Download Helpwing
You're signed in. 15 free minutes are on your account. Install Helpwing and sign in with the same Google account.
Next, on your laptop: open helpwing.dev/start and sign in with the same Google account. We've also emailed you the link.
Google sign-in did not finish, so you are not signed in yet.
Try Google sign-in again15 free minutes, no card. You sign in with Google inside the app.
Which Mac? Apple menu → About This Mac: “Chip: Apple M…” is an Apple chip, “Processor: Intel” is Intel.
Other downloads: Mac with Apple chip Mac with Intel chip Windows
macOS 14.2 or later · Windows 10 (2004 or later) or 11, 64-bit · Unsigned beta builds
Open Helpwing on your Mac
- When the download finishes, open Terminal (⌘ Space, type Terminal) and run
xattr -cr ~/Downloads/Helpwing-arm64.dmg. For the Intel build, useHelpwing-x64.dmg. The beta is not Apple-notarized yet, so macOS flags it; this clears the download flag. - Open the disk image and drag Helpwing to Applications.
- Open Helpwing from Applications and sign in with Google. When macOS asks, allow Screen & System Audio Recording, then reopen Helpwing once.
Helpwing has no Dock icon: a small dark window opens at the top of your screen, and ⌘ B shows or hides it. Still blocked? System Settings → Privacy & Security → Open Anyway. Mac troubleshooting
Watch the Mac setup, start to finish
An 85-second walk-through: download, clear the download flag, move to Applications, open, and sign in with Google.
Open Helpwing on Windows
- Open Helpwing-Windows.exe from your Downloads folder. If your browser says the file isn't commonly downloaded, choose Keep.
- If you see “Windows protected your PC,” click More info, then Run anyway. Do not turn SmartScreen off.
- Helpwing opens at the top of your screen. Sign in with Google.
Helpwing has no taskbar button: Ctrl B shows or hides it. Windows troubleshooting
Watch the Windows setup
A 73-second walk-through: download, run the installer, get past the SmartScreen warning with More info → Run anyway, and sign in with Google.
Helpwing never asks for administrator rights after install, Full Disk Access, kernel extensions or keystroke logging.
Using Linux or Chromebook?
We do not offer a Linux or Chromebook desktop build yet. Helpwing is the Mac and Windows overlay app — email support@helpwing.dev if you need updates on other platforms.
System requirements
| Platform | Minimum Requirement | Recommended Configuration |
|---|---|---|
| macOS | macOS 14.2 Sonoma | macOS 15 Sequoia or macOS 26, Apple Silicon (M-series), 16 GB RAM |
| Windows | Windows 10 64-bit (build 2004 or later), 4 GB RAM | Windows 11, 8 GB RAM, Core i5/Ryzen 5 or higher |
| Audio Setup | Any standard 3.5mm or USB headphones (prevents speaker feedback echo) | Wired stereo headset or low-latency Bluetooth earphones |
| Network | Stable 2 Mbps upstream and downstream (4G/5G mobile hotspot is supported) | Broadband Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection under 50ms latency |
Permissions
macOS
- Microphone access is asked for the first time you turn the mic row on (it is off by default). Allow it if you want your own answers transcribed.
- Under System Settings → Privacy & Security → Screen & System Audio Recording, toggle Helpwing ON. This lets Helpwing hear interviewer questions without virtual cable drivers.
- Click Quit & Reopen when macOS prompts you.
Windows
- Go to Settings → Privacy & security → Microphone and confirm that desktop application access is toggled ON.
- Helpwing hears system audio through the audio capture built into Windows. No virtual sound cards are needed.
Default background hotkeys
Operate Helpwing without switching away from your IDE, browser, or call window:
| Action | Windows Shortcut | macOS Shortcut | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Screenshot | Ctrl + H | ⌘ + H | Queues a screenshot of the problem. |
| Solve queued shots | Ctrl + Enter | ⌘ + Enter | Sends the queue for an answer in the thread. |
| Collapse or expand | Ctrl + B | ⌘ + B | Collapses the overlay to a small icon, or expands it again. |
| New chat | Ctrl + R | ⌘ + R | Clears the thread. Capture stays on. |
| Send the ask box | Ctrl + K | ⌘ + K | Submits typed text plus any queued shots. |
| System audio on/off | Alt + Q | ⌥ + Q | Listen to the interviewer. On by default after sign-in. |
| Submit interviewer line | Alt + A | ⌥ + A | Sends the system-audio row as a question. |
| Microphone on/off | Alt + W | ⌥ + W | Your mic. Off by default. |
| Submit your line | Alt + E | ⌥ + E | Sends the mic row as you speaking. |
Source
Helpwing Desktop is free software under the GNU AGPL-3.0 license. Answers use Helpwing’s managed cloud — there is no personal API key in Settings. Corresponding source is available on request from support@helpwing.dev.
Frequently asked troubleshooting questions
Why does Mac say Helpwing is damaged?
The beta is not Apple-notarized yet. After a browser download, macOS shows “damaged” or “cannot be verified.” In Terminal, run xattr -cr ~/Downloads/Helpwing-arm64.dmg (Intel: Helpwing-x64.dmg), then drag Helpwing to Applications and open it. If macOS still blocks it, use System Settings → Privacy & Security → Open Anyway. Mac steps.
Why does Windows SmartScreen block the installer?
The Windows installer is not publisher-signed yet. Choose More info → Run anyway. Do not disable SmartScreen. Windows steps.
How do I sign in?
Helpwing uses Sign in with Google only: one click, then finish in your browser. A friend's referral code is optional. Sign-in steps.
Why can't Helpwing hear the interviewer on my macOS system?
On macOS 14.2+ Sonoma and Sequoia, macOS requires explicit consent under System Settings → Privacy & Security → Screen & System Audio Recording. Ensure Helpwing is toggled ON, and restart the desktop client once granted.
Why does Helpwing refuse to start during some testing platforms?
Helpwing refuses typed or spoken questions that read like an exam or proctored assessment. It is not for exams, recruitment tests, or proctored platforms. Read the responsible use rules.
How do I prevent echo or audio feedback?
Always use headphones or earphones during live sessions. If your laptop microphone picks up audio coming out of your laptop speakers, speech recognition may hear words twice. Standard wired or Bluetooth headphones completely eliminate acoustic echo.
Can I customize my background hotkeys?
Yes. If your IDE (e.g. VS Code or Cursor) or window manager binds Ctrl+B or Cmd+H, open Settings → Keyboard shortcuts in the desktop app and assign any custom combination.
Release verification & checksums
Each release publishes a SHA-512 hash for every installer in its update feed: latest-mac.yml for Mac and latest.yml for Windows. Run the command for your download and compare the result with the sha512 line under the entry ending in -arm64.dmg, -x64.dmg or -Windows.exe. The feeds list only the current version, so an older download will not match.
# macOS Terminal (Apple Silicon; use Helpwing-x64.dmg for Intel):
cd ~/Downloads
shasum -a 512 Helpwing-arm64.dmg | cut -d' ' -f1 | xxd -r -p | base64
# Windows PowerShell:
cd $HOME\Downloads
$f = Get-Item .\Helpwing-Windows.exe
[Convert]::ToBase64String([Security.Cryptography.SHA512]::Create().ComputeHash([IO.File]::ReadAllBytes($f.FullName)))