TL;DR: Download BatChat (蝙蝠聊天) for macOS from the official website. Supports both Intel and Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3) Macs. The DMG installer is ~92 MB and requires macOS 12 Monterey or later.
How to Install BatChat on Your Mac
BatChat (蝙蝠聊天) is a Chinese encrypted messaging app that provides end-to-end encryption, screenshot blocking, preset secret codes (预设密信), and server-zero-storage architecture. The macOS version supports both Intel-based Macs and Apple Silicon models (M1, M2, M3, M4), making it one of the few encrypted chat apps from China with proper native support across the entire Mac lineup.
This guide covers downloading the correct build for your Mac, installing it without running into Gatekeeper issues, and configuring the security features that make BatChat distinct from mainstream messaging apps.
Which Macs Are Supported
BatChat’s macOS client requires macOS 12 Monterey or later. Here’s the compatibility breakdown:
| Mac Type | Minimum macOS | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Apple Silicon (M1, M2, M3, M4) | macOS 12 (Monterey) | Fully supported, native ARM build |
| Intel Macs (2015 and newer) | macOS 12 (Monterey) | Fully supported, x86-64 build |
| Intel Macs (2012–2014) | macOS 12 (Monterey) | May run slowly; upgrade if possible |
| Intel Macs (pre-2012) | Not supported | Hardware too old for macOS 12 |
The installer is a .dmg file roughly 92 MB in size. After installation, the app occupies approximately 250 MB of disk space.
To check which Mac you have, click the Apple menu (top-left corner) and select About This Mac. You will see the chip name (Apple M1/M2/M3/M4 or Intel), the macOS version, and the total memory.
Downloading BatChat for Mac
Go directly to the official site: batchat.com. The download page (苹果下载) provides the macOS installer. You can also access it through our download page.
Security reminder: Only download BatChat from the official domain. The .dmg file is not distributed through the Mac App Store, which means third-party sites may host modified versions. Always verify you are on batchat.com before clicking download.
Installation Steps
Step 1: Open the DMG File
After downloading, locate the BatChat.dmg file in your Downloads folder and double-click it. This mounts the disk image and opens a Finder window showing the BatChat app icon and an Applications folder shortcut.
Step 2: Drag to Applications
Drag the BatChat icon into the Applications folder. This copies the app to your system’s Applications directory, which is the standard location for macOS apps.
Step 3: Bypass Gatekeeper (First Launch)
When you open BatChat for the first time, macOS Gatekeeper will block it with this message:
“BatChat” cannot be opened because the developer cannot be verified.
This happens because BatChat is not signed with an Apple Developer certificate that macOS recognizes by default. To proceed:
- Open System Settings > Privacy & Security
- Scroll down to the Security section
- You will see a message about BatChat being blocked — click Allow Anyway
- Try opening BatChat again
- A second prompt appears — click Open
Alternatively, you can right-click (or Control-click) the BatChat app in Finder and select Open. This bypasses the standard Gatekeeper check and shows the same confirmation dialog.
Step 4: Grant Permissions
On macOS, BatChat needs a few system permissions to function properly:
- Notifications: Go to System Settings > Notifications > BatChat and enable Allow Notifications
- Microphone: Required for voice calls — System Settings > Privacy & Security > Microphone
- Camera: Required for video calls — System Settings > Privacy & Security > Camera
- Files and Folders: If you want to send files from specific directories, grant access under System Settings > Privacy & Security > Files and Folders
You will be prompted for each permission when BatChat first tries to use it, or you can pre-configure them in System Settings.
Registering and Setting Up Your Account
The account creation process on Mac mirrors the mobile experience:
- Enter your phone number with the correct country code
- Verify via SMS — you receive a 6-digit code
- Create a profile — set your display name and avatar (or skip and configure later)
- Enable unlock password (解锁密码) — BatChat supports Touch ID and Face ID on Mac. When enabled, you must authenticate before the app opens
Configuring Security Features on macOS
After registration, go to Settings > Privacy to enable BatChat’s security features:
- Preset Secret Codes (预设密信): For each contact, you can set a custom passphrase. Both users must enter the correct code to access the chat history. Think of it as a second layer of encryption on top of end-to-end messaging.
- Screenshot Blocking (截屏防护): This intercepts macOS’s built-in screenshot shortcuts (Cmd+Shift+3, Cmd+Shift+4) and blocks third-party capture tools. When active, attempting to take a screenshot of a BatChat conversation produces a black or blank image.
- Disappearing Messages: Set timers for individual chats. Messages auto-delete after your chosen interval (from 5 seconds to 7 days).
Intel vs. Apple Silicon: What’s Different
BatChat ships a universal binary that contains both x86-64 and ARM64 code. macOS automatically runs the correct version for your hardware. You do not need to choose or worry about Rosetta 2 compatibility.
That said, the experience differs subtly:
| Aspect | Apple Silicon Macs | Intel Macs |
|---|---|---|
| Startup Speed | Near-instant | Slightly slower (2-3 seconds) |
| Battery Impact | Lower (native ARM) | Higher (Electron on x86) |
| Background Usage | Efficient | Moderate CPU usage |
| Voice/Video Quality | Same | Same |
If you are on an Intel Mac and notice BatChat consuming significant CPU in the background, check Activity Monitor. Electron apps sometimes run background renderer processes. You can reduce this by closing unused chat windows.
Multi-Device Sync
BatChat supports up to 5 simultaneous device sessions. To add your Mac as an additional device:
- Open BatChat on your phone
- Go to Settings > Devices > Link New Device
- Scan the QR code shown on your Mac’s BatChat app, or enter the pairing code manually
Messages sync in real time across all linked devices. The Mac client receives the same encryption keys as your other devices, so there is no feature downgrade on desktop.
Security consideration: When you link a new device, all existing devices receive a notification. If you see a device link you did not initiate, immediately unlink it in Settings and change your account password through BatChat support.
Common macOS Issues and Fixes
”BatChat is damaged and can’t be opened”
This error typically occurs after a corrupted download or when the .dmg file was not properly unmounted. Fix it by running this command in Terminal:
xattr -cr /Applications/BatChat.appThis removes the quarantine extended attribute that macOS attaches to files downloaded from the internet. After running the command, try opening BatChat again.
App Freezes on Launch
If BatChat hangs on the loading screen:
- Force quit the app: Cmd + Option + Esc, select BatChat, click Force Quit
- Open Terminal and clear the cache:
rm -rf ~/Library/Application\ Support/BatChat/Cache rm -rf ~/Library/Caches/BatChat - Relaunch BatChat
Notifications Don’t Appear
macOS has aggressive notification management. Ensure all of these are configured:
- System Settings > Notifications > BatChat: Allow Notifications is ON
- Focus / Do Not Disturb: Ensure no Focus mode is active that would suppress BatChat
- BatChat in-app settings: Settings > Notifications — check that sounds, banners, and badges are enabled
- Login Items: If BatChat is not in your Login Items, it won’t run at startup and you will miss notifications when the app is closed. Add it via System Settings > General > Login Items
Camera or Microphone Not Working in Calls
Go to System Settings > Privacy & Security > Camera (or Microphone) and verify BatChat is listed with a checkmark. If it is not listed at all, try toggling the permission off and on, then restart BatChat.
High Memory Usage
BatChat uses the Chromium rendering engine, which can consume significant RAM on Macs with 8 GB or less. To reduce memory usage:
- Disable hardware acceleration: Settings > Advanced > Use hardware acceleration when available (toggle OFF)
- Close unused chat tabs and group conversations
- If running on a Mac with unified memory, the app shares RAM with the GPU — close graphics-intensive apps when using BatChat for video calls
Uninstalling BatChat from macOS
To completely remove BatChat and all local data:
- Quit BatChat (right-click the Dock icon > Quit, or Cmd + Q)
- Drag BatChat from the Applications folder to the Trash
- Delete the remaining data files:
rm -rf ~/Library/Application\ Support/BatChat rm -rf ~/Library/Caches/BatChat rm -rf ~/Library/Preferences/com.batchat.* rm -rf ~/Library/Logs/BatChat - Empty the Trash
This removes your local message cache, encryption keys stored on that Mac, and all app preferences. Your account remains active on other devices.
FAQ
Does BatChat work on macOS Ventura and Sonoma?
Yes. BatChat supports macOS 12 (Monterey) and later, which includes Ventura (13), Sonoma (14), and the latest Sequoia (15). The app is regularly updated to maintain compatibility with new macOS releases.
Is the Mac version of BatChat as secure as the mobile app?
Both versions use the same encryption protocol — RSA + SRP + Double Ratchet. The security features are identical: end-to-end encryption, screenshot blocking, preset secret codes, and disappearing messages. The Mac version additionally supports Touch ID and Face ID as unlock methods.
Why isn’t BatChat on the Mac App Store?
BatChat is distributed directly from batchat.com rather than through the Mac App Store. This is common for encrypted messaging apps — distributing outside the App Store allows the developers to avoid Apple’s notarization requirements and maintain full control over the update cycle. The trade-off is that you need to manually bypass Gatekeeper on first launch.
Can I run BatChat on an older Mac that can’t upgrade to macOS 12?
No. The minimum requirement is macOS 12 Monterey. If your Mac cannot run Monterey (typically 2011-2012 models and earlier), your only option is the web client at web.batchat.com, which runs in any modern browser regardless of macOS version.
How do I update BatChat on Mac?
BatChat checks for updates automatically on launch. When a new version is available, you will see a notification within the app prompting you to update. You can also check manually via Settings > About > Check for Updates. The current version is v4.7.0.
Ready to install? Visit our download page to get the latest macOS build.