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Downloading and Installing R and RStudio

These instructions and videos were updated in November 2025. The following websites are subject to change.

Windows (PC) Instructions

R

  1. Open a web browser (Google Chrome, Firefox, etc.).
  2. Go to https://cloud.r-project.org/.
  3. Click the "Download R for Windows" link.
  4. Click the "install R for the first time" link.
  5. Click the "Download R X.X.X for Windows" link. R is regularly updated so the version number of R that you download will vary.
  6. Once the install file has downloaded, open the file, and go through the installation instructions (accepting the defaults).
  7. When R is installed on your computer, you are ready to download and install RStudio!

RStudio

  1. Open a web browser (Google Chrome, Firefox, etc.)
  2. Go to https://posit.co/download/rstudio-desktop/.
  3. Make sure R is already installed on your computer before proceeding.
  4. Click the "Download RStudio Desktop for Windows" button.
  5. Once the install file has downloaded, open the file, and go through the installation instructions (accepting the defaults).
  6. When RStudio is installed on your computer, you are ready to use it for all of your statistical needs!

Windows Video Tutorial:

Mac Instructions

R

  1. Open a web browser (Google Chrome, Firefox, etc.).
  2. Go to https://cloud.r-project.org/.
  3. Click the "Download R for macOS" link.
  4. Under "Latest release:", click on the "R-X.X.X.pkg" link. R is regularly updated so the version number of R that you download will vary.
  5. Once the install file has downloaded, open the file, and go through the installation instructions (accepting the defaults).
  6. It may ask you if you want to move the R Installer to the trash. That is just removing the installation file, not R itself. I usually move the installer to the trash.
  7. Make sure that R shows up in your Applications folder or in your Launchpad. If R is there, you are ready to download and install RStudio!

RStudio

  1. Open a web browser (Google Chrome, Firefox, etc.).
  2. Go to https://posit.co/download/rstudio-desktop/.
  3. Make sure R is already installed on your computer before proceeding.
  4. Choose your macOS version from the dropdown on the right side of the page.
  5. Click the "Download RStudio Desktop for MacOS . . . " button.
  6. Once the install file has downloaded, a window should pop up containing your Applications folder and the RStudio icon. Drag the RStudio icon into the Applications folder.
  7. After it has finished copying the files over, make sure that RStudio shows up shows up in your Applications folder or in your Launchpad. If RStudio is there, you are ready to use it for all of your statistical needs!

Mac Video Tutorial:

Posit Cloud Instructions (for Chromebook and Tablet)

  1. Go to https://posit.cloud/plans/free.
  2. Click on "Sign Up" on the right side of the page to create your free Posit Cloud account. (This free version will be sufficient for our R needs).
  3. Create an Posit Cloud account.
  4. You should be led to a page entitled "Your Workspace". Click on the blue "New Project" button on the upper right side.
  5. When the dropdown menu opens, click on "New RStudio Project".
  6. RStudio should open up under the name Untitled Project. Name your project whatever you would like.
  7. You are now ready to use RStudio for all of your statistical needs!

Posit Cloud Video Tutorial: