The macOS build ships as both .dmg and .zip. The application inside is identical — the difference is packaging, and that difference decides whether Gatekeeper gets in your way.
Which one to take
.dmg | .zip | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A disk image that mounts as a virtual volume | An ordinary archive that expands in place |
| Install action | Drag the icon into the Applications folder | Move the .app wherever you want it |
| Best for | A normal first install | Custom locations or a quick trial |
| Cleanup | Eject and delete the dmg afterwards | Delete the archive afterwards |
Take the .dmg unless you have a reason not to. The flow is more standard, and you avoid the classic "left it in Downloads and deleted it during a cleanup" problem.
The standard install
- Download the right architectureApple Silicon (M-series) takes
arm64; Intel machines take64. The wrong one either refuses to launch or runs through translation with a performance penalty. - Double-click the dmgA window opens containing the app icon and a shortcut to Applications.
- Drag it into ApplicationsDo not run it from the mounted volume.
- Eject the imageUse the eject button in the Finder sidebar, then delete the dmg.
- First launchOpen it from Launchpad or Applications. If macOS blocks it, see below.
"The app is damaged and can't be opened"
This is macOS's most common false alarm. The file is not damaged — the app simply is not notarised by Apple, and the download picked up a quarantine attribute.
If right-click Open still reports damage, the quarantine attribute has to go manually:
Remove the quarantine flag (Terminal)
sudo xattr -rd com.apple.quarantine /Applications/v2rayN.app
# inspect which attributes a file carries
xattr -l /Applications/v2rayN.appFirst-run configuration
- Import servers: paste a share link into the app, or add a subscription URL and refresh.
- Select one server and run a real-delay test to confirm it works.
- Turn on the system proxy. The first time, macOS asks for your administrator password.
- Confirm in a browser that your exit IP has changed.
Uninstalling
Dragging the .app to the Trash leaves configuration and caches behind in your home folder. For a full removal:
Complete uninstall
# 1. turn off the system proxy in the app and quit properly
# 2. remove the application
rm -rf /Applications/v2rayN.app
# 3. check what is left in your user library before deleting
ls -la ~/Library/Application\ Support/ | grep -i v2ray