Is MATLAB compatible with macOS Catalina?
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MathWorks Support Team
on 6 Nov 2019
Commented: Martin Tong
on 26 Dec 2022
Does MATLAB support macOS Catalina (10.15)?
Accepted Answer
MathWorks Support Team
on 2 Sep 2020
Edited: MathWorks Support Team
on 2 Sep 2020
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:
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:
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:
18 Comments
Nicola Grittani
on 25 Jan 2021
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?
More Answers (32)
Shauli Shmilovich
on 25 Mar 2020
Hi,
Is Matlab 2020a compatible with macOS Catalina (10.15.4)?
I've only seen information regarding 2019b here.
Thanks!
5 Comments
Qian Chen
on 30 Sep 2020
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.
Bode Muse
on 12 Dec 2019
Edited: Walter Roberson
on 12 Dec 2019
Thia is all I get when trying to install. My Os is catalina. Multiple attempts, same issue. Any suggestions on how to fix this?

5 Comments
Cody Lamke
on 16 Apr 2020
Edited: MathWorks Support Team
on 10 Jun 2022
Hello,
If you are still experiencing this issue, please contact MathWorks support:
-Cody Lamke
Karim Wazni
on 14 Dec 2019
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 ?
0 Comments
Justin Ghetti
on 20 Nov 2019
Edited: MathWorks Support Team
on 10 Jun 2022
Hi,
If you are still experiencing this issue, please contact MathWorks support:
-Justin
0 Comments
Phoenix
on 19 Dec 2019
Is there any workaround for property inspector being blank? So currently with Matlab 2019b we can not change Figure properties?
0 Comments
David German
on 3 Jan 2020
I have the same issue - my OS is Catalina. Multiple attempts, same issue. Any suggestions on how to fix this?

1 Comment
Colin Fraser
on 15 Jan 2020
Edited: MathWorks Support Team
on 10 Jun 2022
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:
-Colin Fraser
ybshokouhi
on 5 Feb 2020
Why is everyone is posting YES here?
1 Comment
Walter Roberson
on 5 Feb 2020
Edited: Walter Roberson
on 5 Feb 2020
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.
Faisal Hussain
on 9 Mar 2020
After downloading half of MATLAB I am getting the following error!
"invalid distance too far"
Does anyone know how to resolve this issue?
1 Comment
Colin Fraser
on 18 Mar 2020
Edited: MathWorks Support Team
on 10 Jun 2022
Hi,
If you are still experiencing this issue, please contact MathWorks support:
-Colin Fraser
Rohan Kale
on 9 Mar 2020
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
for more details on this topic
0 Comments
Li Hang
on 3 Apr 2020
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
1 Comment
Cody Lamke
on 16 Apr 2020
Edited: MathWorks Support Team
on 10 Jun 2022
Hello,
If you are still experiencing this issue, please contact MathWorks support:
-Cody Lamke
Nguyen Manh Cuong
on 2 Jan 2020
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?
1 Comment
Walter Roberson
on 3 Jan 2020
If not then you need to contact the Vietnamese distributor TechSource Systemshttps://www.mathworks.com/company/aboutus/contact_us.html#VN
OUJAOURA MUSTAPHA
on 2 Jan 2020
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
1 Comment
Walter Roberson
on 3 Jan 2020
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
Bode Muse
on 3 Jan 2020
I was asked to turn off firewalls, install on safe mode all suggestions given didn’t work. I haven’t bothered since then
1 Comment
Colin Fraser
on 15 Jan 2020
Edited: MathWorks Support Team
on 10 Jun 2022
Hi,
If you are still experiencing this issue, please contact MathWorks support:
-Colin Fraser
Ziqi Zhang
on 11 Jan 2020
Still cannot open property inspector, any way to solve this problem?
2 Comments
Juan Camilo Montilla Vargas
on 18 Jan 2020
I CAN'T DOWNLOAD WHO CAN HELP ME PLEASE?
1 Comment
Justin Ghetti
on 22 Jan 2020
Edited: MathWorks Support Team
on 10 Jun 2022
Hi,
If you are still experiencing this issue, please contact MathWorks support:
-Justin
moheeb hameed
on 29 Jan 2020
2014b
1 Comment
Walter Roberson
on 5 Feb 2020
There is no realistic chance of getting R2014b working on Catalina, sorry.
Sekou Bamba
on 2 Feb 2020
Did they fix the issue ?
I was able to dowload it without any issue on 02/02/2020
SIncerely,
0 Comments
Lili Gately
on 24 Feb 2020
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
1 Comment
Walter Roberson
on 24 Feb 2020
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.
DJ8888
on 13 Mar 2020
Edited: Walter Roberson
on 27 Mar 2020
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
2 Comments
Bradley Evans
on 29 Mar 2020
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?
DJ8888
on 13 Mar 2020
Do not disturb....Math Majors at work...shhh... 43% of 1,668 = (May not be 118 MB) but dont tell them that.

1 Comment
Walter Roberson
on 13 Mar 2020
43% is relative to everything that was queued to be downloaded; 118 is related to the current file.
Valentine Van Keerberghen
on 16 Mar 2020
Edited: Valentine Van Keerberghen
on 16 Mar 2020
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!
2 Comments
Colin Fraser
on 18 Mar 2020
Edited: MathWorks Support Team
on 10 Jun 2022
Hi,
If you are still experiencing this issue, please contact MathWorks support:
-Colin Fraser
FAKHER UL DIN
on 18 Mar 2020
ACTIVATION KEY
2 Comments
Walter Roberson
on 18 Mar 2020
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.
Alhasan Hadi
on 27 Mar 2020
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 ?

2 Comments
Alhasan Hadi
on 27 Mar 2020
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.
BHB NACEUR
on 30 Mar 2020
is matlab R 2020a compatible with Mac OS 10.8.5? Thank you.
1 Comment
Walter Roberson
on 30 Mar 2020
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.
Kapil Gupta
on 1 Apr 2020
is MATLAB R2020a is compatible with mac catalina version 10.15.3 or not ?
1 Comment
Walter Roberson
on 1 Apr 2020
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.
Denis Vedenkin
on 4 Apr 2020
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.
0 Comments
Gianluca Marchetti
on 7 Apr 2020
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.
1 Comment
Cody Lamke
on 16 Apr 2020
Edited: MathWorks Support Team
on 10 Jun 2022
Hello,
Neither R2019b or R2020a support MacOS 10.11. For more information, please refer to our system requirements page:
If you are still experiencing this issue, please contact MathWorks support:
-Cody Lamke
Joel Landivar
on 9 Apr 2020
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?
1 Comment
Walter Roberson
on 9 Apr 2020
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
Rajani Metri
on 1 Jun 2020
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.
0 Comments
Oldrich Jirsak
on 19 Oct 2020
I do not understand the problem. I have used Matlab since 2018 and now I must reinstall it. Please, help
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