Install and first launch

Requirements

• PDF Pals v2: macOS 14 or later.
• PDF Pals Classic: macOS 13 or later.

Apple silicon and Intel Macs are supported. On Intel, local models can be slow.

Get the app

• Website edition: download it, open the disk image and drag PDF Pals to Applications.
• Mac App Store or Setapp: install it from there. See Setapp and Mac App Store.

What opens the first time

• A new install on macOS 14 or later opens in v2.
• A Mac with a Classic library, or on macOS 13, opens in Classic. On macOS 14 or later, Classic offers v2 in The new PDF Pals is here: choose Switch to v2, or Not Now. See Classic and v2.

The welcome in v2

Most steps have Skip For Now; you can change everything later in Settings.

1. Import from Classic (if you used Classic). See Import from Classic.
2. Download Local Models: a search model and, optionally, an answer model. See local models.
3. Connect a Provider: add an API key. See Use your own API key.
4. Help Improve PDF Pals: crash reports and usage analytics.
5. Activate Your License (website edition): enter your license key, or choose Continue Free Trial.

To see the welcome again, choose Help ▸ Show Welcome.

The free trial (website edition)

Everything works for 14 days, with no account. Starting the trial needs an internet connection once.

Start it from the welcome, from the prompt on your first question, or in Settings ▸ License ▸ Start Free Trial. After the trial, asking questions needs a license.

Next: start your first chat.