I started using Google Antigravity for client website builds a few months after it launched in November 2025. The first time an agent wrote, tested, and previewed a complete HTML page without me typing a single line of code, I had to check twice if it was real. That was my first proper experience with what Google calls agent-first development.

If you are new to Antigravity and do not know where to begin, this guide walks you through the complete setup on Mac, the core interface, how to run your first task, and the errors you will most likely hit in your first week.

What is Google Antigravity?

Google Antigravity is an AI-native development platform built on a modified version of Visual Studio Code. Unlike normal coding tools that suggest the next line as you type, Antigravity uses autonomous AI agents that plan, write, test, and verify entire tasks on their own.

It launched on November 18, 2025, alongside Gemini 3, and it is free to use during public preview. No credit card needed. Just a personal Gmail account. According to a setup guide published by Petronella Technology Group in April 2026, Antigravity had reached version 1.22.2 by that month and holds a 4.7/5 rating on Product Hunt from early users.

The key difference from tools like Cursor or Claude Code: Antigravity behaves more like a project manager than an assistant. You describe what you want. The agent figures out the steps, runs them, and reports back.

What You Need Before You Start

Before installing, make sure you have:

  • A Mac running macOS Monterey (12.0) or a newer version
  • Google Chrome installed
  • A personal Gmail account (Google Workspace accounts are not supported yet)
  • A stable internet connection

You do not need to know how to code. That said, if you understand the basics of how a website or app is structured, you will write better prompts and get cleaner results from the agents.

How to Download and Install Google Antigravity on Mac

Step 1. Download the installer

Go to antigravity.google and click the download button. For Mac, you will see two options: Apple Silicon (for M1, M2, M3, M4, M5 chips) and Intel. Not sure which one your Mac uses? Click the Apple menu at the top left of your screen, then click “About This Mac.” The chip type will be listed there.

Download the matching .dmg file.

Step 2. Install the app

Open the .dmg file once it finishes downloading. Drag the Antigravity icon into your Applications folder. That is the full installation.

macOS may ask if you want to open an app downloaded from the internet. Click Open.

If you see a warning that says “Apple cannot verify the developer,” go to System Settings > Privacy & Security. You will see a prompt about Antigravity near the bottom. Click “Open Anyway.”

Step 3. First launch and setup

Open Antigravity from your Applications folder, or use Spotlight (Cmd + Space, then type Antigravity).

On first launch, the app takes you through a short setup screen. The main choices are:

Import settings. You can bring in settings from an existing VS Code or Cursor setup. For a fresh start, choose the clean install option.

Editor theme. Pick dark or light. This is just visual preference.

Command line tool. The setup offers to install the agy command so you can open Antigravity from the terminal. This is optional. If you are not familiar with the terminal, skip it for now.

Step 4. Sign in with Google

After the setup screens, Antigravity will ask you to sign in. It opens Chrome for Google authentication. Sign in with your personal Gmail account.

Once authentication is done, Chrome shows a confirmation message and sends you back to the app. You will land on the Agent Manager screen. Setup is complete.

Understanding the Antigravity Interface

Antigravity has three main areas:

Agent Manager. This is the main screen. Think of it as the home base. All conversations with agents start here. You manage your workspaces here, start new tasks, and track what is running. This is where you will spend most of your time as a beginner.

Editor View. This is the standard code editor, similar to VS Code. Switch to it at any time to see the files your agent has created, edit them directly, or give inline instructions inside a file. Access it from the icon in the left sidebar.

Browser. Antigravity includes a built-in browser. The agent uses it to preview, test, and interact with web pages automatically. You can also open it manually from the sidebar to check how your project looks without leaving the app.

Setting Up Your First Workspace

A workspace in Antigravity is a folder on your Mac. Everything your agent creates for a project gets saved inside that folder. One workspace should contain one project.

One important thing before you do anything else: the workspace name and the project you are working on should match. If you are building something called “ClientWebsite,” your workspace folder should also be named “ClientWebsite” or something close to it. Working inside the wrong workspace folder is one of the most common mistakes beginners make. The agent will create or modify files in the wrong place, and it is annoying to untangle later.

Here is how to set up a workspace:

  1. Create a new folder on your Mac for the project. For example, a folder called “my-first-project” on your Desktop.
  2. Open Antigravity. In the Agent Manager, look for the Workspaces section in the left sidebar.
  3. Click “Add Workspace” and select the folder you just created.
  4. Make sure this workspace is the active one before you start any conversation.

Running Your First Task

With your workspace ready, click “Start Conversation” in the Agent Manager. This opens the prompt input where you describe what you want.

Write your instruction in plain language. For example: “Create a simple one-page HTML website for a photography portfolio. Include a header with my name, a gallery section with placeholder images, and a contact section.”

The agent will:

  1. Read your prompt and create a task list.
  2. Ask for terminal permissions to run commands. Click Allow.
  3. Start generating files inside your workspace folder.
  4. Open the built-in browser to show you the preview.

According to the official Google Codelabs Antigravity guide, the agent maintains a persistent task list throughout your session. Unlike a normal chat, these tasks are saved. You can stop the agent mid-task and resume without losing context.

Once the task is done, switch to the Editor View to see all the files. You can also open the workspace folder on your Mac directly to find the actual files.

Common Errors Beginners Face (and How to Fix Them)

These are the errors I have run into regularly in the first few weeks of using Antigravity. Chances are, you will see them too.

Error: “Agent terminated due to error”

This shows up when there is high demand on the model you are using at that moment. It is not a problem with your prompt or your project.

Fix: Switch to a different model and retry the same task. In the Agent Manager, you can change the active model from the model selector before starting a new conversation. Gemini 3 Flash is a reliable fallback. It handles most tasks without the same load issues and responds faster.

Agent creating files in the wrong folder

If the agent starts writing files outside your project folder, your workspace and project are not aligned.

Fix: Check the Workspaces section in the sidebar. Confirm that the selected workspace points to your current project folder. If not, switch to the correct one before continuing.

Slow or failed responses with Claude models

Claude Sonnet and Claude Opus are two of the stronger models available inside Antigravity. But they can be slow or unavailable during high-traffic windows.

Based on my usage patterns, Claude gets congested during IST peak hours, roughly from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Responses slow down, and you may hit termination errors more often during this window.

What works better:

  • Use Claude Opus or Claude Sonnet in the early morning (before 9:00 AM IST) or in the evening (after 7:00 PM IST). This is when response quality is noticeably better and the models are less loaded.
  • During the day, switch to Gemini 3 Flash or GPT for your tasks. Both perform well for website builds, content generation, and standard coding work during peak hours.

If you are working on something that needs Claude-level reasoning, save that task for early morning or late evening.

Key Takeaways

  • Antigravity is free during public preview. Sign in with a personal Gmail account.
  • On Mac, download the Apple Silicon or Intel version based on your chip. Open the .dmg, drag to Applications, and sign in with Gmail.
  • Always match your workspace folder to the project you are working on. Mismatched workspaces cause files to land in the wrong place.
  • “Agent terminated due to error” usually means high model demand. Switch models and retry.
  • Claude Opus and Claude Sonnet perform best before 9:00 AM IST or after 7:00 PM IST. Use Gemini or GPT during the day.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Google Antigravity free to use?

Yes, it is free during public preview. You get access to all supported models including Gemini 3 Pro, Claude Sonnet, Claude Opus, and GPT-OSS with no credit card required. Google has said it will announce pricing changes before any paid plans go live.

Do I need coding knowledge to use Antigravity?

No. Antigravity runs on plain language prompts. You describe what you want to build, and the agent handles the code. Some basic understanding of how websites or apps are structured helps you review the output, but it is not a requirement to get started.

Can I use Claude or GPT inside Antigravity?

Yes. Antigravity supports multiple models. As of April 2026, the supported models include Gemini 3 Pro, Gemini 3 Flash, Claude Sonnet, Claude Opus, and GPT-OSS. You can switch models from the model selector before starting any task.

What is the difference between a workspace and a project?

A workspace is a folder on your Mac. The agent saves all project files inside that folder. A project is the work you are doing inside that workspace. Keep one project per workspace folder to avoid confusion and file conflicts.

Why does my agent stop in the middle of a task?

Two common reasons: the agent is waiting for you to approve a terminal permission, or the model is under heavy load. Check if there is an approval prompt waiting in the Agent Manager. If not, switch to a different model and restart the task.