emacs

How do I install Emacs on Mac?

Open Terminal, install Homebrew if you haven't already (visit brew.sh), then run brew install --cask emacs-app. The app will be downloaded and installed automatically. You can then run emacs-app from Terminal.

Is Emacs free?

Yes, Emacs is completely free to use.

How do I uninstall Emacs?

Open Terminal and run brew uninstall --cask emacs-app. Homebrew will remove Emacs and all associated files cleanly. You can verify it was removed by running brew list.

What are alternatives to Emacs?

There are several media & entertainment apps available for macOS. Browse the Media & Entertainment category on Bundl.run to compare features, popularity, and install counts for similar tools.

How do I update Emacs to the latest version?

Run brew upgrade --cask emacs-app in Terminal to update to the latest version. You can also run brew outdated to check if an update is available.

Does Emacs work on Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3/M4)?

Yes, Emacs can be installed on both Apple Silicon and Intel Macs via Homebrew. Homebrew automatically handles the correct version for your hardware.