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Getting Started

Installing DeployOS

Download and install the desktop app on macOS or Windows, and get past Gatekeeper on an unsigned build.

DeployOS is a native desktop app — nothing runs in the cloud on your behalf, and nothing is installed on your server until you explicitly bootstrap it. The app talks to your VPS directly over SSH.

Download

Grab the installer from the Download page or straight from your dashboard once you're signed in — the download card there picks the right build for your OS automatically.

  • macOS — a universal .dmg that runs natively on both Apple Silicon and Intel.
  • Windows — an .msi installer for Windows 10/11.

Install on macOS

  1. Open the downloaded .dmg and drag DeployOS into your Applications folder.
  2. Launch it from Applications (or Spotlight).
  3. If the build you have isn't notarized yet, macOS Gatekeeper will refuse to open it with an "unidentified developer" warning. Right-click the app icon and choose Open instead of double-clicking — this shows a one-time confirmation dialog that a normal double-click doesn't.
  4. If that still doesn't work, clear the quarantine flag from Terminal:
xattr -dr com.apple.quarantine /Applications/DeployOS.app

Install on Windows

  1. Run the downloaded .msi file.
  2. If SmartScreen flags it as unrecognized, click More info → Run anyway.
  3. Follow the installer prompts. DeployOS is added to your Start menu.

First launch

On first launch you'll see a welcome screen asking how you want to work:

  • Simple — "Just deploy." Point DeployOS at a GitHub repo and it goes live. Server management, Docker, and networking details stay out of view.
  • Advanced — "Run my own servers." Full control over SSH, build methods, databases, backups, and networking.

You can change this later in Settings, and nothing you do in one mode is hidden from the other — Advanced always shows everything Simple did, plus more. See Choosing a Mode for the full breakdown.

💡 Tip — you don't need a server or a license to look around. The Free plan (see License Plans & Billing) lets you connect one real VPS and deploy for real, no card required.

Next: Choosing a Mode or jump straight to Adding a Server.

Next
Choosing a Mode: Simple vs Advanced