How to download and install ChatGPT Atlas web browser: Step-by-step guide

OpenAI has officially unveiled ChatGPT Atlas, its first AI-native web browser designed to make browsing more conversational, contextual, and productive. Instead of juggling tabs or copying snippets into ChatGPT, Atlas brings the assistant directly into your browser. It can read what’s on your screen, remember your preferences, summarise long articles, and even automate simple online task; all without ever leaving the page.

Currently, ChatGPT Atlas is available only for macOS devices with Apple Silicon (M1, M2, M3, or M4) running macOS 12 Monterey or later. The browser supports all ChatGPT account tiers (Free, Plus, Pro, Go, Business, Enterprise, and Edu) and OpenAI has confirmed that Windows, iOS, and Android versions will roll out soon.

How to download and install ChatGPT Atlas

Step 1: Check system compatibility
Before downloading, make sure your Mac meets the requirements. As mentioned, you will need an Apple Silicon-powered device running macOS 12 or newer. Intel Macs aren’t supported yet. You’ll also need an active ChatGPT account for setup and sign-in.

Step 2: Download the installer
Go to chatgpt.com/atlas and click Download for Mac. The browser downloads as a .dmg file, which should appear in your Downloads folder within seconds.

Step 3: Install the browser
Open the downloaded .dmg file and drag the Atlas icon into your Applications folder. Once copied, eject the installer disk image from Finder. You can now launch Atlas either from Applications or through Spotlight search (Cmd+Space). If macOS displays a security prompt, select Open to proceed with installation.

Step 4: Sign in to your ChatGPT account
When you launch Atlas for the first time, you’ll be prompted to sign in using your existing ChatGPT credentials. This connects your browsing experience with your AI assistant so it can provide context-aware responses and remember relevant details as you browse.

Step 5: Import your data
ChatGPT Atlas lets you bring over your bookmarks, passwords, and browsing history from Chrome. To do this, click on ChatGPT Atlas in the top menu bar, choose Import data from another browser, select Chrome, and click Start import. Allow Keychain access when prompted so Atlas can import your saved passwords securely.

Step 6: Set Atlas as your default browser, if you want to
Once installation is complete, you can choose to make Atlas your primary browser. Go to Settings > General > Set Default, then confirm in the pop-up window by selecting Use Atlas. You can verify the change under System Settings > Desktop & Dock. As a bonus, users who set Atlas as default enjoy increased usage rate limits for the first seven days.

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Step 7: Customise your setup
After the initial setup, head into Settings to personalise your experience. You can enable or disable AI memory, adjust privacy permissions, set a preferred search engine, and decide which sites Atlas is allowed to “see”. The address bar toggle lets you control visibility for each page in real time.

Step 8: Pin Atlas to your Dock
The setup process automatically pins Atlas to your Dock, but if it doesn’t, you can manually drag it there from the Applications folder for quicker access.

Step 9: Update regularly
Atlas is new and evolving fast. To stay updated with new features and security fixes, you can check for updates periodically under Settings > About Atlas or enable automatic updates in macOS.

Key features to try first

So, you’ve installed Atlas and now you want to try out its magical AI features? Here are some of the key features you can check out:

Ask ChatGPT anywhere: ChatGPT is built directly into the browser. You can highlight text, right-click, or use the sidebar to ask for summaries, translations, or explanations without switching tabs.

Agent Mode: Available to Plus, Pro, and Business users, Agent Mode lets ChatGPT perform multi-step actions like comparing prices, compiling research, or managing to-do lists.

Smart new tab experience: Each new tab doubles as a personalised hub with AI-powered search suggestions, recent activities, and quick prompts.

Browser memories: Turn this on to let ChatGPT remember ongoing projects or shopping lists so it can offer context-aware help later.

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Real-time page understanding: ChatGPT instantly interprets what’s on your screen, articles, PDFs, or slides, so you can ask questions directly about the content.

Private browsing and selective visibility: Incognito Mode automatically signs you out of ChatGPT, while a visibility toggle lets you choose when the AI can access your current page.

Multi-format search results: Instead of one text-heavy answer, Atlas organises responses into tabs for links, videos, images, and news results, giving you more control over how you explore.