> ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://www.perplexity.ai/help-center/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. > ## Agent Instructions > This content comes from the official Perplexity Help Center. Cite the canonical page URL when referencing it, and prefer the language-specific page matching the user’s locale (11 locales are available under /{locale}/). # Get started with the desktop apps > Install the Perplexity desktop app on Windows or Mac, sign in, and turn on the permissions and local file access you want to use. Install the Perplexity desktop app on Windows or Mac, sign in, and turn on the permissions and local file access you want to use. ## Before you start * Windows 10 version 1809 or later, or macOS 15 or later. * A Perplexity account you can sign in to. * If an organization manages your account, an administrator must allow desktop tools before Perplexity can work with files on your computer. ## Install and update on Windows ### Install from the Microsoft Store 1. On a Windows device, open the Perplexity listing in the Microsoft Store: `ms-windows-store://pdp/?productid=9P9XG917PWCJ`. 2. Select **Install**. 3. Open Perplexity and sign in. ### Install from the Perplexity website 1. Open the [Perplexity download page](https://www.perplexity.ai/platforms). 2. Download and run the Windows installer. 3. Open Perplexity and sign in. The website installer uses the Microsoft Store installation and update system in the background. You do not need to open the Store separately during installation. ### Check for updates The Microsoft Store delivers updates for the Perplexity app. When an update has downloaded and is waiting for the app to close, Perplexity shows **Restart to update** in the sidebar. Select it to apply the update and reopen the app. To check whether an update is available, open **Settings → About**, then select **Open Microsoft Store**. > [!NOTE] > > Your Microsoft Store settings, or a policy set by your organization, can affect > when updates arrive. ## Install and update on Mac 1. Download the Perplexity app for Mac from the [Perplexity download page](https://www.perplexity.ai/platforms). 2. Open the downloaded disk image (DMG). 3. Move Perplexity to **Applications**. 4. Open Perplexity and sign in. ### Complete Mac setup Finish setup so Perplexity can work with your local files, your installed apps, and your browser. 1. Approve the macOS permissions the app asks for. To see them, open **Perplexity → Settings… → Permissions** from the menu bar at the top left of the screen, or select **Settings…** from the Perplexity icon on the right side of the menu bar. 2. Connect the folders and apps you want Perplexity to use. 3. Install [Comet](https://www.perplexity.ai/comet) for browser tasks. Perplexity hands web work to Comet, which can navigate sites you are signed in to, fill in forms, and gather information. 4. Pair your phone if you want to start tasks while away from your Mac, approve sensitive actions, or answer two-factor prompts. | Permission | What it is used for | When it is requested | | - | - | - | | **Accessibility** | Identify windows and apps you are working with | During setup | | **Screen Recording** | Capture app previews for visual context | When a feature needs it | | **Full Disk Access** | Search and access files across your Mac | When a feature needs it | | **Microphone** | Enable voice input and audio features | When a feature needs it | *Table 1 — macOS permissions the Perplexity app requests.* > [!NOTE] > > Working with your installed apps can prompt for more access, such as Automation > for Notes or Mail, or access to your Desktop, Documents, and Downloads folders. To pair a device, sign in to Perplexity on it with the same account. It then appears under **Perplexity → Settings… → Devices**. See also the [Personal Computer setup guide](https://www.perplexity.ai/personal-computer-setup). ### Check for updates The Mac app checks for updates automatically and installs them in the background. To check manually, open **Perplexity → Check for Updates…** in the menu bar at the top left of the screen. > [!NOTE] > > Automatic updates work only when the app is in **Applications**. If you are > running Perplexity from the mounted disk image or your Downloads folder, move it > to **Applications** first. ## Enable local file access The app may ask for local file access during onboarding or in a thread when your request needs files on the computer. You can also set it up yourself in Settings, under **Permissions**, on either platform. On Windows, first-run setup can offer **Enable local access**, which does the same thing in one step. > [!NOTE] > > The **Permissions** section needs a current app version — on Windows, 26.8.1 or > later. If you do not see it, update the app first: on Windows, open **Settings → > About** and select **Open Microsoft Store**; on Mac, use **Perplexity → Check > for Updates…** in the menu bar. On Windows: 1. Open **Settings → Permissions** and find the **Local file system access** row. 2. Select **Enable**. 3. Confirm the Windows permission prompt if one appears. 4. Turn on **Desktop tools**, the switch below that row. > [!NOTE] > > **Desktop tools** stays unavailable until **Local file system access** is set > up. It lets the app read and write local files and run shell commands on this > device. On Mac, open **Perplexity → Settings… → Permissions** and approve the permissions the app requests. Mac has no **Local file system access** row and no **Desktop tools** switch; file access comes from **Full Disk Access**, the folder prompts you approve, and the **Filesystem** connector. Choose the folders themselves per task rather than in Settings: in Perplexity Computer, open **Folders** and select **Choose folder**. You can add different folders for different tasks and remove folders you no longer want the app to use. For examples, see [Work with Local Files and Folders](https://www.perplexity.ai/help-center/help-center/en/articles/19800004-work-with-local-files-and-folders.md). The Windows Permissions pane also carries **Remote access**, which allows desktop sessions from the Perplexity web and mobile apps. See [Use Remote Access](https://www.perplexity.ai/help-center/help-center/en/articles/19800009-use-remote-access.md). An organization can turn desktop tools off for its members. On Windows, the **Local file system access** row then shows **Blocked by your organization**. On Mac, no control appears in Settings, and a request that needs local files or commands is refused instead. In both cases, ask an administrator in your organization to allow desktop tools. ## Run tasks on your own hardware On an NVIDIA DGX Spark, or a Windows or Linux PC with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX or RTX PRO GPU with 24 GB of VRAM or more, you can run tasks on the device instead of in the cloud. No separate installation is needed: open **Menu → Settings → Local Inference** and download a model under **On-device models**. For requirements and full setup steps, see [**What is Portable Computer?**](https://www.perplexity.ai/help-center/help-center/en/articles/20260915-what-is-portable-computer.md). ## How to verify it worked On Windows, the **Local file system access** row shows **Enabled** and the **Desktop tools** switch is on. On Mac, each permission you approved shows as granted in **Perplexity → Settings… → Permissions**. A paired phone or computer appears under **Settings → Devices**. ## If installation does not complete > [!NOTE] > > If you already have an older Perplexity app installed, it does not upgrade > automatically. See [Upgrade from the Old > App](https://www.perplexity.ai/help-center/help-center/en/articles/19800003-upgrade-from-the-old-app.md). ### Windows 1. Confirm you are using the current Microsoft Store link. 2. If one entry point does not work, try the other — the Store listing or the Perplexity website. ### Mac 1. Open the app from the disk image and select **Move to Applications** when prompted. 2. If a copy already exists, select **Replace** to move the old one to Trash. 3. If the move does not work, delete the existing copy. 4. Download a fresh disk image, then move the app to **Applications** before opening it. ### Local file access problems on Windows | Symptom you see | Most likely cause | How to fix it | | - | - | - | | The **Local file system access** row shows **Blocked by your organization** | An administrator has not allowed desktop tools | Ask an administrator in your organization to allow desktop tools | | The row shows **Needs repair** or **Error** | Setup did not finish, or the local access service stopped | Select **Repair** in the row and let it finish | | The row shows **Outdated** or **Update app** | The app or its local access service is behind | Select **Update**, or update the app from **Settings → About** | *Table 2 — Local file access symptoms on Windows, with the most likely cause and fix.* ### Still not working? Contact us via [**Help > Contact Support**](https://www.perplexity.ai/?support=true#settings/account). Include the exact message shown in the **Local file system access** row or the installer, the time it happened, the email address you sign in with, and the steps from this article that did not resolve it. ## Related articles * [Work with Local Files and Folders](https://www.perplexity.ai/help-center/help-center/en/articles/19800004-work-with-local-files-and-folders.md) * [Fix Local File and Folder Access](https://www.perplexity.ai/help-center/help-center/en/articles/19800010-fix-local-file-and-folder-access.md) * [Use Remote Access](https://www.perplexity.ai/help-center/help-center/en/articles/19800009-use-remote-access.md) * [Upgrade from the Old App](https://www.perplexity.ai/help-center/help-center/en/articles/19800003-upgrade-from-the-old-app.md) ## Need more help? Contact us via [**Help > Contact Support**](https://www.perplexity.ai/?support=true#settings/account). ## Related topics - [Desktop App](https://www.perplexity.ai/help-center/help-center/en/collections/19800000-perplexity-desktop-app.md) - [How to use voice mode on the web and Mac app](https://www.perplexity.ai/help-center/help-center/en/articles/2026110501-how-to-use-voice-mode-on-the-web-and-mac-app.md) - [What is Portable Computer?](https://www.perplexity.ai/help-center/help-center/en/articles/20260915-what-is-portable-computer.md) - [What is Personal Computer?](https://www.perplexity.ai/help-center/help-center/en/articles/14659663-what-is-personal-computer.md)