Installing SQL Developer on Mac OS

Download SQL Developer from Oracle.com

Click on the following link:

https://www.oracle.com/tools/downloads/sqldev-downloads.html

Scroll to the Mac OSX options.

Important

Identify the processor architecture of the Mac where SQL Developer will be installed before selecting a download option. To find this, see the documentation for Finding a Mac's CPU Architecture.

If your Mac has an Intel-based processor, click on the download for 'Mac OSX with JDK 11 Included'. If your Mac is running an M1 or M2-based (Apple Silicon) processor, click on the download for 'Mac ARM64 with JDK 11 Included'. For best performance and compatibility, it is important to ensure that the version you download is correct for the processor installed in the target Mac.

Oracle requires a free Developer account in order to download this product, log in if you have an Oracle account or follow the process to create a free Developer account. Once that is complete, the download will begin:

Open the downloaded Zip to extract the SQL Developer app, then drag the extracted SQL Developer App to the Applications folder:

Launching SQL Developer

Attempt to open SQL Developer from the Applications folder or LaunchPad:

Click ‘Open’ on the Mac OS Security prompt:

Authorize the next security prompt as well:

Important

When running versions of SQL Developer older than 22.21.234.1810 (September 12, 2022), the following error may be displayed if a compatible Java JDK is unavailable, see the ‘Installing Java JDK Version 11 on Mac OS’ section of this document:

Versions of SQL Developer 22.21.234.1810 (September 12, 2022) and newer include an embedded Java 11 that should bypass any Java compatibility issues. If there is a compatible Java JDK available, SQL Developer launches:

Click ‘No’ on the ‘Import’ prompt:

Installation of SQL Developer is now complete.

Installing Java JDK Version 11 on Mac OS

Note

Versions of SQL Developer 22.21.234.1810 (September 12, 2022) and newer include an embedded Java 11 that should bypass any Java compatibility issues.

If you are running an older version of SQL Developer and a suitable version of Java’s Development Kit is unavailable, SQL Developer will fail to launch with the following error:

Please follow the documentation for 'installing an appropriate version of Java on Mac'. This should not be required for versions of SQL Developer 22.21.234.1810 (September 12, 2022) and newer.

Once Java is installed, attempt launching SQL Developer again.

Click ‘No’ on the ‘Import’ prompt:

Installation of SQL Developer and the Java JDK is now complete.