How to Fix 'zsh: Command Not Found: brew' Error on macOS

If you're a macOS user and you see the error "zsh: command not found: brew" while trying to use Homebrew, this guide will help you understand what the problem is and how to fix it step-by-step.

What is Homebrew?

Homebrew is a package manager for macOS. It helps you install and manage software packages easily. Instead of downloading apps manually, Homebrew allows you to install them directly from your terminal using simple commands. For example, if you want to install Python or Node.js, Homebrew makes the process quick and efficient.

Why Does the "zsh: command not found: brew" Error Happen?

This error means your terminal doesn’t recognize the brew command. There are a few common reasons for this:

Homebrew is not installed on your Mac.
Homebrew is installed, but your terminal doesn’t know where to find it.
You recently changed your shell to Zsh (Z shell), and the Homebrew path is not set correctly.

Now let’s fix this issue.

Step 1: Check If Homebrew is Installed

To check if Homebrew is installed on your Mac, open your terminal and type:

which brew

If it returns a file path like /usr/local/bin/brew, Homebrew is installed.
If it doesn’t return anything, you need to install Homebrew.

Installing Homebrew

If Homebrew is not installed, follow these steps:

Open your terminal and paste the following command:

/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"

Press Enter and follow the instructions on the screen. It may ask for your password.

After the installation is complete, run:

brew --version

This should show the version of Homebrew installed.

Step 2: Add Homebrew to Your Path

If Homebrew is already installed but you still get the error, it’s likely that your terminal doesn’t know where to find the brew command. You need to add Homebrew to your PATH.

What is PATH?: PATH is an environment variable that tells your terminal where to look for commands. If Homebrew’s location isn’t in your PATH, you’ll get the "command not found" error.

Open your terminal and edit your shell configuration file. If you’re using Zsh (the default shell on macOS Catalina and later), the file is .zshrc.
```
nano ~/.zshrc
```

Add the following line at the end of the file:

export PATH="/usr/local/bin:/opt/homebrew/bin:$PATH"

Save and close the file. In nano, press Control + O, then Enter, and Control + X to exit.
Reload your shell configuration by running:
```
source ~/.zshrc
```

Now, try running:

brew --version

If it shows the version number, the problem is solved.

Step 3: Fix Permissions Issues (If Needed)

Sometimes, Homebrew might be installed, but you’re still seeing the error due to permission issues. You can fix this by running:

sudo chown -R $(whoami) /usr/local/bin /usr/local/share /usr/local/etc /usr/local/lib

This command ensures you have the proper permissions to use Homebrew.

Step 4: Test Homebrew Installation

To confirm everything is working, test Homebrew by installing a simple package like wget:

brew install wget

If the installation works, Homebrew is correctly set up.

Common Questions

Can Homebrew and MacPorts Coexist? Yes, they can coexist, but it’s not recommended. Both are package managers, and having them together can cause conflicts. If you’re using Homebrew, it’s best to uninstall MacPorts.

What If I Still See the Error? If you’ve followed all the steps but still see the error, double-check:

Homebrew is installed in the correct location (/usr/local/bin or /opt/homebrew/bin).
Your PATH is updated correctly in .zshrc.

You can also try restarting your terminal or Mac.

Conclusion

The "zsh: command not found: brew" error is a common issue that can be fixed easily by installing Homebrew, updating your PATH, or fixing permissions. With these steps, you should be able to use Homebrew smoothly on your Mac.

macos