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Torchsnap Docs

Installation

macOS Linux · coming soon Windows · coming soon

macOS

Section titled “macOS”

Torchsnap runs on Macs with Apple silicon. Macs with an Intel processor are not supported.

DMG Download

Section titled “DMG Download”

Download Torchsnap.dmg from the latest release, open it, and drag Torchsnap into your Applications folder.

Torchsnap DMG installer window Torchsnap DMG installer window

Homebrew

Section titled “Homebrew”

With Homebrew, install Torchsnap from its tap:

Terminal window
brew install --cask jakobwesthoff/tap/torchsnap

Torchsnap keeps updating itself, as described in Updating. brew upgrade leaves it alone and only replaces it when you add --greedy.

To remove Torchsnap, run brew uninstall --cask torchsnap. Add --zap to also delete your settings, installed gadgets, launcher history and the login item that starts Torchsnap when you log in.

First launch

Section titled “First launch”

When you open Torchsnap for the first time, macOS asks whether you want to open an app downloaded from the internet. Click Open. The dialog also says that Apple checked Torchsnap for malicious software: every release is notarized by Apple before it is published.

Torchsnap then opens its welcome window. It sets up three things:

  • the keyboard shortcut that opens the launcher,
  • whether Torchsnap starts when you log in,
  • whether Torchsnap checks for updates automatically (see Updating).

Every choice comes prefilled, so you can go straight through. The welcome window stays open until its last page, which asks you to press your shortcut. Pressing it, or clicking Open the launcher there, finishes the welcome and opens the launcher. To see the welcome window again, click Show Welcome in Settings → General.

Updating

Section titled “Updating”

Torchsnap updates itself. Choose Check for Updates… in the Torchsnap menu in the menu bar, or click Check for Updates in Settings → General. When a newer version exists, a window shows what changed in every version since yours:

  • Install and Restart downloads the update, replaces the installed Torchsnap and restarts it. Before installing, Torchsnap checks that the update is signed by the Torchsnap project. If your user account cannot replace the app, macOS asks for an administrator password.
  • Later closes the window. Until you install or skip the update, the menu item reads Update to version… and opens the window again.
  • Skip This Version stops automatic checks from offering this version. A newer one is offered again, and a check you start yourself still shows it.

Restarting also applies gadget installs and uninstalls that wait for a restart; the update window says how many.

With automatic checks on, Torchsnap looks for a new version once a day. The check downloads https://torchsnap.app/updates/latest.json; the request carries your IP address and nothing else about you. Turn automatic checks on or off in the welcome window or in Settings → General. Prereleases are never offered as updates.

Torchsnap cannot update itself while it runs straight from the mounted DMG, or from a temporary location macOS uses for apps opened where they were downloaded. The update window then asks you to move Torchsnap to the Applications folder, or to download the new version.

Linux

Section titled “Linux”

Linux support is planned. Platform-specific packages (.AppImage, .deb) will be provided once available.

Windows

Section titled “Windows”

Windows support is planned.