Getting Started

Phi Browser runs on macOS (Apple Silicon, macOS 14 or newer). Install it with either method below, then walk through first run.

Install Phi

Download from the official site

Go to the Phi download page, download the .dmg, open it, and drag Phi to your Applications folder.

Install with Homebrew

If you use Homebrew, install Phi with:

brew install --cask phibrowser/tap/phi

This automatically taps phibrowser/tap and installs the Phi cask. Updates are handled by Phi itself, so you do not need to upgrade through Homebrew.

First run

The first time you open Phi, onboarding helps you set things up:

• Choose a layout mode — Performance, Balanced, or Comfortable. You can change this anytime, so pick whatever sounds closest to how you browse today. See Layouts & Navigation for what each mode means.
• Meet your assistant — once you are in the browser, a banner at the top of the new tab invites you to get to know your assistant: give it a name, and it generates a matching avatar for itself, so it has its own identity rather than feeling like a generic chatbot. You can also skip this and come back to it later.
• AI is on by default — Phi's AI features are enabled out of the box. You can turn them off later in Settings → Phi AI if you prefer a plain browser.

Switching from another browser?

If you are used to Chrome or Safari, start with Comfortable Mode for the easiest transition. For a fuller migration map for Chrome, Safari, Arc, and Dia users, see Switching to Phi.

Next steps

Start with the overview, then read the guides: layouts & navigation, your assistant, automation & Phi Link, and privacy.