How to Download & Install Pixelmator Classic on Mac
Pixelmator is arguably the best photo and image editing app for Mac, other than the much more expensive Photoshop anyway. If you bought Pixelmator Classic some time ago, and you haven’t yet went for the upgrade to Pixelmator Pro (or perhaps you don’t need the new features), then you may be interested in downloading and installing Pixelmator Classic onto a Mac, whether it’s a new M1/M2 Mac, or a clean install on an older Mac.
If you’ve looked around on the Pixelmator Classic website, you won’t find a download link for the older app. Fortunately, if you got Pixelmator from the Mac App Store at some point in time, you can easily re-download Pixelmator Classic onto any other Mac that uses the same Apple ID.
This works to install and run Pixelmator Classic onto any new MacOS installation, or onto any new Mac, whether it’s MacOS Sonoma, or the Mac has an M1 or M2 series chip, or otherwise. As long as you have Rosetta 2 installed on the M-series Mac, you’ll be able to run Pixelmator Classic on it.
Downloading Pixelmator Classic on a New Mac from the Mac App Store
Got a new Mac or MacOS installation, and you want to put Pixelmator Classic on it?
- Open the Mac App Store
- Click on your name in the bottom corner of the screen to access your account and apps
- Under the “Mac” section, locate “Pixelmator Classic” and click the blue download cloud icon
- When done downloading, choose “Open” to launch Pixelmator
- If you’re on an M2/M1 Mac or newer, you may be prompted to install Rosetta 2 if you have not done so already
- Use Pixelmator Classic as usual
There you go, you successfully downloaded Pixelmator Classic to run on your new Mac setup, and it’s running great.
If you did not previously own Pixelmator or Pixelmator Classic, and you still want to download and use Pixelmator Classic on a new Mac or MacOS installation, you can still find the app available to download on several third party sites, like this link from MacUpdate, which allows for running a free 30 day trial, though you can no longer register or buy a copy of Classic. But then, if you’re in the market to buy any Pixelmator, just go for Pixelmator Pro.
I’ve tried running Pixelmator classic on my new M2 Mac, and I don’t know
what anyone else is experiencing but it runs like garbage. When I try to zoom in and out, or use the move tool to move the canvas around there are
graphic distortions. Plus the zoom in and out doesn’t even work most of the time. I would love for it to run properly, and if there is something I could do
to make it run well, I really want to know.
Good to know, for future.
I have both Pixelmator Classic & Pixelmator Pro on my M1 MBA. I use Classic much more frequently than the Pixelmator Pro version. It’s quick and capable.
I can’t remember now, 1-1/2 years later, about installing Rosetta on my M1, but I must have done. Pixelmator Classic runs very well.
👍😊
Agreed, Pixelmator Classic has such an easy to use interface and it feels speedy and lightweight. It works fine for me and my image editing needs.
For my M1 iMac, running Ventura 13.4.1, App Store Search does not find Pixelmator Classic, only Pro.
If you did not previously own/buy Pixelmator Classic, it will not show up as available within your purchase history.