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Draft. This article depends on an open product question and is not ready to publish.
To install Elephas on Windows, download the MSI installer from elephas.app and run it. Elephas installs for your Windows user account only, so you do not need administrator rights.

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Before you start

  • You need a 64-bit (x64) PC with Windows 10 version 22H2 or Windows 11. See system requirements.
  • You need an internet connection. The first time you open Elephas, it downloads about 50 MB of on-device components.
  • You do not need an account to install. You sign in later, when you ask your first question.

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Steps

1

Download Elephas

Go to elephas.app and download Elephas for Windows. Your browser saves a file ending in .msi to your Downloads folder.
2

Run the installer

Open your Downloads folder and double-click the .msi file. Follow the installer and click Install, then Finish.
3

Open Elephas

Open the Start menu and choose Elephas. The installer also places an Elephas shortcut on your desktop.
4

Let Elephas finish setting up

The welcome screen appears and Elephas starts downloading its on-device components. A small line at the bottom of the window shows Getting Elephas ready and a percentage. You can keep going while it downloads. See first-run downloads.
Pin Elephas to your taskbar: while it is open, right-click its taskbar icon and choose Pin to taskbar.

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How it works

  • Per-user install. Elephas installs into your own Windows account, not for every user on the PC. That is why no administrator prompt appears, and why updates install without one too.
  • Your library is separate from the app. Your documents stay stored in your user profile. The search index and your chats are kept in an encrypted database. Downloaded components are kept in your local app data folder so they do not roam with your profile on managed networks. See where your data is stored.
  • Updates arrive inside the app. Installing a newer MSI over an existing one upgrades Elephas in place. It does not create a second copy.

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Troubleshooting

Microsoft Defender SmartScreen shows this message for downloads it has not seen often. Only continue if you downloaded the installer from elephas.app. Click More info, check that the publisher is shown as expected, then click Run anyway. If you are unsure, contact support before running it.
Some work PCs only allow approved software. Ask your IT team to approve Elephas. Administrators can also pre-load the on-device components for every user; see first-run downloads.
Check that your PC is 64-bit and running Windows 10 22H2 or Windows 11. Then see Elephas won’t open after installing.

System requirements

First-run downloads

Create your account and sign in

Quick start