First-run setup

The eight steps

1. Welcome — a short introduction. Downloading and installing are already checked off.
2. Local AI — Selv picks the models that suit your Mac and starts downloading them. On Apple silicon with 32 GB RAM or more, it selects quantized Apertus 1.5 8B. Under Advanced you can choose a different transcription model. The download keeps running through the following steps, with its progress shown at the top.
3. You — your name, appearance and the languages you speak, next to the sources Selv can read: Apple Notes, Calendar, Obsidian, folders you choose and supported apps on your Mac. Apple Notes needs Full Disk Access; macOS may require a relaunch, which returns you to this step. AI tools that can read from Selv are listed here too.
4. Microphone — allow transcription of your voice. Audio from other apps also needs Screen Recording access.
5. Screen — allow Selv to remember what you see, and choose apps to exclude. If macOS offers Quit & Reopen, Selv returns to this step.
6. Background — let Selv keep working when its window is closed, and optionally allow notifications.
7. Privacy — optionally lock Selv with Touch ID or an app password. Without a lock, stored data stays encrypted, but anyone using your unlocked Mac can open Selv. If Selv is already locked, this step is skipped.
8. Ready — once the models have arrived, open Selv or ask its bundled Guide a first question. A slow download stays on this screen with progress; a stopped one offers to resume.

Permissions are optional and reversible

The model download, the microphone, screen access and the lock each offer Do this later. Selv says what will be missing and moves on. Whatever you put off waits under Finish setting up in the sidebar, where you can finish it when you are ready. Optional items can also be declined there with I don't need this.

You can change permissions later in System Settings › Privacy & Security. Without Screen Recording access, Selv cannot remember your screen. Information not saved elsewhere may be impossible to find later.

Pause capture using Go off the record in the menu bar. Resume it there, or exclude individual apps in Settings. See Pause, exclude & delete.

Your first fourteen days

The full-memory introduction starts when setup completes. After 14 days, Free keeps a rolling ten days of captured memories awake. Older captured memories sleep without being deleted. Journals and mirrored documents stay available. Sovereign wakes the older history; see Plans.

Reviewing setup in Settings › Account › Review setup preserves your memories and original trial date.

If setup gets stuck

Use the download retry if shown. Closing and reopening Selv resumes setup and downloads. If a problem persists, email support@selv.io with your macOS version, setup step and displayed error.