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# How to Install Redis on Mac: A Clear Step-by-Step Guide
- URL: https://rolloutready.com/install-redis-mac/
- Published: 2026-10-24T07:23:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-24T16:21:25.000Z
- Description: This guide shows how to install Redis on Mac using Homebrew or manual methods with clear, step-by-step instructions for setup and management.
- Author: Daniel Hayes
- Tags: Redis, MacOS, Software Installation, Development Tools

Setting up Redis on your Mac can be straightforward, yet deciding between using Homebrew or manual installation methods might slow you down. Whether you're a developer or system administrator, understanding these options helps ensure you get Redis running efficiently for your needs.

This article covers how to install Redis on Mac, comparing Homebrew and manual approaches, explaining how to start the Redis server, and guiding you through installing Redis CLI and Redis Insight for a complete environment. You'll find clear, step-by-step instructions to set up Redis for development, testing, and management on your Mac.

## Key takeaways

- Homebrew offers a quick and simple way to install Redis with automatic updates.
- Manual installation provides control over specific Redis versions and configurations.
- Starting the Redis server involves running a simple command or using Homebrew services.
- Redis CLI is essential for command-line interactions and can be installed alongside the server.
- Redis Insight offers a graphical interface for easier Redis data management on Mac.

## Before you start: What you need to install Redis on Mac

To install Redis on your Mac, ensure your system meets the necessary requirements. Redis supports macOS versions from 10.14 Mojave and later, including macOS Catalina, Big Sur, Monterey, and Ventura. Your Mac should have at least 4 GB of RAM and sufficient free disk space, typically a few hundred megabytes, to accommodate Redis and related tools.

Familiarity with the command line is essential. You should be comfortable opening the Terminal app and executing commands. Administrative privileges are often required, so ensure you have access to an account with sudo rights or the ability to enter your password when prompted.

While installing Redis without Homebrew is possible, having Homebrew installed streamlines package management and dependency resolution. Homebrew is widely used on macOS, favored by many developers for its simplicity in installing and updating software from the command line. If you choose to use Homebrew, confirm it is installed and updated before proceeding.

An active internet connection is necessary to download Redis and any dependencies, whether through Homebrew or manual installation. Ensure your network allows access to external repositories.

1. Check your macOS version by clicking the Apple menu and selecting 'About This Mac'. You should see a version number 10.14 or higher.  
*If your version is supported, proceed to the next step.*
2. Open Terminal (found in Applications > Utilities) and verify you can run commands with administrative privileges by typing **sudo ls**. Enter your password when prompted.  
*A successful directory listing confirms you have the needed permissions.*
3. If you plan to use Homebrew, type **brew --version** in Terminal.  
*If Homebrew is installed, its version will appear. If not, you can install it later.*
4. Confirm your Mac is connected to the internet and can access external URLs, as this is required for downloading Redis and related tools.

## How to install Redis on Mac using Homebrew

Homebrew is the simplest and most popular way to install Redis on Mac, streamlining the process and handling dependencies automatically.

1. Check if Homebrew is installed by running **brew --version** in Terminal. If not installed, go to [https://brew.sh](https://brew.sh/?ref=rolloutready.com) and follow the installation instructions. Successful installation shows a version number, e.g., *Homebrew 4.0.0*.
2. Install Redis by entering **brew install redis**. The Terminal will display download progress and installation steps. When finished, you should see a message like *\==> Pouring redis--x.y.z.catalina.bottle.tar.gz* followed by a successful installation note.
3. Verify the Redis installation and version with **redis-server --version**. This confirms the installed Redis version and build details.
4. Start the Redis server using Homebrew services by running **brew services start redis**. You will see output confirming Redis started, such as *Service \`redis\` started successfully*.
5. Test that Redis is running by connecting with **redis-cli ping**. A successful response returns *PONG*.

Compared to manual installation, this method is faster and requires fewer commands, reducing potential errors. Homebrew automatically manages updates and dependencies, which is convenient for ongoing maintenance.

## How to install Redis on Mac without Homebrew

1. Download the latest Redis source code from the official website at [https://redis.io/download](https://redis.io/download?ref=rolloutready.com). You should get a tarball file such as *redis-x.y.z.tar.gz*. Once downloaded, open Terminal and navigate to your Downloads folder; you should see the file listed with `ls`.
2. Extract the tarball using the command `tar xzf redis-x.y.z.tar.gz`. This unpacks the source code into a directory named *redis-x.y.z*. Verify extraction by listing the directory contents with `ls redis-x.y.z`.
3. Change into the Redis source directory with `cd redis-x.y.z`. Prepare the build by running `make`. Successful compilation will display output ending with "All tests passed" and produce binaries such as *redis-server* and *redis-cli* in the *src* folder.
4. If you encounter errors during compilation, ensure Command Line Tools for Xcode are installed by running `xcode-select --install`. Missing dependencies or permissions can also cause build failures.
5. Install the Redis binaries manually by copying them to a directory in your PATH. For example, use `sudo cp src/redis-server /usr/local/bin/` and `sudo cp src/redis-cli /usr/local/bin/`. Confirm installation by running `redis-server --version` and `redis-cli --version`.
6. To start the Redis server, execute `redis-server` in Terminal. You will see startup logs indicating the server is running and listening on the default port 6379\. You can open a new Terminal window to interact with Redis using `redis-cli`.

This manual method requires more steps but gives you control over the Redis version and installation location without relying on package managers.

![How to install Redis on Mac without Homebrew – how to install Redis on Mac](https://rolloutready.com/content/images/2026/10/install-redis-mac-2.webp)

## How to start Redis server on Mac after installation

After installing Redis, you can start the server manually or manage it as a background service depending on your installation method.

### Starting Redis manually via command line

1. Open Terminal.
2. Enter **redis-server** and press Enter. You should see output indicating Redis is running, including a message like "Ready to accept connections." This means the server is active in the foreground.
3. To test the server, open a new Terminal window and type **redis-cli ping**. A response of *PONG* confirms Redis is running.

### Using brew services to manage Redis

1. If you installed Redis with Homebrew, you can run it as a background service by typing **brew services start redis** in Terminal.
2. To ensure Redis started successfully, use **brew services list**. It should show Redis with a status of *started*.
3. Check the server with **redis-cli ping**, which should return *PONG*.
4. To stop the service, run **brew services stop redis**. Restart it with **brew services restart redis**.

Managing Redis as a service allows it to start automatically on system boot and run in the background, freeing your Terminal for other tasks.

## How to install Redis CLI on Mac

The Redis command line interface, **redis-cli**, is included automatically when you install the Redis server. This tool is essential for interacting with your Redis instance by sending commands and receiving responses.

To use redis-cli, simply open your Terminal and type `redis-cli`. If your Redis server is running locally, the CLI connects immediately, showing a prompt where you can enter commands.

Here are common commands to test your Redis connection:

- `ping`: Replies with `PONG` if Redis is reachable.
- `set mykey "Hello"`: Sets a key named `mykey` with the value "Hello".
- `get mykey`: Retrieves the value of `mykey`, expected to return "Hello".

If you installed Redis manually and do not have redis-cli available, you can build it from the Redis source code or install it separately. However, most users get redis-cli bundled with the server installation.

1. Open Terminal and enter `redis-cli`. You should see a prompt like `127.0.0.1:6379>`.
2. Type `ping` and press Enter. You should see `PONG`, confirming the CLI is communicating with the server.
3. Type `set testkey "Redis CLI works"` and press Enter. The response should be `OK`.
4. Type `get testkey` and press Enter. The output should be `"Redis CLI works"`.

These steps verify that redis-cli is installed and functioning correctly on your Mac.

## How to install Redis Insight on Mac for GUI management

Redis Insight is a graphical tool designed to help you visually manage and monitor your Redis instances on Mac. It provides an intuitive interface for inspecting data, running commands, and analyzing performance.

1. Visit the official Redis website at [https://redis.com/redis-enterprise/redis-insight/](https://redis.com/redis-enterprise/redis-insight/?ref=rolloutready.com) and download the macOS installer.
2. Open the downloaded.dmg file and drag the Redis Insight app to your Applications folder. This completes the installation.
3. Launch Redis Insight from the Applications folder. On first run, you will see a welcome screen prompting you to add a Redis database connection.
4. Click **Add Redis Database** and enter the connection details for your local Redis server, typically host *127.0.0.1* and port *6379*. If you use a password, enter it here.
5. After adding the connection, Redis Insight will display a dashboard showing key metrics like memory usage, command stats, and connected clients.
6. Use the sidebar to browse keys, run Redis commands interactively, and visualize data structures such as hashes and sorted sets.

The Redis Insight interface includes charts and tables that update in real time, helping you quickly identify performance bottlenecks. Its visual approach simplifies managing complex Redis data compared to command-line tools alone.

## How to set up Redis on Mac for development and testing

Configuring Redis for development involves adjusting the **redis.conf** file to suit local testing needs. You can find this file in your Redis installation directory or generate one if missing.

![How to set up Redis on Mac for development and testing – how to install Redis on Mac](https://rolloutready.com/content/images/2026/10/install-redis-mac-3.webp)

1. Open `redis.conf` in a text editor. You should see configuration parameters controlling memory, persistence, and security.
2. Set `save 900 1` to enable snapshotting every 900 seconds if at least one key changes. This is a balanced persistence mode suitable for development. Alternatively, `save ""` disables persistence, useful for ephemeral testing.
3. To disable AOF persistence, set `appendonly no`. For development, snapshotting is typically enough and simpler.
4. Adjust `bind 127.0.0.1` to restrict Redis access to localhost, which enhances security for local development.
5. Disable protected mode only if you have strict local firewall rules; otherwise, leave `protected-mode yes` enabled to prevent unauthorized access.
6. Restart the Redis server after changes. You should see logs indicating the new settings are active.

Redis works well with languages like Python, Node.js, and Ruby, using client libraries such as *redis-py*, *node-redis*, and *redis-rb*. Connect to Redis on `localhost:6379` from your applications for seamless integration during development.

Choosing between snapshotting and append-only file (AOF) persistence balances durability and performance. Snapshotting writes data less frequently, reducing disk use but risking more data loss on crashes. AOF logs every write command, offering better durability but more I/O overhead. For typical development and testing, snapshotting is often sufficient.

## Troubleshooting common Redis installation issues on Mac

If the Redis server fails to start or crashes immediately, first check for port conflicts. Redis defaults to port 6379, so if another service uses this port, Redis won’t bind properly. Use **lsof -i:6379** to identify the conflicting process and stop it or configure Redis to use a different port in `redis.conf`.

Permission errors during installation or running Redis often indicate insufficient user privileges. Ensure you run installation commands with appropriate permissions—using `sudo` when necessary. Additionally, verify that your user has read and write access to Redis directories, especially if you manually installed Redis.

Verifying that Redis commands are accessible requires checking your `PATH` environment variable. Run `echo $PATH` and ensure the directory containing Redis binaries (commonly `/usr/local/bin` or the Homebrew bin directory) is included. If not, add it by editing your shell profile (e.g., `.zshrc` or `.bash_profile`).

To debug issues, examine Redis log files. If running Redis as a service, logs are typically located at `/usr/local/var/log/redis.log` or specified in `redis.conf` under `logfile`. Error messages like *"Address already in use"* indicate port conflicts, while *"Permission denied"* points to access issues.

1. Run `redis-server` from the terminal. Successful start shows "Ready to accept connections" message.
2. If it fails, run `lsof -i:6379` to check for port conflicts; stop conflicting processes.
3. Check Redis logs for error details: `tail -n 20 /usr/local/var/log/redis.log`.
4. Verify permissions on Redis directories: `ls -ld /usr/local/var/db/redis` and adjust with `chmod` or `chown` as needed.
5. Confirm Redis CLI is in PATH: `which redis-cli` should return a valid path.

## More on this topic

- [How to Install MongoDB on Mac: A Clear Step-by-Step Guide](https://rolloutready.com/install-mongodb-mac-step-by-step/)
- [How to Install Python on Mac: A Clear Step-by-Step Guide](https://rolloutready.com/install-python-mac/)
- [How to Install Node.js with NVM on Mac: A Clear Step-by-Step Guide](https://rolloutready.com/install-nodejs-nvm-mac/)
- [How to Install Rust on Mac: A Clear Step-by-Step Guide](https://rolloutready.com/install-rust-mac/)

## Frequently asked questions

### How to install redis on macos?

You can install Redis on macOS either using Homebrew or by compiling from source. With Homebrew, run **brew install redis** in the Terminal and follow the prompts. Without Homebrew, download the Redis source code from the official website, then compile it using *make* commands in Terminal. Both methods require some familiarity with command-line tools.

### How to install redis on windows?

Redis is not natively supported on Windows, but you can use Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) to run Redis on Windows 10 or later. Install WSL with a Linux distribution like Ubuntu, then install Redis within that environment. Alternatively, you can use third-party ports or Docker containers to run Redis on Windows.

### How to start redis in mac?

After installing Redis on Mac, start the Redis server by running **redis-server** in your Terminal. If installed via Homebrew, you can also start it as a background service using **brew services start redis**. Confirm the server is running by connecting with the Redis CLI or checking active processes.

### How to setup redis on mac?

Setting up Redis on Mac involves installing the Redis server and CLI, then starting the server. Optionally, you can configure Redis by editing its *redis.conf* file to adjust settings like memory limits or persistence. For development, installing Redis Insight provides a graphical interface to manage and monitor your Redis instances.

### How to install redis server on mac?

To install the Redis server on Mac, the simplest way is using Homebrew by running **brew install redis**. This installs both the server and CLI tools. If you prefer manual installation, download the latest stable source code from Redis.io, then compile it with *make* and install using Terminal commands.

## What this guide does not cover

This guide does not cover Redis cluster setup or advanced production-grade configurations. If you are planning to deploy Redis in a production environment, it is essential to consult the official Redis documentation for best practices on security, scaling, and high availability. Additionally, consider using managed Redis services that handle maintenance, backups, and failover automatically, which can save time and reduce complexity.

To move forward effectively, focus first on verifying that your Redis installation runs smoothly on your Mac. Try running basic Redis commands via the CLI and experiment with Redis Insight to familiarize yourself with its graphical interface. This hands-on approach will build a solid foundation before exploring more complex setups or production use cases.