How to Install Homebrew on macOS 13 Ventura

Installing Homebrew on macOS 13 (Ventura) enables you to easily download, manage, and update thousands of open-source command-line utilities and graphical applications. This step-by-step guide walks you through installing Apple's Command Line Tools, executing the official installation script, configuring your shell environment PATH, and verifying that the package manager is working correctly.

Step 1: Install Xcode Command Line Tools

Homebrew requires the Apple Command Line Tools to compile packages.

  1. Open your Terminal application (found in Applications > Utilities > Terminal).

  2. Enter the following command and press Enter:

    xcode-select --install

  3. A pop-up window will appear asking to install the tools. Click Install, agree to the terms of service, and wait for the download and installation to complete.

Step 2: Run the Homebrew Installation Script

Execute the official Homebrew automated installation script:

  1. In your Terminal, paste the following command:

    /bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"

  2. Press Enter.

  3. When prompted, enter your macOS user account password and press Enter (the cursor will not show characters while typing).

  4. Press Enter again to confirm the directory locations where Homebrew will install its files.

Step 3: Add Homebrew to Your PATH

On modern Macs running macOS 13 (especially Apple Silicon M1/M2 Macs), you must add Homebrew to your environment PATH to use the brew command in your terminal sessions.

For Apple Silicon Macs (M1/M2):

Run the following two commands to add Homebrew to your .zprofile:

(echo; echo 'eval "$(/opt/homebrew/bin/brew shellenv)"') >> ~/.zprofile
eval "$(/opt/homebrew/bin/brew shellenv)"

For Intel-based Macs:

Run the following two commands:

(echo; echo 'eval "$(/usr/local/bin/brew shellenv)"') >> ~/.zprofile
eval "$(/usr/local/bin/brew shellenv)"

Step 4: Verify the Installation

To verify that Homebrew is installed correctly and functioning without issues, run the following verification commands in Terminal:

brew --version

This prints the installed version of Homebrew. Next, check the system health:

brew doctor

If you receive the message Your system is ready to brew., the installation is complete, and you can begin installing packages using brew install <package-name>.