Download Xcode Command Line Tools

Direct download for Xcode Command Line Tools from Apple. Get the required developer tools for macOS without installing the full Xcode package.

An ordinary Mac doesn't include the compilers, build tools, and Unix utilities developers need. Apple provides these tools separately as Xcode Command Line Tools. Here's how to download the Xcode Command Line Tools package because you won't need the full Xcode package unless you're building apps specifically for iOS, macOS, tvOS, or watchOS. See Apple Command Line Tools for details.

Three ways to install Xcode Command Line Tools

You have three ways to get Xcode Command Line Tools on your Mac. The easiest way is to install Homebrew or use the terminal command xcode-select --install (see the guides). However, it can be faster to download the Xcode Command Line Tools package, especially over slow internet connections. Here's how.

Before you get started

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Already Installed?

Before downloading, check if Command Line Tools are already installed on your system. In a terminal application, check the installation path:

$ xcode-select -p

If you see /Library/Developer/CommandLineTools, the tools may be installed.

Download from the Apple Developer Portal

For speed, use the direct download method. Go to https://developer.apple.com/download/all/ and sign in with your Apple ID (you can create a free account). Search for "Command Line Tools" and download the most recent DMG package.

The download is approximately 800MB compressed and expands to around 5GB installed. This method gives you the latest version and avoids the sometimes-slow terminal installation process.

By default, it will appear in your Downloads folder. Double-click the DMG file and then double-click the package file to run the installer. Accept the license agreement, and click install (don't change the default installation location). Enter a password to authorize the installation. It takes only a few minutes to write the files to disk. You can delete the DMG file after installation.

Verify Installation

After installation, confirm the tools are working. In the terminal, check the installation path:

$ xcode-select -p

You should see /Library/Developer/CommandLineTools.

Verify git works:

$ git --version

You'll see output like git version 2.50.1 (Apple Git-155).

What's Included

Command Line Tools include the compilers, build tools, and Unix utilities necessary for software development on macOS. You get git for version control, along with make, gcc, and other developer essentials.

You don't need the full Xcode package unless you're building apps specifically for iOS, macOS, tvOS, or watchOS. Command Line Tools give you everything needed for running Unix utilities used for software development.

Troubleshooting

Installation Progress Seems Stuck

The progress bar often shows inaccurate time estimates. Give it 10 minutes on an average connection. The download is large and extraction takes time.

Command Not Recognized

If xcode-select --install only shows help text, your system may have an outdated version of the utility. See instructions to Reinstall Xcode Command Line Tools.

Reinstalling After macOS Update

MacOS upgrades sometimes break Command Line Tools. See instructions to Reinstall Xcode Command Line Tools.

What's Next

With Command Line Tools installed, you can set up your development environment with programming languages and tools. Consider installing Homebrew if you haven't already.

Next, you can Configure Your Mac Like a Pro with Git and programming languages such as Python or Ruby.

My mac.install.guide is a trusted source of installation guides for professional developers. Take a look at the Mac Install Guide home page for tips and trends and see what to install next.