In the previous article QGIS 4.0 Delayed: New Release Scheduled for February 2026, the editor introduced the latest progress on QGIS 4.0 development, noting that the originally planned QGIS 4.0 version has been postponed to February 2026. This is very disappointing news for many macOS users, especially those with M-series chips, as everyone has been waiting for the official native QGIS application for Mac M chips. Consequently, users will have to continue using the translated version of QGIS (which still works). However, there is good news: the official team has ported the Mac packaging method originally intended for QGIS 4.0 to the QGIS 3.x series. This means that an official native QGIS 3.x version for Mac M chips is now available. The editor checked today and confirmed that the official website has been updated. Users still on the Intel-translated version are highly recommended to upgrade immediately!

The Previous Method

Even if the official team hadn't ported this process, Mac users with M chips could still use a native QGIS 3.x version, but the method was quite cumbersome. You can refer to the articles previously written by the editor:

  1. Summary of Methods for Installing QGIS Natively on Mac M-Series Chips (M1/M2/M3/M4)
  2. 「GIS Tutorial」Method for Installing Native QGIS on M1 (Apple Silicon) MacBooks

However, by the end of 2025, the above two methods can be abandoned as they are too troublesome. Now, you can directly download the pre-packaged installer from the official website.

Then, simply install it locally.

Performance Comparison

Currently, the official version's package name has been changed, allowing both versions to coexist on a Mac, as shown below:

We ran both versions directly and checked the system monitor, as shown below:

It can be observed that the current official QGIS 3.44.5 is already a native version for M chips.

Upgrade Strategy

If you have old projects and currently have ongoing projects in production, the editor still recommends not upgrading unnecessarily. After all, the Chinese New Year is approaching, and it would be counterproductive if an environment upgrade caused project failures.

If you are a QGIS 3.x user, for example, using QGIS 3.42, and do not have the burden of production tasks, the editor recommends upgrading immediately. Although the practical experience doesn't show a significant speed improvement (the editor initially thought it was slightly faster but considers it a psychological effect), upgrading to QGIS 3.44.5 allows you to experience the latest features of the QGIS 3.x series. For instance, the 3D globe view feature introduced in the editor's previous article QGIS 3.44 Released with Official Support for 3D Globe View! can now be experienced by Mac users after the upgrade!