Installation | Ghostable Desktop | Ghostable Menu Installation Requirements ------------ - macOS 13 or newer. - A local Git repository you can read and write. - A Ghostable Desktop license key for project access. Choose the macOS DMG, Windows installer, or Linux AppImage from the [download page](https://ghostable.dev/download). Each button always resolves to the latest published build for that platform. Install on macOS ---------------- 1. Open the [Ghostable download page](https://ghostable.dev/download) and download the macOS DMG. 2. Open the disk image and drag **Ghostable** into the **Applications** folder. 3. Eject the disk image, then open Ghostable from Applications. Signed distribution Production releases are code signed and notarized for macOS. If Gatekeeper reports that the app is damaged or cannot verify its developer, download a fresh copy from Ghostable instead of bypassing the warning. First launch ------------ Ghostable opens the Project Launcher. Use the gear button to open application settings, choose an appearance, set a default IDE, and enter the device name that project setup should suggest. The launcher is available without a license, but opening a project requires an active or currently valid offline entitlement. Activate a license ------------------ 1. Open **Settings** from the launcher or the application menu. 2. Select **License**. 3. Paste the complete license key from your purchase email. 4. Select **Activate** and wait for the plan and device status to appear. Activation binds one activation to this device. If you do not have a key, use **Get a license**. If a key was lost, use the [license management and recovery page](https://ghostable.dev/licenses/manage). Verify the installation ----------------------- Open **Settings → Info** and record both the Desktop application version and bundled Ghostable CLI version. They are reported separately because the interface and engine can have different release numbers. Add a small repository from the launcher. A configured project should open its shared environments; an unconfigured repository should open the setup guide. If either path fails, use [Troubleshooting](https://ghostable.dev/docs/desktop/reference/troubleshooting). Updates ------- Use **Check for Updates** in the application or License settings. Update eligibility is based on the license's updates-through date, while the license itself remains valid for versions covered by the purchase. Read [Licensing & Updates](https://ghostable.dev/docs/desktop/reference/licensing-and-updates) before moving activations between machines or renewing update eligibility. On this page [ ![Ghostable](https://ghostable.dev/images/logo-dark.svg) ![Ghostable](https://ghostable.dev/images/logo-light.svg) ](https://ghostable.dev) Desktop [ CLI 3.x ](https://ghostable.dev/docs/3.x) [ Desktop ](https://ghostable.dev/docs/desktop) CLI 3.x introduction Documentation local first no login encrypted repository plaintext hosted service Installation Documentation brew homebrew npm npx linux windows PATH version update Start a new project Getting Started setup seed dotenv owner initialize Adopt an existing project Getting Started existing env import authoritative source adopt Onboard a team member Getting Started join request approve roles offboarding pull request Repository and storage Core Concepts .ghostable git conflict merge worktree private identity metadata Environments Core Concepts protected production preview staging push sync pull replace run mask-output Variables and promotions Core Concepts var promote copy context annotation key Access and devices Core Concepts identity reader writer grantor owner revoke rotate leave delete Daily development workflow Workflows pull diff validate review clean daily Review and secret scanning Workflows scan sarif github suppress secrets drift Hygiene and rotation Workflows rotation stale unused suppression environment key Automation credentials Automation & CI GHOSTABLE\_CI\_TOKEN ci deploy credential powershell revoke replace Continuous integration Automation & CI GitHub Actions fork pull request JSON stdout stderr exit codes mask-output Deployments Automation & CI Forge Vapor Cloud provider CLI dry-run preserve remote keys temporary files Validation Reference schema required nullable regex min max different\_from Command reference Reference --help --json NO\_COLOR flags aliases exit code automation Configuration Reference ghostable.yaml activity mode auditEnvironments scan ignores deployTarget dotenv syntax Security Reference cryptography XChaCha20 Poly1305 HKDF user presence threat model Backups & Offline Reference recovery offline restore clone key identity Agent integration Reference AGENTS.md capabilities allowlist coding agent Troubleshooting Reference no project found revoked identity stale policy user presence invalid CI token provider CLI git conflict diagnostics Ghostable Desktop overview Desktop Installation Desktop Projects and setup Desktop Interface tour Desktop Environments and variables Desktop Local environment files Desktop Validation and review Desktop Activity Desktop Access and automation Desktop Project settings Desktop Application settings Desktop Licensing and updates Desktop Security and storage Desktop Troubleshooting Desktop No results found