Exporting for macOS (original) (raw)

See also

This page describes how to export a Godot project to macOS. If you're looking to compile editor or export template binaries from source instead, read Compiling for macOS.

macOS apps exported with the official export templates are exported as a single "Universal 2" binary .app bundle, a folder with a specific structure which stores the executable, libraries and all the project files. This bundle can be exported as is, packed in a ZIP archive, or packed in a DMG disk image (only supported when exporting from macOS).Universal binaries for macOS support both Intel x86_64 and ARM64 (Apple Silicon) architectures.

Warning

Due to file system limitations, .app bundles exported from Windows lack theexecutable flag and won't run on macOS. Projects exported as .zip are not affected by this issue. To run .app bundles exported from Windows on macOS, transfer the .app to a device running macOS or Linux and use thechmod +x {executable_name} terminal command to add the executable permission. The main executable located in the Contents/MacOS/ subfolder, as well as optional helper executables in the Contents/Helpers/ subfolder, should have the executable permission for the .app bundle to be valid.

Requirements

Warning

Projects exported without code signing and notarization will be blocked by Gatekeeper if they are downloaded from unknown sources, see the Running Godot apps on macOS page for more information.

Code signing and notarization

By default, macOS will run only applications that are signed and notarized. If you use any other signing configuration, see Running Godot apps on macOS for workarounds.

To notarize an app, you must have a valid Apple Developer ID Certificate.

If you have an Apple Developer ID Certificate and exporting from macOS

Install Xcode command line tools and open Xcode at least once or run the sudo xcodebuild -license accept command to accept license agreement.

To sign exported app

To notarize exported app

You can use the xcrun notarytool history command to check notarization status and use the xcrun notarytool log {ID} command to download the notarization log.

If you encounter notarization issues, see Resolving common notarization issues for more info.

After notarization is completed, staple the ticket to the exported project.

If you have an Apple Developer ID Certificate and exporting from Linux or Windows

Install PyOxidizer rcodesign, and configure the path to rcodesign in the Editor Settings > Export > macOS > rcodesign.

To sign exported app

To notarize exported app

You can use the rcodesign notary-log command to check notarization status.

After notarization is completed, use the rcodesign staple command to staple the ticket to the exported project.

If you do not have an Apple Developer ID Certificate

In this case Godot will use an ad-hoc signature, which will make running an exported app easier for the end users, see the Running Godot apps on macOS page for more information.

Signing Options

Option Description
Codesign Tool to use for code signing.
Identity The "Full Name" or "Common Name" of the signing identity, store in the macOS keychain. [1]
Certificate File The PKCS #12 certificate file. [2]
Certificate Password Password for the certificate file. [2]
Custom Options Array of command line arguments passed to the code signing tool.

Notarization Options

Option Description
Notarization Tool to use for notarization.
Apple ID Name Apple ID account name (email address). [3]
Apple ID Password Apple ID app-specific password. See Using app-specific passwords to enable two-factor authentication and create app password. [3]
Apple Team ID Team ID ("Organization Unit"), if your Apple ID belongs to multiple teams (optional). [3]
API UUID Apple App Store Connect API issuer UUID.
API Key Apple App Store Connect API key.

Note

You should set either Apple ID Name/Password or App Store Connect API UUID/Key.

See Notarizing macOS Software Before Distribution for more info.

Entitlements

Hardened Runtime Entitlements

Hardened Runtime entitlements manage security options and resource access policy. See Hardened Runtime for more info.

Entitlement Description
Allow JIT Code Execution [4] Allows creating writable and executable memory for JIT code. If you are using add-ons with dynamic or self-modifying native code, enable them according to the add-on documentation.
Allow Unsigned Executable Memory [4] Allows creating writable and executable memory without JIT restrictions. If you are using add-ons with dynamic or self-modifying native code, enable them according to the add-on documentation.
Allow DYLD Environment Variables [4] Allows app to uss dynamic linker environment variables to inject code. If you are using add-ons with dynamic or self-modifying native code, enable them according to the add-on documentation.
Disable Library Validation Allows app to load arbitrary libraries and frameworks. Enable it if you are using GDExtension add-ons or ad-hoc signing, or want to support user-provided external add-ons.
Audio Input Enable if you need to use the microphone or other audio input sources, if it's enabled you should also provide usage message in the privacy/microphone_usage_description option.
Camera Enable if you need to use the camera, if it's enabled you should also provide usage message in the privacy/camera_usage_description option.
Location Enable if you need to use location information from Location Services, if it's enabled you should also provide usage message in the privacy/location_usage_description option.
Address Book [5] Enable to allow access contacts in the user's address book, if it's enabled you should also provide usage message in the privacy/address_book_usage_description option.
Calendars [5] Enable to allow access to the user's calendar, if it's enabled you should also provide usage message in the privacy/calendar_usage_description option.
Photo Library [5] Enable to allow access to the user's Photos library, if it's enabled you should also provide usage message in the privacy/photos_library_usage_description option.
Apple Events [5] Enable to allow app to send Apple events to other apps.
Debugging [6] You can temporarily enable this entitlement to use native debugger (GDB, LLDB) with the exported app. This entitlement should be disabled for production export.

App Sandbox Entitlement

The App Sandbox restricts access to user data, networking and devices. Sandboxed apps can't access most of the file system, can't use custom file dialogs and execute binaries (using OS.execute and OS.create_process) outside the .app bundle. See App Sandbox for more info.

Note

To distribute an app through the App Store, you must enable the App Sandbox.

Entitlement Description
Enabled Enables App Sandbox.
Network Server Enable to allow app to listen for incoming network connections.
Network Client Enable to allow app to establish outgoing network connections.
Device USB Enable to allow app to interact with USB devices. This entitlement is required to use wired controllers.
Device Bluetooth Enable to allow app to interact with Bluetooth devices. This entitlement is required to use wireless controllers.
Files Downloads [7] Allows read or write access to the user's "Downloads" folder.
Files Pictures [7] Allows read or write access to the user's "Pictures" folder.
Files Music [7] Allows read or write access to the user's "Music" folder.
Files Movies [7] Allows read or write access to the user's "Movies" folder.
Files User Selected [7] Allows read or write access to arbitrary folder. To gain access, a folder must be selected from the native file dialog by the user.
Helper Executable List of helper executables to embedded to the app bundle. Sandboxed app are limited to execute only these executable.

Note

You can override default entitlements by selecting custom entitlements file, in this case all other entitlement are ignored.

Environment variables

You can use the following environment variables to set export options outside of the editor. During the export process, these override the values that you set in the export menu.

macOS export environment variables

Export option Environment variable
Encryption / Encryption Key GODOT_SCRIPT_ENCRYPTION_KEY
Options / Codesign / Certificate File GODOT_MACOS_CODESIGN_CERTIFICATE_FILE
Options / Codesign / Certificate Password GODOT_MACOS_CODESIGN_CERTIFICATE_PASSWORD
Options / Codesign / Provisioning Profile GODOT_MACOS_CODESIGN_PROVISIONING_PROFILE
Options / Notarization / API UUID GODOT_MACOS_NOTARIZATION_API_UUID
Options / Notarization / API Key GODOT_MACOS_NOTARIZATION_API_KEY
Options / Notarization / API Key ID GODOT_MACOS_NOTARIZATION_API_KEY_ID
Options / Notarization / Apple ID Name GODOT_MACOS_NOTARIZATION_APPLE_ID_NAME
Options / Notarization / Apple ID Password GODOT_MACOS_NOTARIZATION_APPLE_ID_PASSWORD

Export options

You can find a full list of export options available in theEditorExportPlatformMacOS class reference.