QGIS (Quantum Geographic Information System) is a powerful open-source desktop application used for mapping, spatial analysis, and geospatial data visualization. Widely adopted by researchers, planners, public health professionals, and data scientists, QGIS provides a user-friendly interface and robust toolset to work with geographic data. This step-by-step installation guide will help you set up the latest version of QGIS on Windows, macOS, and Linux systems, ensuring a smooth start to your geospatial analysis journey. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced GIS user, this guide is designed to get you up and running with QGIS in minutes.
For Windows
- Go to the official QGIS download page:
Click here (will open in a new window) to download QGIS from the official website. - Choose the correct installer:
- Select QGIS Standalone Installer (Latest Release) to download the offline installer (approx. size = 1.2 GB). You can choose the Online (OSGeo4W) installer if you have high-speed internet.
- Download the installer and double-click to run it.
- Follow the installation wizard:
- Click Next → Accept the license → Choose installation path (If you’re not sure about changing the installation path during setup, it’s best to leave it at the default location to ensure proper configuration and avoid issues) → Click Install
- Complete the installation:
- Once installed, open QGIS Desktop from the Start Menu.
Mac OS X / macOS
Go to the QGIS macOS download page:
Click here (will open in a new window) to download QGIS from the official website.
Install the downloaded QGIS file and follow the on-screen instructions.
You can also refer to the official QGIS installation guide for the most up-to-date instructions and system requirements tailored to your operating system.