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Install Goose

Choose to install the Desktop and/or CLI version of Goose:

Install Goose Desktop directly from the browser or with Homebrew.

Option 1: Install via Download

To download Goose Desktop for macOS, click one of the buttons below:

macOS Silicon macOS Intel
  1. Unzip the downloaded zip file.
  2. Run the executable file to launch the Goose Desktop application.
Updating Goose

It's best to keep Goose updated by periodically running the installation steps again.

Option 2: Install via Homebrew

Homebrew downloads the same app but can take care of updates too.

  brew install --cask block-goose
Permissions

If you're on an Apple Mac M3 and the Goose Desktop app shows no window on launch, check and update the following:

Ensure the ~/.config directory has read and write access.

Goose needs this access to create the log directory and file. Once permissions are granted, the app should load correctly. For steps on how to do this, refer to the Troubleshooting Guide

Set LLM Provider​

Goose works with supported LLM providers that give Goose the AI intelligence it needs to understand your requests. On first use, you'll be prompted to configure your preferred provider.

On the welcome screen, choose how to configure a provider:

  • Tetrate Agent Router - One-click OAuth authentication provides instant access to multiple AI models, starting credits, and built-in rate limiting.
    INFO

    You'll receive $10 in free credits the first time you automatically authenticate with Tetrate through Goose. This offer is available to both new and existing Tetrate users and is valid through October 2, 2025.

  • OpenRouter - One-click OAuth authentication provides instant access to multiple AI models with built-in rate limiting.
  • Other Providers - Choose from ~20 supported providers including OpenAI, Anthropic, Google Gemini, and others through manual configuration. Be ready to provide your API key.
tip

Goose relies heavily on tool calling capabilities and currently works best with Claude 4 models.

Update Provider​

You can change your LLM provider and/or model or update your API key at any time.

  1. Click the button in the top-left to open the sidebar.
  2. Click the Settings button on the sidebar.
  3. Click the Models tab.
  4. Choose to update your provider, switch models, or click Reset Provider and Model to clear your settings and return to the welcome screen. See details about these configuration options.
Billing
Google Gemini offers a free tier you can get started with. Otherwise, you'll need to ensure that you have credits available in your LLM Provider account to successfully make requests.

Some providers also have rate limits on API usage, which can affect your experience. Check out our Handling Rate Limits guide to learn how to efficiently manage these limits while using Goose.

Running Goose​

Starting a session in the Goose Desktop is straightforward. After choosing your provider, you'll see the session interface ready for use.

Type your questions, tasks, or instructions directly into the input field, and Goose will get to work immediately.

Shared Configuration Settings​

The Goose CLI and Desktop UI share all core configurations, including LLM provider settings, model selection, and extension configurations. When you install or configure extensions in either interface, the settings are stored in a central location at ~/.config/goose/config.yaml, making them available to both the Desktop application and CLI. This makes it convenient to switch between interfaces while maintaining consistent settings.

info

While core configurations are shared between interfaces, extensions have flexibility in how they store authentication credentials. Some extensions may use the shared config file while others implement their own storage methods.

Navigate to shared configurations through:

  1. Click the button in the top-left to open the sidebar.
  2. Click the Settings button on the sidebar.

Additional Resources​

You can also configure Extensions to extend Goose's functionality, including adding new ones or toggling them on and off. For detailed instructions, visit the Using Extensions Guide.