Getting Started with Alpaca on Mac
Last updated: 2026-03-20
Welcome to Alpaca
Alpaca is lightweight protection designed to help keep your family safer online — from adult content and online threats to intrusive tracking. It works quietly across every browser and app on your Mac, with nothing extra to install.
Video Walkthrough
See the full setup process — from installation through to enabling the network extensions.
Quick Start
Download Alpaca
Head to the download page and click Download for Mac. The installer is a standard macOS .pkg file, verified safe by Apple.
Run the Installer
Open the downloaded .pkg file and follow the on-screen prompts. You will review the license, click Install, and enter your Mac password to authorize. The installation takes just a few seconds. See the Installation Guide for a detailed walkthrough with screenshots.
Approve the Network Extensions
On first launch, Alpaca will ask you to enable two network extensions — the DNS Proxy and the Content Filter. For each one, click Open System Settings and toggle the switch to enable it. This is a one-time setup required by macOS. See Network Extension Setup for detailed steps.
You're All Set
That's it! Alpaca now runs quietly in your menu bar, helping to protect your family across all your apps and browsers.
What Happens Next?
Once installed, Alpaca:
- Runs in the background — no action needed from you
- Updates automatically — protection stays current
- Uses minimal resources — designed to be lightweight and battery-friendly
Click the Alpaca icon in your menu bar anytime to check status, pause protection, or access settings.
Need Help?
- Having trouble with installation? See the Installation Guide
- Need to approve the Network Extensions? See Network Extension Setup
- Website not loading? Check Troubleshooting