# How do I install and set up NovaHUD?

> Step-by-step setup for NovaHUD on Mac — download, permissions (microphone, Accessibility, Automation), Ollama, and connecting Claude Code.

Source: https://novahud.app/docs/install

## Steps

1. **Download** NovaHUD from https://novahud.app/download and drag it to Applications.
2. **Open it.** The main window opens with Home, Sessions and Meetings, and the notch appears at the top of the screen under your pointer.
3. **Allow the microphone** when macOS asks. NovaHUD transcribes on your Mac.
4. **Allow Accessibility** (System Settings › Privacy & Security › Accessibility › NovaHUD). Dictation needs it to type into other apps, and meeting detection uses it to read meeting window titles.
5. **Install Ollama** from https://ollama.com and run `ollama pull llama3.2:3b` in Terminal. Nova uses it to answer questions and summarise what your sessions do.
6. **Connect Claude Code.** If the CLI is not signed in, NovaHUD shows a banner; press **Connect Claude** and finish in the browser. Under the hood this runs `claude auth login --claudeai`.
7. **Allow Automation for Spotify or Music** the first time the notch shows what's playing, so it can read the track and control playback.

## Which Macs does NovaHUD support?

Apple silicon Macs (M1, M2, M3, M4 and later) on macOS 14 Sonoma or newer. Intel Macs are not supported, because the voice runs on the Apple Neural Engine.

## Does NovaHUD need an internet connection?

Not for its voice features. Speech recognition, the voice and the local model all run offline. Signing in, licence checks, and delivering prompts to Claude Code (which itself uses Anthropic's service) need a connection.

## Why does macOS ask to allow incoming network connections?

That prompt appears the first time you pair the iPhone app with your Mac. NovaHUD's engine listens on your local network (port 5175) so Nova on iPhone can reach it. Choose **Allow**. Nothing on it works without pairing — see [Use your Mac as the iPhone's engine](mac-engine).