Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers to common questions about Astronox.

General

What is Astronox?

Astronox is an AI-powered desktop assistant that can:

• Manage files and folders
• Run terminal commands
• Control system settings
• Generate and run code
• Remember preferences and facts
• Automate repetitive tasks
• Analyze images and documents

It runs locally on your computer but uses cloud AI models (Google Gemini or MintAI) for intelligence.

Is Astronox free?

The app itself: Yes, completely free to download and use.

The AI models:

• Gemini free tier: 1,500 requests/day - sufficient for most users
• Gemini paid tier: Pay per use (~$0.001-0.005 per request)
• MintAI (Pro): Requires subscription (check official site for pricing)

See Rate Limits & Costs for details.

Which operating systems are supported?

• ✅ macOS 10.15+ (Catalina and newer)
• ✅ Windows 10/11

Note: Some features have platform-specific limitations. See Limitations.

Do I need an internet connection?

Yes, active internet required:

• AI models run in the cloud (Gemini/MintAI)
• API calls need connectivity
• No offline mode currently

What works offline:

• Viewing past conversations
• Browsing memory/automations
• App settings

Is my data private?

Local data:

• Conversations stored on your device
• Never uploaded to Astronox servers
• Settings and memory stay local

Sent to AI providers:

• Your messages
• File content you ask to analyze
• Attachments you upload
• Conversation context

Review privacy policies:

• Google Gemini Privacy

Best practice: Don't share sensitive personal data in prompts.

Installation & Setup

How do I install Astronox?

1. Download from [official website]
2. macOS: Open .dmg, drag to Applications
3. Windows: Run installer .exe

See Getting Started for detailed steps.

Why does my OS say the app is "untrusted"?

macOS: "App is damaged"
Windows: "Windows protected your PC"

Reason: App isn't signed with Apple/Microsoft certificate (expensive for independent developers).

Solution:

• macOS: Right-click → Open, or use xattr -cr command
• Windows: Click "More info" → "Run anyway"

See Troubleshooting for detailed instructions.

How do I get a Google API key?

1. Visit Google AI Studio
2. Click "Get API key"
3. Create new key (or use existing project)
4. Copy the key (starts with AIza...)
5. Paste in Astronox: Settings → API Keys → Gemini API Key

Free tier includes 1,500 requests/day - no billing required.

See API Keys Setup for details.

What's the difference between Gemini and MintAI?

Google Gemini:

• Direct access to Gemini models (Flash, Flash Lite, Pro)
• Free tier: 1,500 requests/day
• Paid tier: Pay per use
• Your own API key

MintAI (Pro):

• Access to Devstral 2 model
• Fixed subscription cost
• Unlimited usage (fair use policy)
• Managed key (no setup needed)

See Model Selection for comparison.

Usage

Which model should I use?

Quick guide:

• Flash Lite: Simple tasks, speed priority
• Flash: General use, best balance (recommended)
• Pro: Complex analysis, critical tasks
• Devstral 2: Code-focused work

See Models for detailed comparison.

How do I switch models?

In chat:
Click model name (top of input box) → Select from dropdown

In settings:
Settings → Model Selection → Choose default model

Changes apply to new messages immediately.

Can Astronox browse the internet?

No, not currently.

The AI can't:

• Open web pages
• Search Google
• Fetch URLs
• Read online content

But it can:

• Read local files you download
• Process data you paste
• Work with local resources

See Limitations.

Can Astronox send emails or messages?

No.

Cannot access:

• Email (Gmail, Outlook, etc.)
• Messaging apps (Slack, Discord, etc.)
• Social media

Workaround: Ask AI to draft email text, then copy-paste manually.

See Limitations.

What file types can I attach?

Supported:

• Images: JPG, PNG, GIF, WebP
• Documents: TXT, PDF (text extraction)
• Max size: 5MB per file
• Conversation limit: 8MB total

Not supported:

• Video (can't analyze video)
• Audio (can't process audio)
• Executables (.exe, .app)

See Attachments for details.

How do I save a conversation?

Automatic saving:

• All conversations auto-save
• No manual save needed
• Stored locally on device

To export:

• Not currently supported
• Feature planned for future

To delete:

• Click conversation → Delete button

Can I use Astronox on multiple devices?

Currently: No sync between devices

Each installation is independent:

• Separate conversations
• Separate settings
• Separate memory facts

Future: Cloud sync planned (optional).

Safety & Permissions

What is "Safe Mode" vs "Full Access"?

Safe Mode (default):

• Confirms destructive actions
• Warns before risky operations
• Prevents accidental damage
• Recommended for most users

Full Access:

• Faster workflow
• Fewer confirmations
• Expert users only
• Use carefully!

See Safety & Access Modes for details.

What happens if I confirm a destructive action by mistake?

Prevention:

• AI always shows what will be affected first
• Review carefully before confirming
• Keep important files backed up

Recovery:

• Deleted files may be in Trash/Recycle Bin
• File operations are standard OS operations
• No special "undo" feature (use system recovery)

Can Astronox damage my system?

Unlikely, but possible if:

• You use Full Access mode carelessly
• You confirm destructive operations without reading
• You run untrusted scripts

Protection:

• Safe Mode (default) protects you
• AI warns before risky operations
• You always have final say (approve/deny)

Best practice: Never confirm operations you don't understand.

Does Astronox have antivirus scanning?

No.

Astronox does not:

• Scan files for viruses
• Detect malware
• Provide security scanning

Security responsibility:

• Keep OS updated
• Use antivirus software
• Don't run untrusted code
• Review AI-generated scripts before running

Features

What's the Memory system?

AI can remember facts about you:

• Preferences (languages, styles, etc.)
• Personal info (name, role, etc.)
• Project details
• Frequently used paths

How to use:

"Remember: I prefer Python over JavaScript"
"Remember my name is Alex"
"Forget my email address"

See Memory System for details.

What are Automations?

Save AI responses as reusable scripts or notes:

• Shell scripts
• Code snippets
• Reference notes
• Workflows

Example:

You: "Write script to backup my documents"
AI: [generates script]
You: "Save this as 'backup-docs'"

Later: "Run backup-docs automation"

See Automations for details.

What's the Plan Hub?

For multi-step tasks, AI can create a plan:

1. Step 1: Description (status: queued)
2. Step 2: Description (status: in progress)
3. Step 3: Description (status: complete)

You see progress in real-time as AI works through steps.

See Plans & Multi-Step Tasks for details.

Can Astronox control other applications?

Limited control:

• Can launch apps
• Can kill processes
• Can check if app is running

Cannot:

• Control app UI
• Click buttons in other apps
• Automate within apps
• Act as macro/automation tool

See Limitations.

Billing & Costs

How much does it cost to use?

App: Free

AI usage:

• Gemini free tier: Free for 1,500 requests/day
• Gemini paid tier: ~$0.001-0.005 per request
• Pro: Fixed subscription (check official site)

Typical costs (Gemini paid):

• Light use (50 req/day): ~$1-2/month
• Regular use (200 req/day): ~$6-15/month
• Heavy use (500+ req/day): Consider Pro

See Rate Limits & Costs for details.

Do I get charged if I hit the free tier limit?

No, you don't automatically get charged.

What happens:

1. You hit 1,500 requests/day
2. Further requests fail with error
3. Quota resets at midnight PST

To enable billing:

• Must manually enable in Google Cloud Console
• Add payment method
• Then unlimited usage at pay-per-use rates

Can I track my usage and costs?

Currently: No built-in tracking in Astronox

Workaround:

• Check Google AI Studio dashboard
• View requests/day
• Enable billing to see costs

Future: Usage statistics planned for Astronox settings.

What's the Pro subscription?

Subscription service that provides:

• Access to MintAI (Devstral 2 model)
• Unlimited usage (fair use policy)
• Fixed monthly/annual cost
• Managed API key (no setup)

Check official website for:

• Current pricing
• How to subscribe
• Benefits details

Troubleshooting

The app won't start. What do I do?

1. Restart computer (clears stuck processes)
2. Reinstall app (fixes corrupted installation)
3. Check system requirements (macOS 10.15+, Windows 10+)
4. Review installation issues in Troubleshooting

I get "Invalid API key" error. Why?

Common causes:

1. Typo in key - Verify exact copy-paste
2. Key revoked - Generate new one
3. Wrong key format - Should start with AIza...
4. Spaces in key - Remove any extra spaces

See Troubleshooting API Keys.

Messages are slow. How can I speed them up?

Quick fixes:

1. Switch to Flash or Flash Lite (Pro is slower)
2. Shorter prompts (less to process)
3. Fresh conversations (long history slows things)
4. Check internet speed (slow connection = slow responses)

See Troubleshooting Performance.

The app is using too much memory. Is this normal?

Normal usage: 200-500 MB

High usage (>1GB):

• Long conversation (100+ messages)
• Many attachments
• Memory leak (rare)

Solution:

• Restart app
• Start fresh conversation
• Delete old chats

See Troubleshooting Performance.

Can I recover deleted conversations?

Currently: No recovery mechanism

Prevention:

• Think before deleting
• Future: Cloud backup planned

Note: Conversations are stored locally. If you manually backed up app data folder, you can restore from there.

Advanced

Can I use my own custom prompts?

System prompt: Not customizable (ensures consistent behavior)

Your prompts: Fully customizable!

• Ask anything
• Custom instructions
• Save as automations
• Use memory for persistent instructions

See Prompt Tips for advanced techniques.

Can I access Astronox via command line or API?

No public API currently.

But:

• All functionality is via HTTP/SSE endpoints
• Used by the UI
• Not officially supported for external use
• May change without notice

Future: Public API may be considered.

Can I run Astronox on a server/headless?

No.

Astronox is designed as desktop app with GUI:

• Requires display
• User interaction expected
• Not suitable for server deployment

Is Astronox open source?

Check official repository for current licensing status.

Regardless of license:

• Source code may be available
• Contributions may be accepted
• Community feedback welcomed

Can I contribute to Astronox?

If open source:

• Check CONTRIBUTING.md in repository
• Open issues for bugs
• Submit pull requests
• Join community discussions

If not open source:

• Report bugs
• Suggest features
• Help other users
• Share feedback

How often is Astronox updated?

No fixed schedule.

Updates include:

• Bug fixes
• New features
• Performance improvements
• Security patches

Enable auto-update check:
Settings → Updates → Check for updates on startup

Future Features

What features are planned?

Commonly requested:

• Voice input/output
• Web browsing capability
• Cloud sync for conversations
• Mobile companion app
• Plugin system
• More AI model options

Check official roadmap for confirmed plans.

Can I request a feature?

Yes!

1. Check if already requested (GitHub issues/discussions)
2. Open new feature request
3. Describe use case clearly
4. Explain why it would be valuable

Note: Not all requests can be implemented, but feedback is valuable!

Will Astronox always be free?

Current plan: App remains free

Possible future:

• Premium features (cloud sync, etc.)
• Advanced subscription tier
• Enterprise licensing

Core functionality expected to remain accessible.

Getting Help

Where can I find more documentation?

Official docs:

• Getting Started
• Features Overview
• Troubleshooting
• All documentation

Community:

• GitHub Discussions (if available)
• Official Discord (check website)
• User forums

How do I report a bug?

1. Collect info:

   • App version (Settings → About)
   • OS version
   • Error message (exact text)
   • Steps to reproduce

2. Search existing issues (may already be reported)

3. Open new issue with details above

See Troubleshooting Guide for details.

Is there a community forum or Discord?

Check official website for:

• Discord invite link
• Forum links
• Community resources
• Social media

Can I get direct support?

Community support:

• GitHub issues/discussions
• Community forums
• Discord chat

Direct support:

• May be available for Pro subscribers
• Check official site for support options

Miscellaneous

What does "Astronox" mean?

Etymology:

• Astro (stars, space, exploration)
• Nox (night, Latin)

Together: "Night of Stars" or "Starry Night" - evoking exploration, intelligence, guidance.

Who makes Astronox?

Development:
Check official website/repository for developer information.

Community:

• May have contributors
• User feedback shapes development
• Community-driven improvements

Can I use Astronox for commercial purposes?

Check license in repository or official site.

Typical considerations:

• Personal use: Usually fine
• Commercial use: May require license
• Redistribution: May be restricted

API usage:

• Google Gemini: Review their terms
• MintAI: Review their terms

Is Astronox affiliated with Google or MintAI?

No official affiliation.

Astronox uses their APIs but is an independent project.

Can I change the app theme or appearance?

Current options:

• Dark/Light theme
• Brightness adjustment
• System theme follow

Future: More customization may be added

Settings → Appearance

What keyboard shortcuts are available?

See Keyboard Shortcuts Reference for complete list.

Most common:

• Cmd/Ctrl + N - New conversation
• Cmd/Ctrl + K - Focus search
• Cmd/Ctrl + , - Open settings
• Enter - Send message
• Shift + Enter - New line in message

How do I uninstall Astronox?

macOS:

1. Quit app
2. Move Astronox.app to Trash
3. Delete app data (optional):

   rm -rf ~/Library/Application\ Support/dev.mintai.astronox/
   

Windows:

1. Settings → Apps → Uninstall Astronox
2. Delete app data (optional):

   %APPDATA%\dev.mintai.astronox\
   

Still have questions?

Resources:

• Complete Documentation
• Troubleshooting Guide
• Glossary
• Community forums/Discord

Can't find answer?

• Ask in community forums
• Open GitHub discussion
• Check official website

Next: Glossary for technical terms and concepts.