---
title: "Install Cerevisor"
description: "Download, install, and launch Cerevisor on Windows or macOS."
slug: getting-started/install
section: getting-started
canonical_url: https://cerevisor.com/docs/getting-started/install
last_verified: 2026-05-18
last_verified_version: "1.2.0"
updated_at: 2026-05-18T15:08:18.053416+00:00
---

Cerevisor ships on **Windows** and **macOS**. A Linux build is available but unsupported.

## Download

Download the latest installer for your platform from [cerevisor.com/download](https://cerevisor.com/download).

| Platform | Installer | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Windows 10/11 | `Cerevisor-<version>-Setup.exe` (NSIS) | Branded installer chrome; standard "Next, Next, Install" flow. |
| macOS (Apple Silicon, M1+) | `Cerevisor-<version>-arm64.dmg` | Pick this one for any Mac with an Apple chip (M1, M2, M3, M4). |
| macOS (Intel) | `Cerevisor-<version>-x64.dmg` | Pre-Apple-Silicon Macs only. |

We deliberately ship per-architecture macOS DMGs instead of a fat universal binary. The arm64 build is significantly smaller and avoids edge cases in the native modules Cerevisor depends on (SQLite, ONNX runtime). **Pick the matching architecture for your Mac**. Installing the wrong one yields a launch error.

If you're not sure which Mac you have: click the Apple menu → About This Mac. If it says "Chip: Apple M…", you want **arm64**. If it says "Processor: Intel…", you want **x64**.

## Install

### Windows

Double-click the downloaded `.exe` and follow the installer. Cerevisor will install into your user's local programs folder (no admin password required) and add a Start Menu shortcut.

### macOS

Double-click the downloaded `.dmg`. Drag the Cerevisor app icon to your Applications folder. Eject the DMG when done.

The first time you launch Cerevisor, macOS may show a "Cerevisor cannot be opened because the developer cannot be verified" warning. This is normal: the early builds are signed ad-hoc, not yet with an Apple Developer ID certificate. To allow the launch:

1. Right-click (or Control-click) Cerevisor in Applications.
2. Choose **Open**.
3. Click **Open** in the confirmation dialog.

After the first allow, future launches behave normally. Apple Developer ID signing + notarization is on the roadmap.

## First launch

The first time Cerevisor opens, you'll see three modals in sequence:

1. **Welcome intro**: a brief tour of what the app does. You can dismiss any time.
2. **Provider setup**: pick a model provider. You can skip this and configure it later from Settings, but you can't actually run a workflow until at least one provider is connected. See [Connect a model provider](./connecting-a-provider.md).
3. **Trust profile**: choose how often Cerevisor should pause to ask permission before doing risky things (writing files, running shell commands). Pick *Cautious* if unsure; you can change this later.

After those, you land on the **Home Screen**, which shows starter templates and any recent workflows.

## Updating Cerevisor

Cerevisor checks for updates in the background on launch. When a new version is available, you'll see an "Update available" indicator in the title bar and a branded modal appears with **Restart now** / **Later** options. Picking *Restart now* applies the update on the next launch.

Updates always download regardless of your license tier. Paid customers can never be stranded on a broken build by a license-server hiccup.

## Where Cerevisor stores its data

Cerevisor is local-first. All user data lives under your home directory:

| Folder | What's in it |
|---|---|
| `~/.cerevisor/` | The root of all Cerevisor user data. |
| `~/.cerevisor/skills/` | Skills you've created in the Skill Workshop. |
| `~/.cerevisor/memory/` | Your profile, harness self-memory, observations, freeform memory entries. |
| `~/.cerevisor/audit-logs/` | NDJSON audit trails from every workflow run. |
| `~/.cerevisor/cloud-artifacts/` | Files downloaded from Cursor cloud runs. |
| `~/.claude/skills/` | Skills you've installed for Claude Code; Cerevisor also picks these up automatically. |

On macOS, the equivalent of `~` is `/Users/<your-username>/`. On Windows it's `C:\Users\<your-username>\`.

## Uninstalling

**Windows:** Use *Settings → Apps → Installed apps → Cerevisor → Uninstall*.

**macOS:** Drag Cerevisor from Applications to the Trash.

By default, uninstalling leaves `~/.cerevisor/` and `~/.claude/skills/` in place. If you also want to remove your data and skills, delete those folders manually after uninstall. (Back them up first if you might come back: the folders are portable; reinstalling and restoring them brings everything back.)

## Where to go next

→ [Connect a model provider](./connecting-a-provider.md)