Installing the desktop app

The desktop app is required to capture meetings and surface live insights. It's available for macOS.

Download and install

1. Sign in to the web app at app.magicscreen.ai.
2. Click Download the desktop app in the banner on your dashboard (or Download for macOS in the post-signup prompt).
3. Open the downloaded file and follow the standard macOS install steps to move MagicScreen into your Applications.
4. Launch MagicScreen and sign in. See Creating your account if you haven't signed up yet.

Grant permissions

The first time you open MagicScreen, you'll see the Permissions screen — "A few things are needed before we start." MagicScreen needs three macOS permissions before it can detect and transcribe meetings. Each one is listed with a status indicator that turns green once granted.

1. Microphone

Why: "Magic Screen needs microphone access to detect when you join a meeting and to transcribe the conversation in real time."

• Click Allow Microphone and approve the system prompt.
• If you previously denied it, the button reads Open Microphone Settings — click it and enable MagicScreen under System Settings → Privacy & Security → Microphone.

2. Screen Recording

Why: "Screen Recording permission lets Magic Screen identify which meeting app is active so it can attach to the right window."

• Click Allow Screen Recording and approve the system prompt.
• If the prompt has already been dismissed, click Open Screen Recording Settings and enable MagicScreen under System Settings → Privacy & Security → Screen Recording.

3. Accessibility

Why: "Accessibility permission is used to read window titles and detect meeting state. Magic Screen never captures screen content."

• Click Allow Accessibility and approve the system prompt.
• If needed, click Open Accessibility Settings and enable MagicScreen under System Settings → Privacy & Security → Accessibility.

⚠️ macOS may ask you to quit and reopen MagicScreen after you enable Screen Recording or Accessibility. If a permission still shows as not granted after you've toggled it on, restart the app.

Finish onboarding

The Continue button stays disabled until all three permissions are granted. Once every item shows a green checkmark, click Continue to finish setup. MagicScreen will then start watching for meetings.