# Install DemoVexa

> Check the requirements, download the DemoVexa app for macOS, Windows or Linux, and open it for the first time.

Source: https://demovexa.com/docs/getting-started/install

DemoVexa is a desktop app that runs on your own computer. This page covers what your computer needs, how to install DemoVexa, and where it keeps your data.

## Requirements

| What | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Operating system | macOS 13 or newer (Apple Silicon or Intel), Windows 10 or 11 (64-bit), or Linux (64-bit; Ubuntu/Debian for the .deb) |
| Disk and memory | About 5 GB free disk for the app, plus room for your videos; 16 GB of RAM or more recommended |
| Git | Needed. The Ideas page reads your app's git history. |
| Claude | Claude Code installed and signed in, or an Anthropic API key |
| ElevenLabs | An ElevenLabs API key. Commercial use needs a paid plan (from $6/month). |
| DemoVexa account | Free to create. You sign in the first time the app opens. |

Everything else comes inside the app: its own Node.js, the video engine, FFmpeg and the headless Chrome used for rendering. You don't need to install any of them.

You connect Claude and ElevenLabs in the setup window the first time DemoVexa opens. See [First-run setup](/docs/getting-started/first-run).

## Download

Go to the [Download page](/download) and pick the file for your computer:

| System | File |
|---|---|
| Mac with Apple Silicon (M1 and later) | **DemoVexa-mac-arm64.dmg** |
| Mac with an Intel processor | **DemoVexa-mac-x64.dmg** |
| Windows | **DemoVexa-win-x64-setup.exe** |
| Linux (any distribution) | **DemoVexa-linux-x64.AppImage** |
| Linux (Debian, Ubuntu) | **DemoVexa-linux-amd64.deb** |

Not sure which Mac you have? Open the Apple menu → **About This Mac**. "Chip: Apple M…" means Apple Silicon; "Processor: Intel" means Intel.

## Install

### macOS

1. Open the .dmg and drag **DemoVexa** to **Applications**.
2. Open DemoVexa from Applications.

Early-access builds aren't notarized by Apple yet, so the first time macOS says it can't check the app. Right-click DemoVexa in Applications and choose **Open**, then **Open** again. If there's no Open button, go to **System Settings → Privacy & Security** and click **Open Anyway** next to the DemoVexa message. You only need to do this once.

### Windows

1. Run **DemoVexa-win-x64-setup.exe**.
2. Choose where to install it, then finish the installer. DemoVexa appears in the Start menu.

If SmartScreen says "Windows protected your PC", click **More info → Run anyway**. Signed installers are on the way.

### Linux

AppImage:

```bash
chmod +x DemoVexa-linux-x64.AppImage
./DemoVexa-linux-x64.AppImage
```

Debian or Ubuntu:

```bash
sudo apt install ./DemoVexa-linux-amd64.deb
```

## Install Git and Claude Code

If you don't have them yet:

| System | Git | Claude Code |
|---|---|---|
| macOS | `xcode-select --install` | See [claude.ai/install](https://claude.ai/install) |
| Windows | `winget install Git.Git` | See [claude.ai/install](https://claude.ai/install) |
| Linux | `sudo apt install git` | See [claude.ai/install](https://claude.ai/install) |

Then run `claude` once in a terminal and sign in. If you'd rather use an Anthropic API key, you can skip Claude Code and paste the key in the setup window.

## The first start

The first time it opens, DemoVexa:

1. Asks you to sign in or create your DemoVexa account. Your browser opens to confirm it.
2. Sets up its video engine in your data folder. This can take a minute, once.
3. Opens the setup window for Claude and ElevenLabs.

After that, it starts in a few seconds.

## Where your data lives

Your workspaces, videos and settings are kept in DemoVexa's data folder, not inside the app, so updating or reinstalling the app keeps them.

| System | Data folder |
|---|---|
| macOS | `~/Library/Application Support/DemoVexa` |
| Windows | `%APPDATA%\DemoVexa` |
| Linux | `~/.config/DemoVexa` |

API keys are stored in your system's keychain (Keychain on macOS, Credential Manager on Windows, the Secret Service on Linux), not in that folder.

## Updating

Download the newest version from the [Download page](/download) and install it over the old one. Your data stays where it is.

Quitting DemoVexa stops the app. Builds, renders and batches that are already running keep going in the background and show up in the Activity menu when you open it again.

## Linux extras

- **zenity or kdialog** for the **Choose folder…** button. Without one, you can still paste the full path of a folder.
- If renders fail with "error while loading shared libraries", **Settings → Rendering** lists Chrome's missing system libraries and gives a command you can copy.

```bash
sudo apt install zenity
```

## Next

- [First-run setup](/docs/getting-started/first-run)
- [Make your first video](/docs/getting-started/first-video)
- [Troubleshooting](/docs/help/troubleshooting)