> ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.screenpipe.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Screenpipe quickstart: install and connect AI in 5 minutes > Go from install to your first AI-powered insight in under 5 minutes — set up Screenpipe, connect your AI assistant, and run your first scheduled task. You're 5 minutes away from having AI that knows everything on your screen. Here's the fastest path to value. ## Choose your path > [!TIP] > > Already recording but unsure what to do with it? [Get your first useful result](https://docs.screenpipe.com/first-useful-result.md) has copyable prompts for a client job, a call follow-up, and a project brief. | I want... | Start here | Success looks like | | - | - | - | | AI memory in Claude, Codex, Cursor, or another agent | Follow the MCP connection step below | Your AI can answer "what did I do in the last 5 minutes?" | | Local search and API access | Install, record for a few minutes, then try [API recipes](https://docs.screenpipe.com/api-recipes.md) | `/search` returns recent screen or audio results | | Recurring automations | Install your first scheduled task, then read [scheduled task debugging](https://docs.screenpipe.com/task-troubleshooting.md) | The scheduled task runs manually, logs clearly, and writes a useful output | > [card] Ask Home > > Ask what you were working on after a few minutes of recording > [card] Day Recap > > Create a private draft of accomplishments and unfinished work > [card] Scheduled tasks > > Install a Store scheduled task or describe a custom automation > [card] Timeline > > Verify that the expected screen and audio periods were captured ## The 5-minute setup **1. Install Screenpipe (1 min)** [Download the desktop app](https://screenpi.pe/onboarding) — works on macOS, Windows, and Linux. Review the [desktop app, trial, and source-build options](https://docs.screenpipe.com/getting-started.md#free-and-paid-installation-options) before checkout. AI provider subscriptions are separate. Open it, grant screen recording and microphone permissions when prompted, and Screenpipe starts capturing automatically. > [!TIP] > > On macOS, you'll need to allow screen recording and accessibility access in System Settings → Privacy & Security. **2. Let it record for 2 minutes** Browse some websites. Write some code. Check Slack. Screenpipe is now capturing everything — app text primarily via accessibility APIs, OCR fallback when needed, and audio via transcription. You can verify it's working: ```bash theme={"system"} curl http://localhost:3030/health ``` > [!NOTE] > > `/health` does not need a token. When **Require API Authentication** is enabled, retrieve the token with `npx -y screenpipe@latest auth token` and add a bearer header to protected requests. **3. Connect your AI (1 min)** Pick your AI tool and connect Screenpipe to it. The fastest way is one command — it installs the Screenpipe skills and registers the MCP server: ```bash theme={"system"} npx -y screenpipe@latest agent setup ``` where `` is one of `openclaw`, `hermes`, `claude-code`, `claude-desktop`, `codex`, `cursor`, or `windsurf`. Or wire it up manually: **Claude Desktop (recommended)** Open Screenpipe → go to **Settings** (gear icon, bottom of sidebar) → **Connections** (under Data & Privacy) → click **"install extension"** next to Claude. Done. **Claude Code** ```bash theme={"system"} claude mcp add screenpipe --transport stdio --scope user -- npx -y screenpipe-mcp ``` **Codex** Open Screenpipe → go to **Settings** → **Connections** → click **Connect** next to Codex. Then open a new Codex session. **Cursor** [click here to install in cursor](cursor://anysphere.cursor-deeplink/mcp/install?name=screenpipe\&config=eyJ0eXBlIjoic3RkaW8iLCJjb21tYW5kIjoibnB4IiwiYXJncyI6WyIteSIsInNjcmVlbnBpcGUtbWNwIl19) **ChatGPT** In the Screenpipe chat (Home), click the model selector next to the input → select **ChatGPT** → sign in with your OpenAI account. **4. Ask your first question (30 sec)** Go to your AI tool and try: * *"what was I working on in the last 5 minutes?"* * *"summarize what I just read in the browser"* * *"what apps have I been using?"* Verify the answer against the timeline: it should identify a real recent app or page and give a matching timestamp. Ask it to show the Screenpipe search it used. If it only gives a generic answer, check [MCP retrieval](https://docs.screenpipe.com/mcp-server.md#verify-a-real-retrieval) before installing more automations. **5. Install your first scheduled task (30 sec)** Scheduled tasks are AI automations that run on a schedule. Click **Scheduled tasks** in the sidebar to open the task library. Browse **Scheduled tasks → Discover** — try installing **Digital Clone** or **Obsidian Daily Summary**. Click **GET**; the app switches to **My tasks**, where you can review and run it. **Day Recap** is already available as a built-in Home shortcut. Popular first scheduled tasks: | Scheduled task | What it does | | - | - | | **Digital Clone** | Builds a persistent AI memory of who you are | | **Obsidian Daily Summary** | Writes daily summaries to your Obsidian vault | | **Focus Assistant** | Notifies you when you're distracted | | **Todo List Assistant** | Tracks tasks and reminds you of what's due | [Browse all scheduled tasks →](https://docs.screenpipe.com/task-library.md) ## What you can do now > [card] [Search anything you've seen](https://docs.screenpipe.com/search-screen-history.md) > > Find code snippets, conversations, documents — anything that was on your screen > [card] [Browse the task library](https://docs.screenpipe.com/task-library.md) > > Ready-made automations — CRM sync, meeting intelligence, time tracking, and more > [card] [Connect more AI tools](https://docs.screenpipe.com/mcp-server.md) > > Add Screenpipe to Codex, Cursor, Cline, Continue, Gemini CLI, and more > [card] [Connect your apps](https://docs.screenpipe.com/connections.md) > > Dozens of integrations — Slack, Notion, Google Calendar, Obsidian, Toggl, HubSpot, and more ## Common first questions **"How do I control scheduled AI usage?"** Check the selected provider, source window, and schedule. [AI usage and controls](https://docs.screenpipe.com/ai-usage-and-controls.md) explains available usage information, allowance warnings, and how to stop a run or disable future runs. **"What are scheduled tasks?"** Scheduled tasks are scheduled AI agents that run on your screen data. Think of them as automations — a scheduled task can build your digital memory, track your time, sync notes to Obsidian, or anything you can describe in a prompt. Browse them in the sidebar under **Scheduled tasks**. [learn more →](https://docs.screenpipe.com/scheduled-tasks.md) **"Is my data private?"** Yes. Everything is captured and stored locally by default. No data leaves your machine unless you explicitly choose a cloud provider, connected app, team sync, or remote AI workflow. See [privacy data flow](https://docs.screenpipe.com/privacy-data-flow.md). **"Can I use my own AI subscription?"** Screenpipe supports ChatGPT sign-in, supported provider API keys, and [local Ollama models](https://docs.screenpipe.com/ollama.md). Claude Pro/Max is not an Anthropic API key and does not unlock Claude inside Screenpipe. You can instead use your Claude account in Claude's own client with [Screenpipe MCP](https://docs.screenpipe.com/mcp-server.md). See [plans and AI subscriptions](https://docs.screenpipe.com/local-or-cloud-ai.md#screenpipe-plans-and-ai-subscriptions). **"What does Screenpipe capture?"** Screen text (primarily via accessibility APIs, with OCR fallback), audio transcriptions, app names, window titles, browser URLs, and user input events. You control what's captured in **Settings → Recording**. **"How do I connect my apps?"** Go to **Settings → Connections** (under Data & Privacy). Screenpipe supports dozens of integrations including Slack, Notion, Google Calendar, Google Docs, Obsidian, Toggl, HubSpot, Salesforce, PostHog, Sentry, Zoom, and more. [learn more →](https://docs.screenpipe.com/connections.md) **"How do I know it worked?"** Open **Home**, ask a question in your AI tool, or run `curl http://localhost:3030/health`. After a few minutes of recording, `/search` and [API recipes](https://docs.screenpipe.com/api-recipes.md) should return real activity. Need help? [join our Discord](https://discord.gg/screenpipe) — 10k+ members. This documentation is built and hosted on [Mintlify](https://mintlify.com), a developer documentation platform.