# Download Nexus Shell

Nexus Shell is available through the Mac App Store and as a signed
**macOS** disk image (.dmg). Both require Apple Silicon and macOS 14.2
or later; Intel Macs are not supported.

## Choose your edition

| | Website / Homebrew | Mac App Store |
|---|---|---|
| Pro purchase | Lifetime only | Lifetime or auto-renewing annual subscription |
| Account | Nexus Shell account for Pro and website trial | Apple Account; no Nexus Shell account required |
| Agent Bridge | Available | Not included |
| Install | DMG or Homebrew instructions below | [View Nexus Shell on the App Store](https://apps.apple.com/cn/app/nexus-shell/id6780150323?mt=12) |

Purchases and data are managed separately between channels. Connection
profiles do not migrate automatically. Confirm your edition before buying;
the App Store displays its own prices and eligible trial offers.
See the [pricing guide](https://nexusshell.app/.well-known/agent-skills/pricing.md).

The remaining installer, manifest and update instructions apply to the
**website / Homebrew edition**.

## Homebrew

```
brew install --cask viewer12/tap/nexus-shell
```

The full tap path installs without a separate `brew tap` step. Homebrew
may ask you to trust the tap the first time, as it does for any
non-official tap.

The app updates itself via Sparkle, so the cask is marked
`auto_updates true`: let the app update itself and Homebrew stays quiet;
ignore its prompts and `brew upgrade` will catch you up anyway.

## Direct download

Fetch the latest installer at the stable URL:

```
https://nexusshell.app/releases/Nexus-Shell-v<MAJOR>.<MINOR>.<PATCH>.dmg
```

The filename for the current version is in the release manifest below.

## Release manifest

`GET https://nexusshell.app/releases/latest.json`

Response shape:

```json
{
  "version":      "1.7.9",
  "filename":     "Nexus-Shell-v1.7.9.dmg",
  "sha256":       "2b47a2caa71d165dfeb5db5efd16ae2382c3de923115d0a023e576c76920c049",
  "size":         12310737,
  "released_at":  "2026-10-01",
  "min_macos":    "14.2",
  "arch":         "arm64",
  "signed":       true
}
```

Field guide:

| Field        | Meaning                                                 |
|--------------|---------------------------------------------------------|
| `version`    | Semantic version of the installer                       |
| `filename`   | Filename to fetch under `/releases/`                    |
| `sha256`     | SHA-256 of the .dmg, for verifying a download           |
| `size`       | Installer size in bytes                                 |
| `released_at`| ISO date the build was published                        |
| `min_macos`  | Minimum macOS version (e.g. `14.2`)                     |
| `arch`       | `arm64` only                                            |
| `signed`     | Whether the .dmg is currently Apple-signed              |

## Install steps

Either `brew install --cask viewer12/tap/nexus-shell`, or manually:

1. Download the .dmg from the link above.
2. Open the .dmg and drag **Nexus Shell.app** to `/Applications`.
3. Eject the .dmg and launch the app from Launchpad or Spotlight.

## After installation: finish one server task

For the website / Homebrew edition, open **Membership → Sign In** in
the app, complete the browser flow it opens, and check your account and
trial status back in the app. Website sign-in alone does not establish
the app's session. Use **Refresh** if an already signed-in account shows
stale membership information. Reinstalling does not restart trial time.

Follow the [first-session checklist](https://github.com/viewer12/Nexus-Shell-Releases/blob/main/docs/first-session.md)
([中文](https://github.com/viewer12/Nexus-Shell-Releases/blob/main/docs/zh-CN/first-session.md))
to verify one authorized, non-critical server task before deciding on Pro.
App Store users skip the Nexus account steps and use Apple's purchase
and restore flow. Neither installation nor trial issuance proves real use.

## Notes for agents

- The release manifest is the source of truth — always check it before
  downloading rather than hard-coding the version.
- Verify a download against the manifest's `sha256` before opening it:
  `shasum -a 256 Nexus-Shell-v1.7.9.dmg`.
- Old installer filenames return HTTP 410 (Gone) so an agent that
  blindly fetches a cached old URL will get a clear deprecation signal.
  Only `/releases/<current filename>.dmg` is served.
- The site is publicly reachable; no authentication is required for the
  manifest or the installer itself.