NOTE: As of OS X 10.5 (Leopard) X11 is installed by default. Unless you went out of your way not to install it during the Leopard installation, you’ll find it in /usr/X11
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In preparation for a series of tutorials on The Gimp, this tutorial will guide you in installing X11, a required system for the Gimp to run in OS X.
This tutorial is for OS X 10.4 (Tiger). If you’re a 10.3 (Panther) user, visit this page to download X11 if it’s not on your OS X install CD.
- Insert your OS X Tiger Install Disc (#1). Scroll down to locate the Optional Installs icon (it’s embarrassing how long it took me to figure that out) and double-click it
- Click Continue on the first screen
- Read the Software License Agreement and then click Continue
- Click Agree
- Select a location and (you guessed it) click Continue
- Click the small triangle directly next to Applications and then place a check in the box labeled X11. When you’re ready, click Upgrade.
- Enter your password when prompted, and then click OK
- The installation won’t take too long
- After X11 has successfully installed, click Close
- X11 can now be found in Applications > Utilities > X11
*thank you* for posting these directions in detail! i’ve been pulling my hair out trying to find how to install x11 for an entire day. and they are exceptionally clear. *thanks!!!*
Yo, big ups and mad respect! I can’t believe Apple doesn’t make this easier to figure out. The “scroll down” hint was key.
thanks a million
great…..thanks for the hint…I lost few hours looking for the x11.amazing how is hidden…just a scrool down.
Thanks for the info!!
It’s so not cool that Steve Job could be so sneaky………
Thank you so much for the scroll down hint. I can’t believe that it is so hard to figure that out.
The link to a X11 download from the apple website is outdated. However, it can be found at http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/x11formacosx.html
Thank you. Don’t know how I managed, but I also overlooked the “scroll down”
Much obliged!
THANKS at ton! I’ve been wracking my brain to find x11 on my system!
Excellent! I am embarrassed to say that I did not notice that the window had other items that had to be scrolled to when I first saw it today as well. I knew that I did not want to go through the regular install, because it included all of the base OS X files. Thanks for posting these instructions!
Thanks a lot, i was really struggling with this. I have to say your instructions were an absolute life saver. Thanks again.
Hi
Thanks for the easy and straight forward (and humble) instructions. Believe it or not I also had problems finding the “Optional Installs” icon!!! They hide it well .
Thank you, max.respect for people like you.
Thanks, this was really helpful.
I have X11 installed, on Mac OS 10.4.9.
I have been trying to use GIMP and Gimpshop, with no success, I tried also to find links and sites for it but it gets hard for me to find. X11 launches all right, but Gimp doesn’t -or rather, it does, but I have no Menus (File etc).
When Gimp is running, the only menus at the top of my screen are for X11. I cannot process any images that way.
What is at fault? X11 or Gimp?
Thanks
looking forward to useing this site
Thank You!!!!!!!!
“Scroll down” !!! *smacks head*
thx
Install is much the same in Leopard as 10.4. X is part of the optional installs on the DVD as is Xcode.
Gannett
@fred gannett:
Actually X11 is installed by default in Leopard. You have to go out of your way NOT to install it. Unless you’re referring to a developer built (I’ve only used the actual final/released version that came out a couple days ago).
OK, so I have aMacBook Pro, with no Tiger Install disk.
How do I find the X11 installer?
Reif,
To the best of my knowledge, you can’t. Apple doesn’t offer X11 for Tiger as a download (or, they didn’t as of 3-4 months ago). You need the Tiger disc.
Hi,
Really good help, that is.
Wasn’t sure where to click to get to that Installation screen, so glad you showed it in detail, thanks!
ok soo i had tiger on my mac but got leopard
i dont have the disc with me… but it says that i can’t
install X11 cuz i have a new version.. wut do i do??
I have OS 10.04.11. When I go to install X11, it tells me “You cannot install on this volume. Newer software already exists on your computer.” So…. what do I do now?
Everything runs smoothly for me until I reach point 6.
I don’t get the ‘upgrade’ option. Instead, I get ‘install’ and when I type in my password, it tells me installation failed. No further comments, specifications or whatever. So I don’t know why it failed or what failed…
For Tiger 10.4.xx
Do a search (Apple+F) for x11 or even better use Spotlight, you should find a file called X11.PKG (name may be longer but with x11 in it and ending in .pkg). Double click it should run the installer to install x11.
Hi, i have mac osx 10.4.11 and when i try to install X11 it says that i have newer drivers installed already and refuse to install it. I also doesn’t have any cd’s with this mac. Anything i can do?
Thanks alot.
I have the same problem as Frederic… any thoughts?
It’s not showing up in spotlight or find.
Amazingly simple when you know where to go and what to do! Can’t thank you enough for these straightforward directions. I’ve been at this for 3 hours on my own. So glad I found you! Thanks again!!!
I too had this problem with scrolling down, I thought I had a different DVD – with thanks – Ed