Installation & Setup

Get Astronox up and running in minutes.

System Requirements

Supported Platforms

• macOS 10.15 (Catalina) or later
• Windows 10 or later
• Linux (Ubuntu 20.04+, Fedora 36+, or equivalent)

Minimum Hardware

• RAM: 4GB (8GB recommended)
• Storage: 200MB free space
• Internet: Active connection required for AI features

Installation

Download Astronox

1. Visit the Astronox website or distribution page
2. Download the installer for your platform:
   • macOS: .dmg file
   • Windows: .exe installer
   • Linux: .AppImage or .deb package

Platform-Specific Installation

macOS

1. Open the .dmg file
2. Drag Astronox to your Applications folder
3. First launch: Right-click → Open (to bypass Gatekeeper)
4. Grant necessary permissions when prompted

Windows

1. Run the .exe installer
2. Follow the installation wizard
3. Launch from Start Menu or Desktop shortcut
4. Allow through Windows Defender if prompted

Linux

1. Make the .AppImage executable: chmod +x Astronox.AppImage
2. Run: ./Astronox.AppImage
3. Or install .deb: sudo dpkg -i astronox.deb

First Launch

Initial Setup Wizard

When you first launch Astronox, you'll see a welcome screen guiding you through:

1. Choose Your AI Provider

   • Google Gemini (recommended for most users)
   • MintAI (for Pro users)

2. Enter API Key (see below)

3. Select Access Mode

   • Safe Mode (recommended): Asks for confirmation before risky actions
   • Full Mode: Executes most commands automatically

Getting an API Key

Google Gemini (Free Tier Available)

Best for: Most users, generous free tier

1. Visit Google AI Studio
2. Sign in with your Google account
3. Click "Get API Key"
4. Copy the key (starts with AIza...)
5. Paste into Astronox settings

Free Tier Limits:

• 60 requests per minute
• 1,500 requests per day
• More than enough for infrequent use

MintAI (Pro)

Best for: Pro subscribers, advanced users, moderate-high usage

1. Astronox automatically fetches MintAI keys for Pro users
2. No manual configuration needed if you have an active subscription
3. Access to multiple premium models

Configuring Your First API Key

During First Launch

1. Select your provider
2. Paste your API key in the text field

Adding Keys Later

1. Click the Settings icon (⚙️) in the top-right
2. Navigate to API Keys section
3. Select provider from dropdown
4. Paste your key
5. Click "Save Settings"

Verifying Your Configuration

After saving, you should see:

• ✅ Green checkmark next to your provider
• Current model name displayed
• No error messages in the chat area

Your First Conversation

Starting a New Chat

1. Click "+ New Chat" button in the left sidebar
2. Type a simple message: "What can you help me with?"
3. Press Enter or click the send button
4. Wait for Astronox to respond

Example First Prompts

"Show me what you can do"
"List all files in my Downloads folder"
"What's the weather like today?"
"Help me organize my desktop"

Granting Permissions

macOS Permissions

Astronox may request:

• Accessibility: To control system settings
• Files and Folders: To read/write files
• Automation: To script other apps

How to grant:

1. System Preferences → Security & Privacy → Privacy
2. Select the relevant category (Accessibility, Files, etc.)
3. Check the box next to Astronox

Windows Permissions

• May require Admin rights for system operations
• Windows Defender SmartScreen may show a warning (click "More info" → "Run anyway")

Linux Permissions

• May need to run with sudo for system-level operations
• AppImage users: Ensure executable permissions are set

Troubleshooting First Launch

"API Key Invalid" Error

• Double-check you copied the entire key (no spaces/newlines)
• Verify the key is for the correct provider (Gemini vs MintAI)
• Check your internet connection
• Try regenerating the key from the provider's dashboard

"Connection Failed" Error

• Verify internet connectivity
• Check firewall settings (allow Astronox to access the internet)
• Try switching to a different network
• Disable VPN temporarily to test

App Won't Launch

• macOS: Check if Gatekeeper is blocking (right-click → Open)
• Windows: Run as Administrator

Blank/Black Screen

• Update your graphics drivers
• Disable hardware acceleration in settings (if accessible)
• Try restarting the app

Next Steps

✅ You're all set! Now explore:

• Quick Start Guide - Learn the basics in 5 minutes
• Sample Prompts - Try example commands
• Features Overview - Discover what Astronox can do

Updating Astronox

Automatic Updates

• Astronox checks for updates on launch
• You'll see a notification when a new version is available
• Click "Update Now" to download and install

Manual Updates

• Download the latest installer from the website
• Install over your existing version (settings are preserved)
• Your conversations and data are automatically migrated

Data & Privacy

Where Data is Stored

• Conversations: Local app data folder (not cloud-synced)
• Settings: Local configuration files
• API Keys: Encrypted locally, never transmitted except to chosen provider

What Gets Sent to AI Providers

• Your messages and attached files
• System context (OS, file paths) when relevant to requests
• Not sent: API keys, unrelated files, browsing history

Deleting Your Data

1. Settings → Advanced → Clear All Data
2. Or manually delete: ~/Library/Application Support/Astronox (macOS)