Export a DMG file

The macOS export is the final step before distributing your desktop application on Mac computers.

You will:

1. Customize the application name, icon, and version information.
2. Generate a macOS .dmg package from your PandaSuite dashboard.
3. Share the installer with your users or IT team for installation on macOS.

Once the binary is generated, you can download it from your PandaSuite dashboard.

What is a DMG file?

The DMG file is the standard macOS disk image format used to distribute applications on Mac. Users download the .dmg, open it on their computer, then install the application from that package.

Prerequisites

• Desktop export is available on Single, Multi, Full, or Ultra plans.
• Your project content is finalized and published.
• Your target devices run macOS 12 (Monterey) or later, and no later than macOS 27 on a Mac with Apple silicon.
• Plan a validation pass on at least one Mac before wider distribution.
• If you need a fully offline installation package, plan to enable Asset management (offline) during export. This option requires a Yearly or One-Time Payment plan.

Minimum OS Version and Device Compatibility

Important points before distribution:

• If you distribute the same project on Windows and macOS, generate one binary per operating system.
• If your project uses native features such as camera, microphone, Bluetooth, or geolocation, test permissions and behavior directly on macOS.
• macOS can display security or permission prompts on first launch depending on the device configuration and the native capabilities used by your project.
• If you enable Asset management (offline), the package includes all assets for offline installation. Any content update then requires exporting and reinstalling a new DMG.
• Any code or feature update requires exporting and redistributing a new DMG.

Export the DMG file

Access the dashboard

1. Log in to your PandaSuite dashboard.
2. In Apps, create or select the relevant application.
3. In Platforms, find the Desktop card.
4. Click Generate next to macOS.

Review the export form

Before launching the generation, confirm the key information shown in the form:

App ID (advanced options)

macOS recognizes your app by its App ID. A new export with the same App ID keeps the app’s data, even if you renamed it.

To see or change it, click Show advanced options in the form. The App ID field shows the app’s current App ID: leave it empty to keep it. The EXE and the DMG each have their own App ID.

• A new app gets com.myapp.p followed by its short ID.
• An app created before this setting existed keeps the ID it has on computers, in the form com.electron.<name>. If it was never exported as a DMG, its first export gets that ID too, from the app name.
• A chosen App ID uses letters, numbers, hyphens and dots, with at least two segments, like com.example.myapp (128 characters at most). The first segment starts with a letter, and each segment starts and ends with a letter or a number. The prefix com.pandasuite. and the value your.id are reserved. An ID starting with com.electron. is accepted only if a successful DMG export of this app already used it.
• If you change the App ID, your next export installs as a new app, without the previous one’s data. Delete the previous version from each Mac. Before exporting, Back to the current App ID cancels the change. Later, you can go back by entering a previous App ID again: any App ID that a successful DMG export of this app already used is accepted.

Start the generation

Click Export.

The process takes place on our servers and can last from a few minutes to several hours depending on the load.

You will receive:

• A confirmation email;
• The download link on the Desktop card of your app page.

Validate the DMG on macOS before wider rollout

Before distributing the DMG broadly, perform a short validation pass on at least one representative Mac:

• download the generated file from the dashboard on a Mac;
• install the application from the DMG;
• launch the application at least once;
• verify any native capabilities used by your project, such as camera, microphone, Bluetooth, or geolocation;
• confirm the displayed name, icon, and version are correct.

FAQ

Can I use the same PandaSuite app for Windows and macOS?
Yes. You can generate separate desktop binaries from the same app page, but you must export one file per operating system.

Do I need to export a new DMG after an update?
Yes. Any code or feature update requires generating and redistributing a new DMG.

Where do I retrieve the generated DMG?
From the Desktop card of your app page, once the generation is complete.

Do I need to test the DMG on a Mac before sharing it widely?
Yes. Always validate installation and runtime behavior on at least one representative macOS device before broad deployment.

Does the macOS export include the same options as the Windows EXE export?
Not necessarily. Some options are specific to Windows, such as architecture choice and silent installation, and are documented on the EXE side. Offline asset packaging also exists on macOS: see Standalone DMG for offline installation. Kiosk mode on a Mac has its own page: Kiosk Mode on macOS. The DMG workflow focuses on macOS distribution, installation, and first-launch validation.

Can I prepare a DMG for a disconnected macOS environment?
Yes. Enable Asset management (offline) during export to bundle the assets into the package. In that case, updates require exporting and reinstalling a new DMG.

Additional resources

• Publish and export your project
• Install your DMG File
• Standalone DMG for offline installation
• Export an EXE File
• Update your application