> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.screenpipe.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Screenpipe quickstart: install and connect AI in 5 minutes

> Go from install to your first AI-powered insight in under 5 minutes — set up Screenpipe, connect your AI assistant, and run your first scheduled task.

You're 5 minutes away from having AI that knows everything on your screen. Here's the fastest path to value.

## Choose your path

<Tip>
  Already recording but unsure what to do with it? [Get your first useful result](/first-useful-result) has copyable prompts for a client job, a call follow-up, and a project brief.
</Tip>

| I want... | Start here | Success looks like |
| - | - | - |
| AI memory in Claude, Codex, Cursor, or another agent | Follow the MCP connection step below | Your AI can answer "what did I do in the last 5 minutes?" |
| Local search and API access | Install, record for a few minutes, then try [API recipes](/api-recipes) | `/search` returns recent screen or audio results |
| Recurring automations | Install your first scheduled task, then read [scheduled task debugging](/task-troubleshooting) | The scheduled task runs manually, logs clearly, and writes a useful output |

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Ask Home" icon="messages-square">
    Ask what you were working on after a few minutes of recording
  </Card>

  <Card title="Day Recap" icon="calendar-days">
    Create a private draft of accomplishments and unfinished work
  </Card>

  <Card title="Scheduled tasks" icon="workflow">
    Install a Store scheduled task or describe a custom automation
  </Card>

  <Card title="Timeline" icon="history">
    Verify that the expected screen and audio periods were captured
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## The 5-minute setup

<Steps>
  <Step title="Install Screenpipe (1 min)">
    [Download the desktop app](https://screenpi.pe/onboarding) — works on macOS, Windows, and Linux.

    Open it, grant screen recording and microphone permissions when prompted, and Screenpipe starts capturing automatically.

    <Tip>On macOS, you'll need to allow screen recording and accessibility access in System Settings → Privacy & Security.</Tip>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Let it record for 2 minutes">
    Browse some websites. Write some code. Check Slack. Screenpipe is now capturing everything — app text primarily via accessibility APIs, OCR fallback when needed, and audio via transcription.

    You can verify it's working:

    ```bash theme={"system"}
    curl http://localhost:3030/health
    ```

    <Note>`/health` does not need a token. When **Require API Authentication** is enabled, retrieve the token with `npx -y screenpipe@latest auth token` and add a bearer header to protected requests.</Note>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Connect your AI (1 min)">
    Pick your AI tool and connect Screenpipe to it.

    The fastest way is one command — it installs the Screenpipe skills and registers the MCP server:

    ```bash theme={"system"}
    npx -y screenpipe@latest agent setup <target>
    ```

    where `<target>` is one of `openclaw`, `hermes`, `claude-code`, `claude-desktop`, `codex`, `cursor`, or `windsurf`. Or wire it up manually:

    **Claude Desktop (recommended)**
    Open Screenpipe → go to **Settings** (gear icon, bottom of sidebar) → **Connections** (under Data & Privacy) → click **"install extension"** next to Claude. Done.

    **Claude Code**

    ```bash theme={"system"}
    claude mcp add screenpipe --transport stdio --scope user -- npx -y screenpipe-mcp
    ```

    **Codex**
    Open Screenpipe → go to **Settings** → **Connections** → click **Connect** next to Codex. Then open a new Codex session.

    **Cursor**
    [click here to install in cursor](cursor://anysphere.cursor-deeplink/mcp/install?name=screenpipe\&config=eyJ0eXBlIjoic3RkaW8iLCJjb21tYW5kIjoibnB4IiwiYXJncyI6WyIteSIsInNjcmVlbnBpcGUtbWNwIl19)

    **ChatGPT**
    In the Screenpipe chat (Home), click the model selector next to the input → select **ChatGPT** → sign in with your OpenAI account.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Ask your first question (30 sec)">
    Go to your AI tool and try:

    * *"what was I working on in the last 5 minutes?"*
    * *"summarize what I just read in the browser"*
    * *"what apps have I been using?"*

    That's it. Your AI now has memory of your screen.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Install your first scheduled task (30 sec)">
    Scheduled tasks are AI automations that run on a schedule. Click **Scheduled tasks** in the sidebar to open the task library.

    Browse **Scheduled tasks → Discover** — try installing **Digital Clone** or **Obsidian Daily Summary**. Click **GET**; the app switches to **My tasks**, where you can review and run it. **Day Recap** is already available as a built-in Home shortcut.

    Popular first scheduled tasks:

    | Scheduled task | What it does |
    | - | - |
    | **Digital Clone** | Builds a persistent AI memory of who you are |
    | **Obsidian Daily Summary** | Writes daily summaries to your Obsidian vault |
    | **Focus Assistant** | Notifies you when you're distracted |
    | **Todo List Assistant** | Tracks tasks and reminds you of what's due |

    [Browse all scheduled tasks →](/task-library)
  </Step>
</Steps>

## What you can do now

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Search anything you've seen" icon="search" href="/search-screen-history">
    Find code snippets, conversations, documents — anything that was on your screen
  </Card>

  <Card title="Browse the task library" icon="store" href="/task-library">
    Ready-made automations — CRM sync, meeting intelligence, time tracking, and more
  </Card>

  <Card title="Connect more AI tools" icon="server" href="/mcp-server">
    Add Screenpipe to Codex, Cursor, Cline, Continue, Gemini CLI, and more
  </Card>

  <Card title="Connect your apps" icon="plug" href="/connections">
    Dozens of integrations — Slack, Notion, Google Calendar, Obsidian, Toggl, HubSpot, and more
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Common first questions

**"How do I control scheduled AI usage?"**
Check the selected provider, source window, and schedule. [AI usage and controls](/ai-usage-and-controls) explains available usage information, allowance warnings, and how to stop a run or disable future runs.

**"What are scheduled tasks?"**
Scheduled tasks are scheduled AI agents that run on your screen data. Think of them as automations — a scheduled task can build your digital memory, track your time, sync notes to Obsidian, or anything you can describe in a prompt. Browse them in the sidebar under **Scheduled tasks**. [learn more →](/scheduled-tasks)

**"Is my data private?"**
Yes. Everything is captured and stored locally by default. No data leaves your machine unless you explicitly choose a cloud provider, connected app, team sync, or remote AI workflow. See [privacy data flow](/privacy-data-flow).

**"Can I use my own AI subscription?"**
Yes. You can use your ChatGPT Plus, Claude Pro, or any API key. You can also use local models via Ollama for complete privacy. [learn more →](/chatgpt)

**"What does Screenpipe capture?"**
Screen text (primarily via accessibility APIs, with OCR fallback), audio transcriptions, app names, window titles, browser URLs, and user input events. You control what's captured in **Settings → Recording**.

**"How do I connect my apps?"**
Go to **Settings → Connections** (under Data & Privacy). Screenpipe supports dozens of integrations including Slack, Notion, Google Calendar, Google Docs, Obsidian, Toggl, HubSpot, Salesforce, PostHog, Sentry, Zoom, and more. [learn more →](/connections)

**"How do I know it worked?"**
Open **Home**, ask a question in your AI tool, or run `curl http://localhost:3030/health`. After a few minutes of recording, `/search` and [API recipes](/api-recipes) should return real activity.

Need help? [join our Discord](https://discord.gg/screenpipe) — 10k+ members.


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