Is MATLAB compatible with macOS Catalina?

Does MATLAB support macOS Catalina (10.15)?

Answer 1

[MathWorks Support Team]

MATLAB is compatible with macOS Catalina (10.15) from release R2019b onwards.

For more details on compatibility and system requirements, at the following page, click Details in the Mac column for the release you want:

System Requirements for various releases of MATLAB.

Earlier versions of MATLAB do not officially support macOS Catalina. These versions may work, but MathWorks does not guarantee full compatibility with these releases on macOS Catalina.

MathWorks is currently aware of the following incompatibilities when running MATLAB on macOS Catalina:

1. Live Editor issues in MATLAB

Live Editor does not launch on macOS Catalina in MATLAB R2019a or earlier. To use Live Editor on macOS Catalina, upgrade to MATLAB R2019b or later.

2. Help Browser issues in MATLAB

Help Browser does not launch on macOS Catalina in MATLAB R2019a or earlier. Use MathWorks Online Documentation instead.

3. Property Inspector issues in MATLAB Figures

When you open the property inspector in a MATLAB figure window, MATLAB R2019b or earlier may display a blank property inspector window.

To resolve the issue, install R2019b Update 4 (or later), or upgrade to R2020a. In case the Property Inspector appears truncated, see the following MATLAB Answers Post:

https://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/answers/508141-why-is-my-property-inspector-truncated-on-macos-catalina-10-15-2-with-matlab-2019b-update-4

4. Symbolic Math Toolbox issues

When creating symbolic variables or expressions using the Symbolic Math Toolbox, MATLAB R2019a or earlier throws the following error:

Error using mupadmex 
Error in MuPAD command

To use Symbolic Math Toolbox on macOS Catalina, upgrade to MATLAB R2019b or later.

5. Issues with MATLAB Support Package for Arduino

Previously, there was an incompatibility that made it impossible to use MATLAB Support Packages for Arduino on macOS Catalina. This issue has been resolved. See the bug report below for more information:

https://www.mathworks.com/support/bugreports/2172231

[Jian-Jia Weng]

Hi, is there any timeline to fix the second problem? I am using R2019b on Catalina, and this problem happens, which causes a huge inconvenience...

[Walter Roberson]

Also, Mac people have noted that:

• sometimes plot lines after the first one do not get drawn
• legend oddities

for some people, these problems are linked to having an NVIDIA graphics card; Apple has not approved any NVIDIA drivers for Catalina. Though I am reading now that it is even more complicated than that; https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=20249048

[Walter Roberson]

• people are having difficulty with microphone access. Some people are able to authorize the microphone in System Preferences
• some people are getting prompted to allow network access every time they start MATLAB

[Walter Roberson]

https://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/answers/468831-is-matlab-compatible-with-macos-catalina#comment_753010

• some people have reported problems with Simulink Scope especially when zooming it
• some people are not able to start MATLAB unless they run from command line
• You might need to whitelist third-party DLLs; https://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/answers/485760-trouble-running-glmnet-in-matlab-r2019b-on-mac-os-catalina-10-15#answer_401576
• Inexplicable memory errors are reported https://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/answers/485524-matlabr2019b-keeps-on-giving-me-this-errors-every-second-please-help-me-macbook-pro-2017-13-inch
• Using magnet or Spectacle or Default Folder X can interfere with using MATLAB on Mojave or later. See https://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/answers/480796-not-responding-on-startup-macos-mojave#answer_398840 for a discussion by the developer of Default Folder X, who has a work-around for that product (and be sure to vote for his contribution) -- Accessibility is involved

[Christopher Ubing]

I have had trouble launching Matlab 2019b on my macbook pro. To solve this problem, I reinstalled the application and it seems to be working fine at this point.

[Walter Roberson]

There may be a bug preventing license errors from displaying; https://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/answers/488967-matlab-catalina-wont-open-then-says-not-responding-but-does-not-show-up-as-running-to-force-quit-c

[ybshokouhi]

Hi Any updates on the issues with the Arduino Packages for Apple devices and Catalina?

[X.Z. Tan]

R2019 update 4 may fix the Property Inspector issue.

Although I don't find a word on release note. Anyway, property inspector work well now on my Catalina.

[ybshokouhi]

Finally, thank you. I am assuming that if we download the laterst version of MATLAB, it should include the latest update.

[moheeb hameed]

2014b

i want signal processing tool box

[Walter Roberson]

moheeb hameed

R2014b is not compatible with OS-X Catalina, and is unlikely to work.

[Rumi Nakagawa]

I am using Catalina and downloaded 2019b but Live Editor is still not working

[Kapil Gupta]

Is R2020a compatiable with mac Catalina system or not ?

[Madison Tyler]

@kapil I also have this question

[Cody Lamke]

Hello,

MATLAB R2020a does support MacOS Catalina (10.15). For more information, please see our system requirement's page:

https://www.mathworks.com/support/requirements/matlab-system-requirements.html

If you are still experiencing an issue, please contact MathWorks support:

https://www.mathworks.com/support/contact_us.html

-Cody Lamke

[Beatriz Boa]

Hello, so my 2015b version won't run with MacOS Catalina?

[Walter Roberson]

It is unlikely that your R2015b version would run on MacOS Catalina.

[Nicola Grittani]

Hello,

i have a 2017b version of Matlab. In order to avoid problems with Catalina can i simply renew the software maintenance for the Simulink or i need to update all toolbox as well?

Answer 2

[Shauli Shmilovich]

Hi,

Is Matlab 2020a compatible with macOS Catalina (10.15.4)?

I've only seen information regarding 2019b here.

Thanks!

[Boris Wei]

Sure.However,when you are using cftool,it might become stuck. It really bothers me.Is anyone knows how to fix it?

[Cody Lamke]

Hello Boris Wei,

If you are still experiencing an issue, please contact MathWorks support:

https://www.mathworks.com/support/contact_us.html

-Cody Lamke

[Xin Shen]

For macOS Catalina 10.15.6, Matlab R2020a gets stuck when I open it. I have delete and install it again and again.

[Cody Lamke]

Hello,

It is possible that another application is using Accessibility features which are causing this issue. Please refer to the following MATLAB Answers link and navigate to Jon Gotow's answer where he describes how to check what applications use the Accessibility API.

https://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/answers/480796-not-responding-on-startup-macos-mojave

Disabling applications using Accessibility API and adding MATLAB may resolve the issue.

If the above does not work, you may resolve the error by providing MATLAB with full disk access.

If you are still experiencing this issue, please contact MathWorks support:

https://www.mathworks.com/support/contact_us.html

-Cody Lamke

[Qian Chen]

I turned off all the apps' privilege in accessibility list but matlab 2020b still stucks. My system version is 10.15.7 and matlab just keeps stucking when the UI has been turned out.

Answer 3

[Bode Muse]

Thia is all I get when trying to install. My Os is catalina. Multiple attempts, same issue. Any suggestions on how to fix this?

[Walter Roberson]

The most common cause of this problem is Windows Firewall interfering with the download. However I see that you are using Mac. Is it possible that you have an external firewall?

[Zhongsheng Sang]

I encounter the same issue on mac, how to fix it? I already put off the firewall in mac

[Colin Fraser]

Hi,

If you are still experiencing this issue, please contact MathWorks support:

https://www.mathworks.com/support/contact_us.html

-Colin Fraser

[DR RAJVEER SINGH]

i got the same error

[Cody Lamke]

Hello,

If you are still experiencing this issue, please contact MathWorks support:

https://www.mathworks.com/support/contact_us.html

-Cody Lamke

Answer 4

[Karim Wazni]

Regarding the compatibility with Arduino, when is the next planned fix of Matlab to use the Arduino IDE 1.8.10 which does work with Catalina in 64bits ?

Answer 5

[Justin Ghetti]

Hi,

If you are still experiencing this issue, please contact MathWorks support:

https://www.mathworks.com/support/contact_us.html

-Justin

Answer 6

[Phoenix]

Is there any workaround for property inspector being blank? So currently with Matlab 2019b we can not change Figure properties?

Answer 7

[David German]

I have the same issue - my OS is Catalina. Multiple attempts, same issue. Any suggestions on how to fix this?

[Colin Fraser]

IF you have any antivirus or firewall, disable those. You can also try starting the installer as an admininstrator or sudo in Terminal.

If you are still experiencing this issue, please contact MathWorks support:

https://www.mathworks.com/support/contact_us.html

-Colin Fraser

Answer 8

[ybshokouhi]

Why is everyone is posting YES here?

[Walter Roberson]

I think they are indicating that they have been successful in using MATLAB on Catalina on their systems. But it is still a bit odd, so... ??

None of the people answering Yes appear to have any other postings, so I cannot cross-check to see if they have mentioned using Mac before.

Answer 9

[Faisal Hussain]

After downloading half of MATLAB I am getting the following error!

"invalid distance too far"

Does anyone know how to resolve this issue?

[Colin Fraser]

Hi,

If you are still experiencing this issue, please contact MathWorks support:

https://www.mathworks.com/support/contact_us.html

-Colin Fraser

Answer 10

[Rohan Kale]

The issues with the MATLAB Support packages for Arduino in Catalina 10.15 has been resolved in 19.2.2 version of the support package .

Please update the MATLAB Support Package for Arduino to version 19.2.2 in R2019b to resolve this.

Follow this bug report

https://www.mathworks.com/support/bugreports/2172231

for more details on this topic

Answer 11

[Li Hang]

R2019b can launch and run normally in my mac with macOS 10.15.3. But after I update to 10.15.4 it gets stuck and becomes no responding every time I open it and reinstallation also does not solve this problem. Then I find that if I change the matlab directory name in folder /''Applications'' (for example Matlab_R2019b.app to MATLAB_R2019b,app) it can start and run normally at the first opening after renaming. But it gets stuck again from the second launch. Any ideas or suggestions?

PS: When installing R2019b I changed the default installation path to "/Applications/Matlab_R2019b.app" for launch convenience

[Cody Lamke]

Hello,

If you are still experiencing this issue, please contact MathWorks support:

https://www.mathworks.com/support/contact_us.html

-Cody Lamke

Answer 12

[Lonkong Clovis]

i can download matlab on vle

[Walter Roberson]

? What is "vle" for this purpose ?

Answer 13

[Nguyen Manh Cuong]

hi, I'm Vietnamese. I'm beginning with MatLab for Mac Mojave 10.14.6 but I don't have a license for it. Can you help me?

[Walter Roberson]

I am not sure if you will be able to purchase online: https://www.mathworks.com/store/

If not then you need to contact the Vietnamese distributor TechSource Systemshttps://www.mathworks.com/company/aboutus/contact_us.html#VN

Answer 14

[OUJAOURA MUSTAPHA]

No, it's not compatible with Mac catalina, the system doesn't allow permission for webcam to start, the only solution is to start matlab from terminal

[Walter Roberson]

This appears to be related to microphone and webcam privacy, https://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/answers/488280-microphone-giving-only-zero-samples-for-2019b-on-macos-10-14-mojave

Answer 15

[Bode Muse]

I was asked to turn off firewalls, install on safe mode all suggestions given didn’t work. I haven’t bothered since then

[Colin Fraser]

Hi,

If you are still experiencing this issue, please contact MathWorks support:

https://www.mathworks.com/support/contact_us.html

-Colin Fraser

Answer 16

[Ziqi Zhang]

Still cannot open property inspector, any way to solve this problem?

[Colin Fraser]

Hi,

If you are still experiencing this issue, please contact MathWorks support:

https://www.mathworks.com/support/contact_us.html

-Colin Fraser

[X.Z. Tan]

R2019 update4 fix the blank property inspector and window dispear in mission control problems on Catalina. Please try update.

The update message should be found on the top right corner of the MATLAB window (the bell button).

Answer 17

[Juan Camilo Montilla Vargas]

I CAN'T DOWNLOAD WHO CAN HELP ME PLEASE?

[Justin Ghetti]

Hi,

If you are still experiencing this issue, please contact MathWorks support:

https://www.mathworks.com/support/contact_us.html

-Justin

Answer 18

[moheeb hameed]

2014b

[Walter Roberson]

There is no realistic chance of getting R2014b working on Catalina, sorry.

Answer 19

[Sekou Bamba]

Did they fix the issue ?

I was able to dowload it without any issue on 02/02/2020

SIncerely,

Answer 20

[akram qashou]

hi , how i get key activation key ?

[Walter Roberson]

https://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/answers/102845-where-can-i-find-the-activation-key-and-file-installation-key-fik-for-my-license

Answer 21

[Lili Gately]

How do i resolve a notice that states i have macOS 10.12.6 while the application requires macOS 10.13.6 or later... how do I work around this because I need access to matlab

[Walter Roberson]

You will either need to upgrade to High Sierra or later, or you will need to use R2019a or appropriate earlier versions. Release R2019b is not supported for Sierra.

Answer 22

[DJ8888]

Thank you Mathworks for screwing up my license with MAC OSX....and apparently Catalina.

Do me a favor next time...Pick up the phone (send an email) to Apple and get an update on their OS roadmap.

Whaddya think? Good idea or no?

smh

[Walter Roberson]

Mathworks is not able to obtain that level of information from Apple. They do try.

Apple has been making a lot of changes recently without giving industry enough time to adjust or even giving enough information about the interactions of the changes.

Apple has been quite difficult to get information from these days.

[Bradley Evans]

Apple is pretty snooty these days. Hey, when you're Number 1, why make anyone happy? Best to buy a PC, cut the costs of purchasing a computer by 80%, and maybe Matlab will work on your PC. Apple was best back when Jobs and Wozniak had it. Tim Cook? How about Tim Crook?

Answer 23

[DJ8888]

Do not disturb....Math Majors at work...shhh... 43% of 1,668 = (May not be 118 MB) but dont tell them that.

[Walter Roberson]

43% is relative to everything that was queued to be downloaded; 118 is related to the current file.

Answer 24

[Valentine Van Keerberghen]

I can't open MATLAB anymore. I've got a MacBook Pro, macOS Catalina, version 10.15.3 and I use MATLAB_R2019b. I get the same error message over and over again. Can someone help me out ?

Thank you!

[tailong xiao]

Of course. When you first open up Matlab, you need to reboot your computer. Then press the button of matlab. You need wait since it will cost some time. The interface is not smooth. Then you need to change the JAVA heap size to maximum. May it will be better. Also you can shut down the code mannger in general setting.

[Colin Fraser]

Hi,

If you are still experiencing this issue, please contact MathWorks support:

https://www.mathworks.com/support/contact_us.html

-Colin Fraser

Answer 25

[FAKHER UL DIN]

ACTIVATION KEY

[FAKHER UL DIN]

WHat is the activation key of matlab

[Walter Roberson]

It is a sequence of letters and numbers that in combination with the identifiers of your hardware is used to authorize MATLAB to run on your computer.

Answer 26

[Alhasan Hadi]

Hi i downlaod 2019b and i am using latest sowftwer mac OS Catalina 10.15.4. i am getting this error massage right away after i install matlab.

anyone can help ?

[Walter Roberson]

I suggest trying to move your preferences directory aside so that MATLAB recreates it. The preferences directory should be Library/Application Support/MathWorks/MATLAB/R2019b under your home directory. Rename that to something else as an experiment.

[Alhasan Hadi]

i went to finder then applicastions. i rename it to mtalab123. but i am still getting the same error massage. if you please can explain step by step.

Answer 27

[BHB NACEUR]

is matlab R 2020a compatible with Mac OS 10.8.5? Thank you.

[Walter Roberson]

No! R2014b was the last release supported on Mountain Lion. You might be able to get away with a couple of releases after that, but you should expect it would fail by R2018a or so if not earlier.

Answer 28

[Kapil Gupta]

is MATLAB R2020a is compatible with mac catalina version 10.15.3 or not ?

[Walter Roberson]

When you phrase the question that way, I think that the only possible answer for you is that R2019b and R2020a are not compatible with MacOS Catalina.

Both R2019b an R2020a are intended to be compatible with MacOS Catalina, but MacOS Catalina introduced a lot of changes and it has not been possible to fix all of the problems yet. At least one incompatibility remains, so if a Yes or No answer is required, then the answer would have to be No.

By the way: if you were to ask "Is wheat compatible with humans or not?" and those are the only two answers permitted, the answer would have to be "not". Wheat has been grown by humans for close to 12000 years, and agricultural selection has been going on for that time, making wheat more and more compatible with humans, but there is still a portion of humans that are allergic to wheatgerm -- at least one incompatibility remains for about 0.21% of the population, so if we are forced to say "Yes" or "No" for compatibility then we would have to say "No" because otherwise we would be promising that absolutely no one would encounter a wheat allergy.

Answer 29

[Denis Vedenkin]

Hi everybody!

Yes, i have installed MatLAB 2020a to Catalina 10.15.4>

I waited for a 30 minutes before it stopped rotate the circle on 99% of installation process>

Now it works.

Answer 30

[Gianluca Marchetti]

Hi everyone,

I have an old mac with Os X 10.11.16 El Capitan.

Is there a way to install Matlab 2019 or Matlab 2020 with a trial license on my ol Mac?

Best regards.

[Cody Lamke]

Hello,

Neither R2019b or R2020a support MacOS 10.11. For more information, please refer to our system requirements page:

https://www.mathworks.com/support/requirements/previous-releases.html

If you are still experiencing this issue, please contact MathWorks support:

https://www.mathworks.com/support/contact_us.html

-Cody Lamke

Answer 31

[Joel Landivar]

So, I am trying to use the Arduino Engineering Kit which comes with a Matlab Licence, however, the License allows me to install Matlab 2019a which apparently is not compatible with MacOs 10.15.4 . What should I do then? I am so dissapointed with this purchase. How can I download R2019b or R2020a if my Arduino Engineering Kit does not allow me to do it?

[Walter Roberson]

I am not familiar with that kit or the licensing of it.I notice from the web page for it that,

"MATLAB, Simulink, Stateflow, and ten other add-on products are included in the kit at no extra cost. The Arduino Engineering Kit includes a one-year license of these products for one individual. "

and

"The Arduino engineering kit includes a one year license for Matlab and Simulink for free. If you wish to continue using Matlab/Simulink after the trial period, you can purchase a new license by following the link below:"

I am concerned about the possibility that the license might already have only at most 5 1/2 months remaining before it expires.

Normally if someone arranges a 1 year license, that would either be relative to the time of activation or else would have fixed dates (e.g., aligned with a school year.) I am surprised it would get you an R2019a license.

Hmmm, buried in the FAQ I see they say R2018a !

I would suggest contacting https://www.mathworks.com/company/aboutus/contact_us/arduino_engineering_kit.html

Answer 32

[Rajani Metri]

Hello,

MATLAB 2020a works in macOS Catalina version 10.15.5, but it does not create the MATLAB icon in Launch pad as well as when I tried to make MATLAB as defult program for m files, the "MATLABWindow" icon is in disabled option. So need to select All Programs, and then selected the MATLAB icon. But still when I double click on those m files, MATLAB doesn't open the files.

If we open the MATLAB from Launchpad and then using "open" file option in MATLAB we can open m files.

So I think its not fully compatible.

Answer 33

[Oldrich Jirsak]

I do not understand the problem. I have used Matlab since 2018 and now I must reinstall it. Please, help

[Colin Fraser]

If you are still experiencing this issue, please create a service request below.

https://www.mathworks.com/support/contact_us.html

-Colin Fraser

[DR RAJVEER SINGH]

yes. I am using MATLAB r2021a on MAC OS Catalina. it creates the matlab icon in Launchpad.