How to Install SQLite on MacOS with Homebrew

SQLite remains one of my go-to choices for local development and lightweight applications. And getting it set up on macOS takes just a few minutes when you use Homebrew.

What You Need Before Starting

MacOS comes with SQLite pre-installed, but it’s often an older version. Homebrew lets you grab the latest release and manage updates cleanly. You’ll need Homebrew installed on your Mac first. If you don’t have it yet, head to brew.sh and follow their installation instructions.

Check Your Current SQLite Version

Open Terminal and run:

sqlite3 --version

You’ll see something like 3.39.5 or another version number. The system version works fine for basic tasks, but newer releases include performance improvements and bug fixes that matter for production work.

Install SQLite Through Homebrew

Run this command in Terminal:

brew install sqlite

Homebrew will download the package and install it. The process takes about 30 seconds to a couple of minutes, depending on your internet speed.

Update Your PATH Configuration

Here’s where it gets specific. Homebrew installs SQLite in a different location than the system version. You need to tell your shell to use the Homebrew version instead.

Open your shell configuration file. If you use zsh (the default on modern macOS):

nano ~/.zshrc

For bash users:

nano ~/.bash_profile

Add this line at the end of the file:

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

Note: If you’re on an Intel Mac, use /usr/local/bin instead of /opt/homebrew/bin.

Save the file (Control + O, then Enter, then Control + X in nano).

Load Your New Configuration

Make your terminal recognize the changes:

source ~/.zshrc

Or for bash:

source ~/.bash_profile

Verify the Installation

Check which SQLite version your terminal sees:

which sqlite3

You should see /opt/homebrew/bin/sqlite3 (or /usr/local/bin/sqlite3 on Intel Macs).

Run the version check again:

sqlite3 --version

You’ll see the newer version number that Homebrew just installed.

Start Using SQLite

Create a test database to confirm everything works:

sqlite3 test.db

You’ll enter the SQLite prompt. Try creating a simple table:

CREATE TABLE users (id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY, name TEXT);
INSERT INTO users (name) VALUES ('Alice');
SELECT * FROM users;

Type .exit to leave the SQLite prompt.

Keep SQLite Updated

Homebrew makes updates straightforward. Run these commands periodically:

brew update
brew upgrade sqlite

The first command refreshes Homebrew’s package list. The second upgrades SQLite to the latest available version.

Common Issues and Solutions

Terminal still shows the old version: Your PATH configuration might not have loaded properly. Close your terminal completely and open a new window. If that doesn’t work, double-check that you edited the correct shell configuration file.

Permission errors: Homebrew occasionally needs you to fix permissions. Run brew doctor to see specific recommendations for your system.

Multiple SQLite installations causing conflicts: Use brew list sqlite to see what Homebrew installed. You can uninstall with brew uninstall sqlite and start fresh if needed.

Why Choose Homebrew for SQLite

Homebrew gives you version control that the system installation doesn’t provide. When you need a specific SQLite feature or want to match your production environment’s version, Homebrew lets you install exactly what you need. The package manager also handles dependencies automatically and keeps everything organized in one place.

I manage dozens of development tools through Homebrew, and SQLite is one of the simplest installations you’ll do. The whole process from start to finish takes under five minutes once you know the steps.