Install BorgMate
BorgMate needs a supported Borg command on the same computer. Install Borg first, then BorgMate, and verify both before creating a repository.
macOS
1. Install Borg
brew install borgbackup2. Install BorgMate
- Download the DMG for Apple Silicon or Intel.
- Open the DMG and drag BorgMate to Applications.
- Launch BorgMate from Applications.
BorgMate is not yet notarized. After confirming that you downloaded it from the official BorgMate site, remove the quarantine attribute:
xattr -cr /Applications/BorgMate.appLinux
1. Install Borg and keyring support
sudo apt update && sudo apt install -y borgbackup libsecret-tools openssh-clientsudo dnf install borgbackup libsecret openssh-clientssudo pacman -S borg libsecret opensshlibsecret lets BorgMate store repository and SSH-key passphrases in the desktop keyring. Without an available keyring, BorgMate asks again when credentials are needed.
2. Run the AppImage
chmod +x BorgMate.AppImage && ./BorgMate.AppImageIf FUSE 2 is missing
Install the compatibility package (libfuse2 on Ubuntu/Debian, fuse-libs on Fedora, or fuse2 on Arch), or extract the AppImage:
./BorgMate.AppImage --appimage-extract && ./squashfs-root/AppRunOptional: SMB repositories on a NAS
Storing backups on an SMB share uses the GLib/GIO libraries and the GVFS SMB backend. Distributions with GNOME or KDE usually ship both already; minimal window-manager setups may need them installed:
sudo apt install -y gvfs gvfs-backendssudo dnf install gvfs gvfs-smbsudo pacman -S gvfs gvfs-smbWindows
BorgMate runs Borg commands inside Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL).
1. Install WSL and Debian
Open PowerShell as Administrator:
wsl --install -d DebianRestart Windows if prompted, launch Debian, and finish creating the Linux user.
2. Install Borg inside WSL
sudo apt update && sudo apt install -y borgbackup libsecret-tools openssh-client3. Install BorgMate
Download and run BorgMate-win-Setup.exe. SmartScreen may show a warning while the installer is unsigned. Choose More info, then Run anyway only after confirming the download source.
BorgMate converts Windows source and repository paths for WSL and handles Linux-side SSH key permissions.
Verify the installation
Run the command in Terminal on macOS/Linux or inside WSL on Windows:
borg --versionFor a production Borg 1 setup, expect a borg 1.4.x version — 1.4.5 or newer is recommended, as it includes a security fix (CVE-2026-62268) for borg extract. Then open BorgMate and check Settings → Advanced → Borg binary path override; the detected path appears below the field.
BorgMate launches, borg --version succeeds, and Advanced settings show the detected Borg path.