Install InstantOwl as an App

Why install InstantOwl?

Installing InstantOwl puts it on your home screen or dock like a native app, so you can jump straight to the record button whenever a thought hits. This matters most if you are the kind of person whose ideas disappear in seconds. The faster you can start talking, the more you catch. For more on why fast capture matters, see the blog post on voice notes.

How do I install InstantOwl?

The easiest path is the Install button in the navbar. It only shows up when you are not already running InstantOwl as an installed app.

1. Open InstantOwl in your browser.
2. Look for Install in the navbar.
3. Tap it and confirm.

If your browser does not support one-tap install, InstantOwl shows you manual instructions instead:

• On iOS: tap the Share button, then Add to Home Screen.
• On Android and most other browsers: tap the ⋮ menu in your browser, then Install app or Add to Home Screen.

Once installed, InstantOwl opens straight to your dashboard, in its own window, without browser tabs or address bars in the way.

What changes once it's installed?

Nothing about how InstantOwl works changes. It is the same app, just launched from an icon instead of a browser bookmark, and it opens directly to your dashboard so you can start recording immediately. Once installed, the Install button in the navbar disappears since you are already running the standalone version.

What happens if I lose my connection?

InstantOwl needs an internet connection to transcribe and process your audio. If you go offline entirely, you will see a screen that reads: You're offline with the explanation InstantOwl needs an internet connection to record and process your audio. Please check your connection and try again.

That said, recording itself is resilient to spotty connections. While you are actively recording, InstantOwl streams your audio to the server in small chunks in the background. If your connection drops mid-recording, you will see Offline, saving when reconnected, and your recording picks back up and syncs automatically once you are back online. See Recording for the full detail on how this resilience works.

Does recording drain my battery or lock my screen?

InstantOwl uses a screen wake lock while you are actively recording, so your phone will not lock or dim mid-thought. This releases automatically once you stop recording.

Next steps

Once InstantOwl is installed, head to Getting started for a tour of the dashboard, or jump straight into your first recording.