# Install Contextli on Windows or Linux

Source: https://help.contextli.com/articles/install-contextli-on-windows-or-linux

Download the Windows installer or the Linux AppImage from [contextli.com/download](https://contextli.com/download), run it, then sign in with Google or a 6-digit email code. The default recording hotkey on both is Ctrl+Space.

## Windows

Contextli runs on Windows 10 and 11 (64-bit).

1. Go to [contextli.com/download](https://contextli.com/download) and click **Download** under **Windows**.
2. Open the downloaded installer.
3. If a blue **Windows protected your PC** screen appears, click **More info**, then **Run anyway**. This shows because the app is new to Windows, not because something is wrong. The installer is code-signed and the publisher reads **Ertiqah LLC**.
4. When the install finishes, Contextli opens.

## Linux

1. Go to [contextli.com/download](https://contextli.com/download) and click **Download** under **Linux** (AppImage).
2. Make the file executable: right-click it, open **Properties** and allow it to run as a program, or run `chmod +x` on the file in a terminal.
3. Double-click the AppImage to start Contextli.

## Sign in and finish setup

1. Click **Continue with Google**, or enter your email and type the 6-digit code from the **Check your email** screen. There is no password.
2. On **Let's Get You Set Up**, allow the microphone, use **Select Microphone** to pick the mic you talk into, choose a **Recording Mode** and check your **Recording Hotkey**.
3. Choose your **Transcription Language** and try a dictation on the **Try It Out** step.

![Contextli on Windows: General settings with the Ctrl + Space shortcut](https://cdn.kamaan.io/kamaan/sites/6ae9f572170cd8d9857a277c/images/contextli-settings-general-windows.webp)

## Good to know

- Closing the window hides Contextli to the system tray. It still listens for your hotkey. Use **Quit** in the tray menu to close it fully.
- On Windows, uninstalling Contextli deletes its data folder (`%APPDATA%\Contextli`), including settings and local notes. To keep notes safe across computers, turn on [Cloud Sync](/articles/set-up-cloud-sync).
- If Windows blocks pasting into an app, see [Text is not pasted where my cursor is](/articles/text-is-not-pasted-at-my-cursor).

## Related articles

- [Dictate your first message](/articles/dictate-your-first-message)
- [Default keyboard shortcuts on Mac, Windows and Linux](/articles/default-keyboard-shortcuts)
- [Update Contextli to the latest version](/articles/update-contextli)