How to: Download and Install Google’s Antigravity IDE
Google Just Changed the AI Coding Game
On November 18, 2025, Google dropped a bombshell on the developer community. Alongside the launch of Gemini 3, their most advanced AI model to date, Google unveiled Antigravity, a free agentic development platform that’s redefining how developers write code. Within hours of the announcement, developer communities on Hacker News and Reddit erupted with discussions about whether Google had just “killed Cursor,” the $29.3 billion AI coding assistant that had dominated the market.
The timing wasn’t coincidental. Google acquired the Windsurf team for $2.4 billion in July 2025, bringing CEO Varun Mohan and his engineering talent into Google DeepMind. The result? An IDE that doesn’t just suggest code, it autonomously plans, writes, tests, and validates entire applications while you focus on architecture and business logic.
In this comprehensive guide, you’ll learn: How to download and install Google Antigravity IDE on Mac, Windows, and Linux; master its autonomous coding agents; understand system requirements and troubleshooting; and discover why this matters for business leaders hiring development talent.
What is Google Antigravity IDE?
Google Antigravity represents a fundamental shift in AI-assisted development. Unlike traditional AI coding tools that offer autocomplete suggestions or answer coding questions, Antigravity introduces an agent-first architecture where AI agents autonomously handle complex, multi-step software tasks from start to finish.
Powered by Gemini 3 Pro, the platform achieved a remarkable 76.2% on SWE-bench Verified—a benchmark measuring coding agents’ ability to solve real-world GitHub issues. It also scored 54.2% on Terminal-Bench 2.0, significantly outperforming its predecessor, Gemini 2.5 Pro. These aren’t just numbers; they represent the IDE’s ability to understand complex requirements and deliver production-ready code.
The Three-Surface Architecture
Antigravity’s interface consists of three integrated “surfaces” that work together seamlessly. The Agent Manager Dashboard lets you oversee multiple autonomous agents working on different tasks simultaneously. The VS Code-Style Editor provides the familiar development environment developers know and love. Finally, Deep Browser Integration via a Chrome extension allows agents to test web applications in real-time, similar to Playwright MCP.
This multi-surface approach means you can assign an agent to “build a user authentication system with OAuth 2.0,” and watch as it creates files, writes backend logic, builds frontend forms, configures environment variables, and validates the implementation—all while you work on other priorities. The agents communicate progress through detailed artifacts, keeping you informed without requiring constant oversight.
System Requirements: What You Need Before Installing
Before downloading Antigravity, ensure your system meets the minimum requirements. Google has optimized the IDE for modern hardware, but older systems may experience performance limitations.
Google Account Requirement
Antigravity requires a Google Account to function. This enables access to Gemini 3 Pro’s generous rate limits, synchronization of your projects across devices, and proper rate limit management. If you’re working in a corporate environment, check with your IT department about using company Google Workspace accounts versus personal accounts.
Step-by-Step Installation Guide
For macOS Users (Apple Silicon)
Step 1: Download the Installer
Visit antigravity.google/download and click “Download for Apple Silicon.” The file will be approximately 150-200MB depending on the version. Save it to your Downloads folder.
Step 2: Install the Application
Open the downloaded .dmg file and drag the Antigravity icon to your Applications folder. macOS may display a security warning since this is a new application. Click “Open” to proceed.
Step 3: First Launch and Google Sign-In
Launch Antigravity from your Applications folder. You’ll be prompted to sign in with your Google Account. After authentication, Antigravity will initialize your workspace and download necessary components. This initial setup takes 2-3 minutes on most systems.
Step 4: Grant Necessary Permissions
macOS will request permissions for file system access, network connections, and potentially Accessibility features. Grant these permissions to ensure full functionality. You can review and modify these in System Settings > Privacy & Security later.
For Windows Users
Step 1: Download the Installer
Navigate to antigravity.google/download and select either “Download for x64” or “Download for ARM64” depending on your processor. Most modern Windows PCs use x64 architecture.
Step 2: Run the Installation Wizard
Double-click the downloaded .exe file to launch the installation wizard. Windows Defender SmartScreen may display a warning for new applications. Click “More info” then “Run anyway” if you trust the source (which you should, it’s Google).
Step 3: Choose Installation Location
The default installation path is C:\Program Files\Google\Antigravity. You can customize this if needed, but the default location works for most users. Click “Install” and wait for the process to complete (typically 3-5 minutes).
Step 4: Launch and Authenticate
After installation, launch Antigravity from the Start Menu or desktop shortcut. Sign in with your Google Account when prompted. The application will sync your settings and prepare your development environment.
For Linux Users (Debian/Ubuntu)
Linux users have the option of using either package managers (recommended) or downloading standalone binaries.
Method 1: Using APT (Recommended)
# Step 1: Create directory for keyrings
sudo mkdir -p /etc/apt/keyrings
# Step 2: Download and add Google's signing key
curl -fsSL https://us-central1-apt.pkg.dev/doc/repo-signing-key.gpg | \
sudo gpg --dearmor -o /etc/apt/keyrings/antigravity-repo-key.gpg
# Step 3: Add Antigravity repository to sources
echo "deb [signed-by=/etc/apt/keyrings/antigravity-repo-key.gpg] https://us-central1-apt.pkg.dev/projects/antigravity-auto-updater-dev/ antigravity-debian main" | \
sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/antigravity.list > /dev/null
# Step 4: Update package cache
sudo apt update
# Step 5: Install Antigravity
sudo apt install antigravityMethod 2: Standalone Download
Visit antigravity.google/download/linux and download the appropriate .deb or .tar.gz file for your distribution. Install using sudo dpkg -i antigravity-*.deb or extract and run the binary from the tarball.
For Linux Users (Fedora/RHEL)
Fedora and Red Hat-based distributions can use DNF for installation:
# Install Antigravity using DNF
sudo dnf install antigravityAfter installation, launch Antigravity from your application menu or run antigravity from the terminal. Complete the Google Account authentication process to activate your installation.
Getting Started: Your First Project with Antigravity
Understanding the Interface
When you first open Antigravity, you’ll see three main areas. The left sidebar houses the Agent Manager, where you can create, monitor, and manage autonomous agents. The center area is the familiar Code Editor, based on VS Code with syntax highlighting, IntelliSense, and all the features you expect. The right panel provides the Chat Interface for communicating with agents and the Browser Preview for testing web applications.
Try Your First Autonomous Agent
Let’s create a simple project to understand how Antigravity’s autonomous agents work. This example demonstrates the platform’s ability to handle multi-step tasks without constant supervision.
Example Prompt: “Create a responsive landing page for a SaaS product with a hero section, features grid, pricing table, and contact form. Use modern CSS with flexbox/grid, vanilla JavaScript for form validation, and ensure mobile responsiveness. Include a simple email collection that displays submitted emails in a list below the form.”
Here’s what happens next:
- Planning Phase: The agent creates a detailed plan breaking down the task into components (HTML structure, CSS styling, JavaScript functionality, responsive design)
- File Creation: It generates
index.html,styles.css, andscript.jswith proper project structure - Code Implementation: Writes clean, commented code following best practices
- Local Server: Starts a development server automatically
- Browser Testing: Opens the application in the integrated browser for visual verification
- Self-Validation: Tests the form functionality, responsive breakpoints, and interaction patterns
The entire process typically takes 2-4 minutes, depending on complexity. You can watch the agent work in real-time or minimize the process and return when it’s complete. This asynchronous workflow is what makes Antigravity revolutionary—you can parallelize development tasks that previously required sequential attention.
Key Features That Set Antigravity Apart
1. Multi-Model Support
While Antigravity is built around Gemini 3, it’s not locked into a single AI model. Users can leverage Anthropic’s Claude Sonnet 4.5 and OpenAI’s open-source GPT-OSS models within the same environment. This flexibility allows you to choose the best model for specific tasks—perhaps Gemini 3 for complex system architecture, Claude for detailed documentation, and GPT-OSS for rapid prototyping.
2. Artifact-Based Communication
Instead of simply showing code changes, Antigravity agents communicate through detailed artifacts—structured summaries of what they’ve built, why they made specific decisions, and what trade-offs they considered. These artifacts serve as living documentation, making it easier for teams to understand code written by AI agents. For business leaders hiring remote developers, this transparency is invaluable for code reviews and knowledge transfer.
3. Browser-Native Testing
The Chrome extension integration allows agents to interact with web applications just like human testers would—clicking buttons, filling forms, navigating pages, and verifying functionality. This means agents can catch UI/UX issues that traditional static analysis might miss. The browser becomes both a preview tool and a testing environment, reducing the feedback loop between development and QA.
4. Generous Free Tier with Gemini 3 Pro
Google offers Antigravity with generous rate limits for Gemini 3 Pro at no cost during the public preview. While specific rate limits aren’t publicly disclosed, early users report being able to build multiple complete applications daily without hitting limits. This makes it accessible for startups, indie developers, and companies evaluating AI development tools without upfront investment.
Antigravity vs. The Competition: How Does It Stack Up?
The competitive landscape is fascinating. Cursor crossed $1 billion in annualized revenue and achieved a $29.3 billion valuation in November 2025—the same month Google launched Antigravity. Interestingly, Google participated as an investor in Cursor’s Series D funding round, meaning Google is both competing with and investing in Cursor simultaneously. This hedging strategy suggests Google sees the AI IDE market as critically important regardless of which platform dominates.
Advanced Tips and Troubleshooting
Optimizing Agent Performance
Be specific with prompts: Instead of “build a login system,” try “build a JWT-based authentication system with email/password login, password reset via email, session management with Redis, and rate limiting to prevent brute force attacks.” The more context you provide, the better agents perform.
Break complex projects into phases: While agents can handle multi-step tasks, extremely complex projects benefit from phased prompts. Build the backend API first, then the frontend, then integrations. This gives you checkpoints to review and adjust direction if needed.
Leverage artifacts for team communication: Share agent-generated artifacts with your team during code reviews. They provide context that raw code commits don’t, explaining the reasoning behind architectural decisions. For distributed teams or when working with remote developers, this documentation is invaluable.
Common Installation Issues and Fixes
Issue: “Unable to verify developer” on macOS
Solution: Go to System Settings > Privacy & Security, scroll down to find the blocked application, and click “Open Anyway.” This is standard for newly released macOS applications.
Issue: Windows Defender blocks installation
Solution: Click “More info” on the SmartScreen warning, then “Run anyway.” You can also add an exception in Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Manage settings > Add or remove exclusions.
Issue: Linux installation fails with dependency errors
Solution: Ensure your system meets the minimum glibc (>= 2.28) and glibcxx (>= 3.4.25) requirements. On Ubuntu/Debian, run sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade before installing. For older distributions, consider upgrading your OS.
Issue: Google Account authentication keeps failing
Solution: Clear your browser cache and cookies, then try again. If you’re in a corporate environment, check if your IT department has restrictions on Google OAuth apps. You may need to request approval for Antigravity specifically.
What This Means for Business Leaders and HR Teams
Accelerated Development Cycles
Antigravity’s autonomous agents can compress development timelines significantly. Tasks that previously took days—like building a complete authentication system, creating API documentation, or implementing responsive designs—can now be completed in hours. For startups racing to market or established companies managing multiple projects, this acceleration is transformative.
However, speed doesn’t replace expertise. The most effective use of Antigravity involves experienced developers who understand architecture, security, and best practices guiding AI agents. This shifts the developer role from writing every line of code to becoming an architect and validator—arguably a higher-leverage position.
Implications for Hiring and Team Structure
The rise of AI IDEs like Antigravity changes what to look for when hiring developers. Technical skills remain critical, but equally important are strong prompt engineering abilities, architectural thinking, and code review skills. Developers who can effectively guide AI agents deliver exponentially more value than those who simply write code faster.
For HR leaders building remote engineering teams, platforms specializing in vetted developers can help identify talent with both traditional programming expertise and AI-augmented development skills. Look for candidates who have demonstrable experience with AI coding assistants and can articulate how they use these tools to amplify their productivity rather than replace their judgment.
Cost Considerations
During the free public preview, Antigravity offers exceptional value. However, business leaders should plan for eventual pricing models. Given that Cursor charges $20-40/month per seat and has achieved massive revenue, Google will likely introduce similar pricing once the platform exits beta. Budget for these costs when calculating development expenses, but remember that increased productivity often justifies the subscription cost many times over.
Learning Resources and Community
Google has created several resources to help developers get the most from Antigravity:
- Official Documentation: Comprehensive guides available at
antigravity.google/docscovering installation, features, and best practices - Video Tutorials: A 14-minute “Learn the basics” walkthrough by product engineer Kevin Hou (formerly of Windsurf) demonstrates building a complete application
- Developer Blog: Google’s Developer Blog publishes regular updates on new features, use cases, and tips
- Community Forums: Active discussions on Reddit (r/AntigravityIDE) and Discord provide peer support and troubleshooting
- GitHub Examples: Sample projects demonstrating various use cases from simple websites to complex microservices architectures
The community is rapidly growing, with developers sharing prompts, workflows, and creative applications. Following these resources helps you stay current as Google adds features and refines capabilities based on user feedback.
Security and Privacy Considerations
When using AI-powered development tools, security and privacy are paramount. Antigravity processes your code through Google’s servers to enable agent functionality, which raises important questions for enterprise users.
Data handling: Review Google’s terms of service and privacy policy specifically for Antigravity. Understand what data is stored, how long it’s retained, and whether it’s used for model training. Many enterprises require explicit opt-out from training data usage.
Proprietary code protection: Avoid using Antigravity for extremely sensitive proprietary algorithms or security-critical code until you’ve verified data handling policies with your legal and security teams. Consider using local development for high-security components and Antigravity for less sensitive work.
Access controls: If using Google Workspace accounts, ensure proper access controls and audit logging are configured. IT administrators can monitor Antigravity usage and enforce policies through workspace management tools.
Conclusion: Getting Started Today
Google Antigravity IDE represents the cutting edge of AI-assisted software development. With its autonomous agents, multi-model support, and generous free tier, there’s no barrier to entry for developers wanting to experience the future of coding today. The installation process is straightforward, 10 minutes from download to writing your first agent-generated code.
The question isn’t whether AI will transform software development, it already has. The question is how quickly you’ll adapt to leverage these capabilities. Download Antigravity today at antigravity.google/download and start experimenting. Build that side project you’ve been putting off. Automate that repetitive task that’s been draining your team’s time. Discover how autonomous agents can amplify your development capabilities.
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