Pick the right file, allow it once, then link MetaTrader 5.
You need
- macOS 10.15 Catalina or later
- MetaTrader 5 for Mac
- any broker login (a demo is fine)
- an email address for your free key
Check which Mac you have
Open the Apple menu, then About This Mac. Look for the line that says Chip or Processor.
| You see | Your Mac | macOS you need | File to download |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chip: Apple M1 or later | Apple Silicon | macOS 11 Big Sur or later | Nebula-0.4.52-mac-arm64.dmg |
| Processor: Intel | Intel | macOS 10.15 Catalina or later | Nebula-0.4.52-mac-x64.dmg |
| macOS 10.14 or older | Too old | Update first | None |
An Intel Mac cannot open the Apple Silicon file. Check before you download. Not sure? See which-mac-download.
Install in seven steps
Install MetaTrader 5 and log in once
Get MetaTrader 5 for Mac from your broker or metatrader5.com and drag it into Applications. Open it and log in. Nebula cannot find MetaTrader 5 until it has been opened once.
Download the right file
On orionrfx.com/pages/download press Mac with Apple Silicon or Mac with Intel.
The file name ends in mac-arm64.dmg (Apple Silicon) or mac-x64.dmg (Intel).
Drag Nebula into Applications
Open the file. In the window, drag the Nebula icon onto the Applications folder beside it. Do not open Nebula from that window or from Downloads. It runs, then cannot update.
Open it from Applications
Nebula is not registered with Apple yet, so the first open shows a warning. Allow it once.
| Your macOS | How to allow it |
|---|---|
| macOS 15 Sequoia or later | Close the warning. Open System Settings › Privacy and Security, scroll down, click Open Anyway, then confirm. |
| macOS 14 Sonoma or older | Control click Nebula in Applications, choose Open, then Open again. The System Settings route works here too. |
System Settings›Privacy and Security›Open Anyway
Nebula
Open Anyway
Still blocked? Run one line
Some Macs say Nebula needs to be updated and show no Open button. Open Terminal (Cmd and Space, type Terminal, press Return), paste this line, press Return, then open Nebula again.
xattr -dr com.apple.quarantine /Applications/Nebula.app
It clears the downloaded from the internet flag. Nothing inside the app changes.
Link MetaTrader 5
Leave MetaTrader 5 running. On the Nebula start screen the card MetaTrader 5 not connected appears. Click Set up automatically. Nebula finds MetaTrader 5 and installs its connector there. You do this once.
MetaTrader 5 not connected
Set up automatically
Continue without MT5
Get your free key and launch
Type your email and press Get my free key →, or press I already have a key if you bought a plan. Then press Launch Nebula.
What the start screen buttons do
| Button | What it does | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Set up automatically | Finds Wine, copies the connector into the MetaTrader 5 setup, installs what it needs, starts it | First time, and after a macOS or MetaTrader update |
| Retry connection | Checks again for a connector that is already running | You opened MetaTrader 5 after Nebula |
| Try again | Runs the whole setup again | The setup said Setup didn't finish
|
| Continue without MT5 | Opens Nebula with no broker. Tests use history you download. | You want to look around first |
| Skip / connect manually | Opens Connection options: the terminal list, Rescan, Add terminal folder…, Launch Standalone (no broker) | You have more than one account |
If it still will not open
requires macOS 10.15 or later
WhyYour macOS is too old for Nebula
FixUpdate in Software Update. If nothing newer is offered, use a Windows PC or a Windows VPS.
not supported on this type of Mac
WhyThe Apple Silicon file on an Intel Mac
FixDownload the Intel file.
The app opens then closes, on an old copy
WhyCopies before 0.4.51 could not start on macOS older than 14 Sonoma
FixDelete Nebula from Applications and install the current file.
Move Nebula to Applications when it opens
WhyYou opened it from the installer window or Downloads
FixClick Move to Applications. Nebula moves itself and reopens.
Show 5 more
Move Nebula to your Applications folder to update. or a read only volume message
WhyNebula is running from the installer window or Downloads
FixQuit it, drag it into Applications, open it from there.
Couldn't find MetaTrader 5 or Wine on this Mac.
WhyMetaTrader 5 is not installed, or never opened
FixInstall MetaTrader 5 for Mac, open it, log in, then Set up automatically again.
Connector did not bind 9876 in time.
WhyMetaTrader 5's first setup was still running
FixWait for MetaTrader 5 to finish opening, then Try again.
An older MT5 connector is still running
WhyA connector from an earlier Nebula would not stop
FixRestart your Mac, open MetaTrader 5, then Set up automatically.
MetaTrader 5 is open but not logged in
WhyNo account is signed in
FixIn MetaTrader 5 choose File › Login to Trade Account, then press the I've signed in retry button.
Send us two lines
Still stuck? Paste this into Terminal and send us what it prints. It tells us your chip and macOS version.
uname -m; sw_vers -productVersion
Reply to any of our emails, use the contact page, or ask in the Discord.
Questions
Does Nebula run on an older Mac?
Yes, if it runs macOS 10.15 Catalina or later. Intel Macs use the Intel file. Below 10.15 Nebula cannot start.
Why does my Mac warn me about Nebula?
Nebula is not registered with Apple yet, so macOS asks you to allow it once. After that it opens like any other app.
Do I need MetaTrader 4 or 5 on a Mac?
MetaTrader 5. On a Mac, Nebula connects through the MetaTrader 5 app.
Can I use CrossOver or Whisky instead?
Yes. Nebula also finds MetaTrader 5 inside CrossOver, Whisky or Homebrew Wine. See connect-metatrader-5-mac.
Is the Mac version the same as Windows?
Mac downloads are 0.4.52 today. Windows is on 0.4.54.