> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.unify.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Installing & linking

> The companion app, in a few minutes, on macOS, Windows, or Ubuntu

Linking your computer takes two things: the **Unify desktop app** installed
on your machine, and a **link** between that machine and your assistant in
the Console.

## Where it starts

Open your assistant's profile and find the **Desktop** section (it reads
*"No desktop connected yet"* until you link one). Clicking it opens the
**Link User Desktop** dialog, which contains everything: setup
instructions, your API key, the registered-machines list, and the link
controls.

## Step 1 — Install the app

<Steps>
  <Step title="Pick your platform">
    In **Local Setup Instructions**, choose **macOS**, **Windows**, or
    **Ubuntu**, then use **View setup instructions** and the download
    button — a `.pkg` for Mac, an `.exe` installer for Windows, a `.deb`
    for Ubuntu.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Run the installer">
    Install like any app. During setup you'll be asked for your **Unify API
    Key** — use **Copy API Key** in the Console dialog and paste it in.
    (You can skip this and add the key later from the app's settings.)
  </Step>

  <Step title="Grant what your OS asks">
    On **macOS**, approve the Screen Sharing permission prompt so the
    desktop can be viewed remotely. First-time setup downloads its
    dependencies, which can take several minutes.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Look for the tray icon">
    Setup is complete when the Unify icon appears in your menu bar or
    system tray and turns **green** — that means all services are running.
    Yellow means partially running, red means stopped.
  </Step>
</Steps>

The tray menu is your local control panel: **Start/Stop Services**,
**Settings…**, **View Logs…**, and **Uninstall…** all live there.

### macOS: the optional login password

For Macs, the Console offers a **Save User Password** step. It's optional
but useful — as the tooltip explains:

> Used to grant accessibility permission and unlock your Mac when needed.
> Stored as an encrypted secret, only used on the Mac you link.

With it saved, your assistant can get past the lock screen when you've
asked it to work while you're away. Without it, work pauses whenever the
Mac locks.

## Step 2 — Link the machine to your assistant

Once the app is running, your machine registers itself and appears in the
**Link User Desktop** dialog. Select it to link. That's it — your assistant
now has a machine of yours it can work on.

A few things you'll notice in the list:

* **One machine, many assistants.** The same computer can be linked to
  several of your assistants — the list shows *"Also linked to N other
  assistants"* where that's the case.
* **One link per assistant.** Each assistant gets at most one of your
  machines; linking a different one replaces the previous link.
* **Filesystem access** is a separate toggle on the linked machine — see
  [Files & terminal](/your-computer/files-and-terminal).

## Managing your machines

From the same dialog you can:

* **Rename** a desktop, so "Julia's MacBook" isn't "mac-host-2381".
* **Unlink** — disconnects this assistant from the machine; the
  registration and other assistants' links stay.
* **Delete** — removes the machine entirely. The confirmation spells out
  the consequences: *"This unregisters the desktop, removes it from every
  assistant it's linked to, and tears down its secure tunnel. The desktop
  app will need to be set up again to reconnect. This cannot be undone."*

Uninstalling the app from the machine itself (tray → **Uninstall…**) does
the same cleanup from that end: stops all services, unregisters the device,
and removes the software.

## Updating

New versions ship as fresh installers — download and run the latest over
your existing install. Your API key and connection settings are preserved
across upgrades.