import { Step, Steps } from 'fumadocs-ui/components/steps'

## Desktop download

Choose your platform at [readyset.io/downloads](https://readyset.io/downloads).
The stable download routes open the downloads page:

| Platform             | Download                                                                                | Install                                                   |
| -------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------- |
| macOS, Apple Silicon | [DMG](/docs/download/rdst/macos-arm64)                                                  | Open the disk image and drag RDST Desktop to Applications |
| Windows, x64         | [Installer](/docs/download/rdst/windows-x64)                                            | Run the installer. It installs for your user              |
| Linux, x64           | [AppImage](/docs/download/rdst/linux-appimage)                                          | Mark it executable and run it                             |
| Linux, x64           | [Debian package](/docs/download/rdst/linux-deb) or [RPM](/docs/download/rdst/linux-rpm) | Install with your package manager                         |

For an AppImage, replace the filename with the one you downloaded:

```bash
chmod +x rdst-desktop.AppImage
./rdst-desktop.AppImage
```

## First launch

<Steps>
  <Step>
    **Choose how RDST uses AI.** The first screen asks you to sign in to
    Readyset. AI monitoring needs a sign-in, so pick **Sign up or sign in**.
    **Add Anthropic key** below it covers deep analysis and reports, and doesn't
    replace signing in. See [AI access](/readyset-ai/rdst/desktop/ai-credits).
  </Step>

  <Step>
    **Connect a database.** Fill in the connection details, or paste a
    connection URL into **Quick setup**, and select **Test & connect**. You can
    also discover databases at AWS, Supabase, Neon or DigitalOcean. See
    [Connect a database](/readyset-ai/rdst/desktop/connect).
  </Step>

  <Step>
    **Let RDST see your queries.** RDST checks that it can read the database's
    query statistics and shows the fix for anything missing.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    **Select Turn on monitoring.** It opens the
    [turn-on dialog](/readyset-ai/rdst/desktop/monitoring/turn-on) on the
    database's Database page. Pick how deep analysis reads a query and turn it
    on. The first readings arrive within seconds.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<img alt="Let RDST see your queries, with every check passed and Turn on monitoring" src={__img0} placeholder="blur" />

When your account's AI usage limit is reached, AI monitoring stops gracefully,
local monitoring keeps running, and the app asks you to contact us.

## Running in the tray

Closing the window hides it. RDST keeps monitoring from the system tray on
Windows and Linux, or the menu bar on macOS. Select the icon to reopen it.

**Start at login** is enabled on the first packaged launch where supported.
RDST starts in the background without opening a window. Clear **Start at login**
in the tray menu to disable it. Linux AppImage builds don't support this setting.

| Tray item              | Action                                                                                                                                                                 |
| ---------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Open RDST              | Show the window                                                                                                                                                        |
| Inbox                  | Open the [Inbox](/readyset-ai/rdst/desktop/monitoring/inbox)                                                                                                           |
| Monitoring             | Turn monitoring on or off for a database or all databases; see [tray controls](/readyset-ai/rdst/desktop/monitoring/pause-and-limits#control-monitoring-from-the-tray) |
| Start at login         | Control startup with your computer                                                                                                                                     |
| Notifications          | Enable or disable system notifications                                                                                                                                 |
| Send test notification | Check notification delivery                                                                                                                                            |
| Open logs folder       | Open [backend logs](/readyset-ai/rdst/desktop/monitoring/troubleshooting#the-backend-log)                                                                              |
| Quit RDST              | Stop the app and monitoring                                                                                                                                            |

The icon shows whether RDST is running, needs attention, or has monitoring off. Hover it for details.
Monitoring can't collect while your computer is asleep or off. The chart keeps
that gap when collection resumes.

## Updates and upgrades

Published main releases download updates in the background. Use the app's
restart control or quit RDST from the tray to apply a downloaded update.
Preview and local builds need a manual reinstall.

On the first launch after an upgrade, RDST may migrate its data files. Leave
**Upgrading your data, this can take a minute** to finish. Failed startup offers
**Try again** and **Open logs**.

Update a separately installed CLI too. An older CLI may read saved queries but
fail to write data upgraded by the desktop app. See
[Data and retention](/readyset-ai/rdst/desktop/monitoring/data-and-retention).

## Running in a browser

Install the [CLI](/readyset-ai/rdst/cli/getting-started#install) and run
[`rdst web`](/readyset-ai/rdst/cli/integrations/web). It serves the same database,
Inbox, and report interface locally.

Keep `rdst web` running to collect readings. Closing a browser tab doesn't stop
the server, but browser notifications need an open tab. The browser interface
has no desktop tray or start-at-login controls.