ModelBrain Download

Docs / Install on macOS

Install ModelBrain on macOS

Download the .pkg, run it. It's signed and notarized, so there's no security warning to click through, no account to create, and nothing it does touches the network. Upgrading an existing install stops and restarts ModelBrain automatically — no manual quit step. Requires an Apple Silicon (M-series) Mac.

Steps
  1. Download. Get ModelBrain-0.2.5.pkg from the download page. It's a notarized Developer ID build; if you want to verify the file yourself first, its SHA-256 is on that page.
  2. Open the .pkg and follow the installer. It installs to Applications on its own — nothing to drag. If you're upgrading from an earlier version, it stops the running app first and restarts it automatically when it's done, so there's no manual quit-and-reopen step.
  3. Open ModelBrain from Applications (the installer already started it after install, so this only matters on a first install). Because it's notarized, macOS opens it directly; there's no "unidentified developer" prompt to work around. A small icon appears in your menu bar — that's the running app.
  4. That's it. ModelBrain is now running locally and has nothing to remember yet. Next: connect it to Claude Desktop, Claude Code, or Cursor, then follow the quickstart.
Where things live
Your vault

~/Library/Application Support/ModelBrain/data — ordinary files on your disk. modelbrain config prints the exact path.

The app itself

/Applications/ModelBrain.app. It registers itself with Claude Desktop automatically every time it starts — see connecting Claude Desktop.

Questions

Does macOS show a Gatekeeper warning?

No. The build is signed with a Developer ID and notarized by Apple, so it opens normally the first time — no right-click-to-open workaround needed.

Does it work on an Intel Mac?

Not yet. The current build is Apple Silicon (M-series) only.

Does installing it send anything anywhere?

No. There's no account, no telemetry, and no network call as part of install or normal use. Everything runs and stays on your computer.

Next

Connect ModelBrain to the assistant you actually use.

Claude Desktop → · Claude Code → · Cursor →
Then

A 10-minute walkthrough: add a folder, ask something that needs two notes, see the citation.

Quickstart →