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

# Set up Ando on your Mac

> Install Ando, turn on notifications, and get ready for your first Jam.

Let’s get your Mac ready for messages and Jams. A Jam is a voice or video call
with your team.

## Install and open Ando

1. [Download Ando](https://ando.so/download) for your Mac.
2. Open the `.dmg` file in your **Downloads** folder.
3. Drag **Ando** into **Applications**, then open Ando from there.
4. Sign in to your workspace.

<Accordion title="Which Mac download should I choose?">
  Open the **Apple menu** → **About This Mac**. If **Chip** shows an Apple
  M-series chip, choose **Mac – Apple Silicon**. If **Processor** shows Intel,
  choose **Mac – Intel**.

  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/ando/yvL12DfVqbQFNZfN/images/about-this-mac-chip.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=yvL12DfVqbQFNZfN&q=85&s=43a239c23aefd955048c534e0229f498" alt="About This Mac with the Chip field highlighted" width="448" height="784" data-path="images/about-this-mac-chip.png" />
</Accordion>

## Get your Mac ready

Ando walks you through three permissions when you first sign in. Each one
turns green and shows **Enabled** when it’s ready. Permissions you’ve already
allowed are checked for you.

<Frame caption="Your setup screen shows what’s ready and what to enable next.">
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/ando/dVwc2OFzjLI7zpfz/images/desktop-permission-setup.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=dVwc2OFzjLI7zpfz&q=85&s=1a24ee863133f6207cfb85133d9c6ac5" alt="Ando setup with buttons to enable notifications, microphone and screen sharing, and Continue to Ando disabled until setup is complete" width="544" height="480" data-path="images/desktop-permission-setup.png" />
</Frame>

<Steps>
  <Step title="Stay in the loop">
    Select **Enable notifications** so you can see messages and Jam invites.
    Allow notifications when your Mac asks.

    If Ando opens System Settings, turn on **Allow notifications** for Ando
    and choose **Banners** or **Alerts**. Then return to Ando.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Talk with your team">
    Select **Enable microphone**, then allow access when your Mac asks.
    This lets people hear you in a Jam.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Show your work">
    Select **Enable screen sharing**. In System Settings, turn on Ando under
    **Privacy & Security** → **Screen & System Audio Recording**.

    This lets you share a screen or window in a Jam. You still choose when
    to share and what to show.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Finish setup">
    If you see **Restart and finish setup**, select it. Ando saves your place
    and checks your permissions again when it opens. Restarting ends any
    active Jam.

    Once all three permissions show **Enabled**, select **Continue to Ando**.
    All three are required to finish Mac setup.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## If you selected “Don’t allow”

You can change your choice in your Mac’s **System Settings**. Open it from the
**Apple menu** in the top-left corner of your screen.

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Turn notifications back on">
    Go to **Notifications** → **Ando**. Turn on **Allow notifications**, then
    choose **Banners** or **Alerts**.

    <img src="https://mintcdn.com/ando/yvL12DfVqbQFNZfN/images/mac-notifications-allow.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=yvL12DfVqbQFNZfN&q=85&s=5f392aa3595d9e771ad843084d86e43d" alt="Mac notification settings for Ando with Allow notifications turned on" width="1414" height="1242" data-path="images/mac-notifications-allow.png" />

    Return to Ando. If messages still don’t appear, follow the
    [notification checklist](/docs/notifications#if-notifications-are-not-arriving).
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Turn microphone access back on">
    Go to **Privacy & Security** → **Microphone** and turn on **Ando**.
    Then return to Ando.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Turn screen sharing back on">
    Go to **Privacy & Security** → **Screen & System Audio Recording** and
    turn on **Ando**. On some macOS versions, this is called **Screen Recording**.

    If your Mac asks you to quit and reopen Ando, do so. Otherwise, return to
    Ando and select **Restart and finish setup** if it appears.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

If a setting is locked or managed by your organization, ask your IT team to
allow it for Ando.

## Pick up where you left off

If Ando closes during setup, open it again. Your setup will resume.

To check permissions after you finish, open **Settings** → **Download apps** in
Ando and select **Open desktop setup**. If you don’t see this option, you can
still check each permission in your Mac’s System Settings using the steps above.

## Make notifications work for you

In Ando, open **Settings** → **Notifications**. Choose which messages and Jam
calls should reach your desktop. [See notification options](/docs/notifications).

Still stuck? Email [hello@ando.so](mailto:hello@ando.so) and tell us which step
you’re on.


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