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rsync for Mac

Utility that provides fast incremental file transfer

Quick answer: rsync is a command-line tool for macOS. Install it with brew install rsync. It is distributed under the GPL-3.0-or-later licence. It has 15,402 Homebrew installs in the last 30 days.

What rsync is

rsync is a command-line tool for macOS: utility that provides fast incremental file transfer.

It is distributed as a Homebrew formula, which builds or pours a binary and puts it on your PATH. It is distributed under the GPL-3.0-or-later licence.

How to install rsync

  1. Open Terminal (press ⌘ + Space and type “Terminal”).
  2. If Homebrew is not installed yet, run the installer below once.
  3. Run brew install rsync.

Homebrew installer, if you need it:

Prefer a graphical installer? Download it from the official site. MacPicks never hosts or mirrors binaries — the Homebrew command always pulls from the vendor's own release.

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Frequently asked questions

How do I install rsync on Mac?

Run brew install rsync in Terminal. This requires Homebrew; if you do not have it, install it first with the command below.

Is rsync open source?

Yes — Homebrew distributes it under the GPL-3.0-or-later licence.

Does rsync run on Apple silicon?

Homebrew publishes this formula for macOS. If upstream does not ship an Apple silicon build, Rosetta 2 handles the Intel binary.

How popular is rsync?

It was installed 15,402 times in the last 30 days according to Homebrew analytics, ranking #137 in this catalogue.

What version of rsync is current?

The latest packaged version is 3.5.1.