Quick start
Lynx AI is designed to work immediately after installation — without complex configuration, infrastructure setup, or scripting.
Follow the steps below to get up and running.
System requirements
Before installing Lynx AI, ensure your system meets the following requirements:
Operating system
- macOS (latest stable version recommended)
- Apple Silicon and Intel supported (if applicable)
Hardware
- Minimum 8GB RAM recommended
- Stable internet connection (for LLM access, if applicable)
- Minimum 500MB free storage.
Dependencies
- No additional software needed.
- Internet for cloud model access (via your API keys).
Compatibility notes
Works best on macOS 14+ (Sonoma) for advanced voice features. Not yet available for Windows/Linux (roadmap Q3 2026).
Installation
Step 1: download
Download the latest version of Lynx AI from the official website: clawpaw.ai/download.
Step 2: open the application
Drag Lynx AI into your Applications folder and launch it.
On first launch, macOS may prompt you to confirm that you trust the application. Approve to continue.
No account creation is required to begin using Lynx AI.
Initial setup and permissions
On first launch, Lynx AI prompts for essential permissions to function securely:
| Permission | Required | Why Lynx AI asks for it | Where to manage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Microphone (for voice input) | Optional | Enables natural speech commands. | System Settings > Privacy & Security > Microphone |
| Accessibility (for global shortcut & OS context) | Required | Allows keyboard activation and reading active windows/tabs; enables safe simulated clicks/keystrokes. | System Settings > Privacy & Security > Accessibility |
| Full disk access (for folders & files) | Optional (recommended) | Enables file and folder operations in custom directories; you can still scope access to specific folders. | System Settings > Privacy & Security > Full Disk Access |
| Calendar / Mail / Reminders | Optional | Enables native app sync; Lynx AI only accesses items you approve. | System Settings > Privacy settings for Calendar, Mail, and Reminders |
All permissions are one-time and user-revocable via macOS System Settings.
First launch and tutorial
On first launch, you can try the following:
1. Setting a global shortcut
Choose a keyboard shortcut to activate Lynx AI from anywhere on your system.
This allows:
- Instant access
- No window switching
- Full-screen compatibility
2. Selecting a default autonomy mode
You can choose a default execution mode:
- Explore — analysis only
- Ask — confirmation required
- Execute — direct action
You can change this at any time.
3. First task demo
Lynx AI may prompt you to try a simple task, such as:
- “Summarize this folder.”
- “What’s on my calendar today?”
- “Organize these files.”
This demonstrates how Lynx AI:
- Understands current context
- Plans actions
- Operates within permissions
4. Understanding boundaries
Lynx AI does not:
- Access files outside approved folders without explicit permission
- Perform actions in the background without being invoked
- Run autonomous tasks outside the selected execution mode
Everything operates within visible, user-defined boundaries — and you can review or revoke permissions at any time in System Settings.
After setup
Once configured, Lynx AI becomes:
- Always accessible via global shortcut
- Context-aware by default
- Adjustable in autonomy
- Fully local in execution model
You can begin using it immediately — no configuration layers required.