---
title: "Desktop App Setup"
description: "Calendar0 provides a native desktop app for macOS, Windows, and Linux that brings your Google, Outlook, and iCloud calendars together in one place. The app sits right in your menu bar or system tra..."
last_updated: "2026-10-16T04:34:00.263706+00:00"
canonical_url: "https://docs.calendar0.app/guide/getting-started/desktop-app-setup"
---

## Overview

Calendar0 provides a native desktop app for macOS, Windows, and Linux that brings your Google, Outlook, and iCloud calendars together in one place. The app sits right in your menu bar or system tray, allowing you to quickly view your schedule, capture meetings in one line, and chat with your AI assistant using global keyboard shortcuts like `Cmd`+`Shift`+`C` (Mac) or `Ctrl`+`Shift`+`C` (Windows).

---

## Installing the Desktop App

### Getting Started with Installation

To install Calendar0 on your computer, choose the installation guide below that matches your operating system.

> [!NOTE]
> Ensure your computer meets the minimum system requirements before installing: about 150 MB of RAM, 200 MB of free disk space, and an operating system matching your version download.

### macOS Installation

1. Go to the download page and select either **macOS (Apple Silicon)** if you have an M-series Mac, or **Download for Intel Mac** if you use an older processor.
2. Double-click the downloaded file to open the installer package.
3. Drag the Calendar0 icon into your Applications folder.
4. Launch Calendar0 from your Applications folder or via Spotlight search. The app will appear in your menu bar.

### Windows Installation

1. Go to the download page and choose how you want to install: click **Microsoft Store** to install through the official store, or choose **Windows (x64)** or **Download for ARM64** to download the standalone setup file.
2. Double-click the downloaded setup file (`.exe`) or complete the installation through the Microsoft Store.
3. Once installation finishes, launch Calendar0. The app will appear in your system tray.

### Linux Installation

1. Go to the download page and choose your preferred package format: **Linux (AppImage)** or **Download .deb** for Debian and Ubuntu distributions.
2. For the AppImage file, make the file executable in your file manager properties, then double-click to run it.
3. For the `.deb` file, open it with your system package installer or run the installation command in your terminal.
4. Launch Calendar0 from your application menu.

---

## Logging In Using Desktop Handoff

Calendar0 uses a secure "desktop handoff" process to sign you into the application window seamlessly without requiring you to manually type passwords into the app.

```mermaid
flowchart TD
    A[User requests sign-in from desktop app] --> B[Server issues single-use handoff nonce]
    B --> C[Desktop app loads secure auth route]
    C --> D[Server verifies live session & mints token]
    D --> E[Desktop app window signed in successfully]
```

When you open the desktop app and sign in:
1. The app requests a secure, temporary single-use sign-in token from the server.
2. The desktop window loads the sign-in route using this temporary token securely behind the scenes.
3. The server verifies your active session and establishes your authenticated desktop window.
4. If the handoff fails due to connection issues or an expired token, you will see a screen prompting you to click **Try again** to restart the sign-in bridge.

---

## Setting Up Calendar Access

### Calendar Provider Overview

Once installed and signed in, you can connect your preferred calendar accounts. Calendar0 supports multiple calendar providers and manages them securely.

Calendar0 supports the following calendar providers:
- **Google** (OAuth authentication)
- **Microsoft** (OAuth authentication)
- **Apple** (CalDAV authentication via App-Specific Password)

> [!TIP]
> Google and Microsoft calendars connect automatically through a web browser popup window. Apple Calendar connects directly through a credentials dialog inside the app.

### Connecting Google and Microsoft Calendars

1. Navigate to the calendar connection screen or onboarding steps.
2. Click on the **Google** or **Microsoft** provider tile.
3. A browser window will open asking you to sign in to your provider account and grant calendar access permissions.
4. Once approved, the browser window will close automatically, and your calendar will sync into Calendar0.

### Connecting Apple Calendar

Because Apple uses CalDAV instead of standard web OAuth, connecting iCloud requires an app-specific password:

1. Go to [account.apple.com](https://account.apple.com) and sign in to your Apple ID account.
2. Navigate to the **Sign-In and Security** section and generate an **App-Specific Password** (formatted like `xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx`).
3. In Calendar0, select **Apple Calendar**.
4. Enter your **Apple ID Email** and paste your generated **App-Specific Password**.
5. Click **Connect** to verify your credentials and sync your iCloud calendar.

## Related

- [Quick Start Guide](https://docs.calendar0.app/guide/getting-started/quick-start-guide)
- [Resolving Sync Errors](https://docs.calendar0.app/guide/troubleshooting/resolving-sync-errors)


## Sitemap

See the full [sitemap](https://docs.calendar0.app/llms.txt) for all pages in this wiki.