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Installing Limestone (macOS beta)

Limestone runs on your own computer — your notes and data stay in your folders, and nothing goes to our servers. During the beta the desktop app is macOS-only (Windows and Linux are coming) and unsigned, so the first launch takes one extra click.

1. Download

Get the app from app.limestone.bio — the Download for macOS button — or directly:

2. Install

  1. Open the downloaded Limestone-macOS.dmg.
  2. Drag Limestone into your Applications folder.
  3. Eject the disk image.

3. First launch (the unsigned-app step)

Because the beta build isn't signed by Apple yet, macOS Gatekeeper will warn you the first time. This is expected — do this once:

  • Right-click (or Control-click) Limestone in Applications and choose Open, then Open again in the dialog.
  • If you don't see an Open option, go to System Settings ▸ Privacy & Security, scroll to the message about Limestone, and click Open Anyway.

After the first time, Limestone opens normally like any other app.

4. Get started

Open the app and sign in with your Limestone account (the email your invitation was sent to). Then:

  • Set your encryption passphrase when prompted — this publishes your key so an admin can grant you access to shared vaults. See encrypted-vaults-guide.md.
  • Get your team's shared-vault folder onto your Mac via your sync tool (Google Drive, Dropbox, Syncthing), then add it as a sync folder — Limestone attaches it automatically. See syncing-your-vault.md.
  • Open the shared vault and start working.

Troubleshooting

  • "Limestone is damaged and can't be opened." This can appear on downloads that macOS quarantined. Remove the quarantine flag in Terminal: xattr -dr com.apple.quarantine "/Applications/Limestone.app", then open it.
  • The download says "coming soon" / "macOS-only." The button is live once a beta release is published; on Windows/Linux the desktop app isn't available during the beta yet.