App Store Version FAQ

The Mac App Store version of Elephas works a little differently from the version you download directly from the Elephas website. These are the questions we hear most often from App Store users.

There's no field to enter a license key. How do I activate?

Good news: the App Store version doesn't need a license key at all. Activation is fully automatic.

When you subscribe through the Mac App Store, Apple handles everything in the background. Elephas reads your App Store purchase and unlocks your plan for you, so there's nothing to type in.

If your plan isn't showing up:

• Make sure you're signed in to the same Apple Account you purchased with.
• Open the License tab and tap Restore Purchases.
• Confirm your subscription is active in App Store > your name > Subscriptions.

My Mac and iPhone aren't syncing. How do I fix it?

Elephas syncs your Super Brains between Mac and iPhone through iCloud. If it's not working, check these:

1. Same iCloud account. Both devices must be signed in to the same Apple Account.
2. iCloud is on. Make sure iCloud is enabled on both your Mac and iPhone.
3. Subscription. Cross-device sync requires a Pro or Pro Plus plan. Make sure yours is active.
4. Internet connection. Both devices need to be online for sync to happen.

Once all four are in place, your Super Brains should appear on both devices. If it still doesn't sync, try closing and reopening the app on both.

Why don't I see the Hotkeys or License (key) tabs in Preferences?

In the App Store version, a few things are intentionally hidden:

• Hotkeys / Shortcuts isn't available because global keyboard shortcuts aren't supported in the App Store build.
• The license key entry is removed because you don't need one. Apple activates your subscription automatically.

You'll still see your subscription and plan details in the License tab; there's just no key field to fill in. These features are only part of the version downloaded directly from the Elephas website.

Where is the Super Command / CTRL+Space shortcut?

Super Command and global keyboard shortcuts (like CTRL+Space) aren't available in the App Store version. This is due to Mac App Store restrictions on system-wide hotkeys.

If you'd like to use Super Command across all your apps, you can download the version directly from the Elephas website, which includes it. Everything else works the same in both versions: Super Brains, chat, Apple Notes, and offline models.

Why isn't the Elephas icon in my Mac menu bar?

The menu bar icon isn't included in the App Store version, also due to Mac App Store restrictions.

You can open Elephas from your Applications folder, the Dock, or Spotlight. If you'd like the menu bar icon and quick access from there, the version on the Elephas website includes it.

Why don't I see Snippets, Workflows, Writing features, or the Floater menu?

These features aren't available in the App Store version. They rely on system-level access that the Mac App Store doesn't allow.

If you'd like to use Snippets, Workflows, the Writing tools, and the Floater menu, you can download Elephas directly from the Elephas website, which includes all of them. The core experience is fully available in both versions: Super Brains, chat, integrations, and offline models.

What's the difference between a Quick Chat and a Super Brain?

Quick Chat is a regular AI conversation. You chat directly with the AI, just like a normal assistant. It doesn't know about any of your files.

Super Brain is a chat that knows your content. Because it's indexed with your files and sources, it searches them first and answers using your own documents. Perfect for “What did my notes say about X?” type questions.

In short:

• Quick Chat → general AI conversation, no personal data.
• Super Brain → answers grounded in the files and sources you added.

How do I connect Apple Notes and confirm it's integrated?

To connect:

1. Open your Super Brain and go to the Integrations panel (or add Apple Notes when creating a brain).
2. Click Add Integration and choose Apple Notes.
3. In the folder browser, toggle on the Notes folders you want to index.
4. The first time, macOS will ask for permission. Click Allow so Elephas can access Apple Notes.
5. Click Connect Notes to start indexing.

To confirm it's working:

• In the Integrations panel, the Apple Notes card will show as Active with a green checkmark.
• Your selected Notes folders will appear inside the Super Brain, with indexing progress shown.
• Once indexed, try asking a question about something in your notes to see it in action.

Tip: Start with a small set of folders. Indexing Apple Notes can be slow if you select everything at once. If permission was denied, re-enable it in System Settings > Privacy & Security > Automation > Elephas.

How do I connect Elephas' inbuilt offline models?

Elephas can run AI models fully offline on your Mac. Open Preferences > Offline AI. You have two options:

Elephas Offline (Apple Silicon Macs, macOS 14+):

• Built right into Elephas, no extra software needed.
• Browse the Chat Models and Indexing Models lists.
• Click Download on a model, wait for it to finish, then click Load to activate it.

Ollama (works on all Macs):

• Install and run Ollama separately on your Mac.
• In Elephas, open the Ollama section and confirm the server URL (default is http://localhost:11434).
• Elephas connects automatically once Ollama is running.

Tip: Offline models use memory while loaded. Elephas can auto-unload idle models to free up resources and reloads them automatically when you chat again.