How do I install Manim on a Mac with Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3)?

The process is the same on Apple Silicon as on Intel Macs, with Homebrew handling the architecture for you. Install Homebrew, then run brew install py3cairo ffmpeg, install MacTeX for LaTeX, create a Python virtual environment, and run pip install manim. On Apple Silicon, make sure you're using the arm64 Homebrew at /opt/homebrew rather than the Intel one at /usr/local, because mixing the two is a common source of 'library not loaded' errors. Running manim checkhealth confirms everything is detected.

Why does Manim find LaTeX in Terminal but not in my editor on Mac?

This happens when your editor (VS Code, PyCharm) is using a different Python interpreter or PATH than your Terminal. Manim shells out to the latex binary, and if the editor's environment doesn't include MacTeX's bin directory (usually /Library/TeX/texbin), it raises FileNotFoundError even though Terminal works. The fix is to select your virtual environment's Python as the editor's interpreter and, if needed, launch the editor from Terminal so it inherits your full PATH.

How to Install Manim on macOS (2026) | QuantumSketch

To install Manim on macOS, use Homebrew: brew install py3cairo ffmpeg, install MacTeX for LaTeX, then pip install manim inside a virtual environment. Works the same on Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3) and Intel.

Step 1 — Homebrew + system libraries

If you don't have Homebrew, install it, then:

brew install py3cairo ffmpeg pango pkg-config scipy

ffmpeg encodes the video; cairo/pango are Manim's rendering backends.

Step 2 — LaTeX (MacTeX)

brew install --cask mactex-no-gui

This provides the latex binary Manim needs for MathTex. Without it: LaTeX not found. The binaries live in /Library/TeX/texbin — make sure that's on PATH.

Step 3 — Virtual environment + Manim

python3 -m venv manim-env
source manim-env/bin/activate
pip install manim
manim checkhealth

Use the venv so you don't pollute system Python. Confirm with manim checkhealth.

Step 4 — Render a test

from manim import *
class Hello(Scene):
    def construct(self):
        self.play(Create(Circle()))

manim -pql test.py Hello

Apple Silicon notes

Use the arm64 Homebrew at /opt/homebrew, not the Intel /usr/local. Mixing them causes "library not loaded" errors.
If you see Cairo/Pango link errors, brew reinstall py3cairo pango.

Troubleshooting

| Error | Fix | |---|---| | LaTeX not found | Install MacTeX, check /Library/TeX/texbin on PATH | | ffmpeg not found | brew install ffmpeg — fix | | No module named manim | Activate venv — fix | | Editor can't find LaTeX | Point interpreter to the venv |

Prefer zero setup?

QuantumSketch runs Manim + LaTeX + FFmpeg in the cloud — nothing to install on your Mac. See Manim Without Code.

Written by Shihab Shahriar Antor · Shahriar Labs