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Installation

Install Trace desktop or follow the setup guide for Trace Plugin.

Choose the right installation

  • Trace desktop: includes schematic and PCB editors. Use the official download page.
  • Trace Plugin for Altium and KiCad: works with a separately installed design host. Follow the Trace Plugin guide for supported hosts and its installation path.

Do not assume a desktop installer also installs the companion. Choose the package that matches your operating system and processor, and check its listed requirements before downloading.

macOS Installation

  1. Download the macOS package offered for your processor.
  2. If supplied as a .dmg, open it and drag Trace to Applications.
  3. Launch Trace from Applications.

Windows Installation

  1. Download the Windows installer.
  2. Run it and follow the installation prompts.
  3. Launch Trace from the Start menu or its installed shortcut.

Linux Installation

Follow the instructions supplied with the Linux package. If the download is an AppImage, make that file executable and launch it. Replace the example filename with the file you downloaded:

chmod +x ./Trace.AppImage
./Trace.AppImage

Package dependencies vary by distribution and release. If it does not launch, record the package version and error for Troubleshooting.

If the operating system blocks launch

Check that the file came from the official download page and that the publisher and signature information match the release instructions. If the package is damaged, has an unexpected publisher, or cannot be verified, stop and contact support.

Do not disable system security or remove quarantine flags as a routine installation step.

Signing In

Open the account control and choose Sign in to Trace where shown. Complete the browser sign-in flow, then return to the application and confirm the account is connected.

AI requests require the appropriate account access and remaining usage. Check Billing before starting a task; sign-in alone does not establish entitlement.

Verifying Installation

  1. Create a local project or open a saved .kicad_pro project.
  2. Open its schematic and confirm that the expected document appears.
  3. Open chat, choose Ask, and select a supported model.
  4. Ask for a short explanation of the open design without changes.

The desktop start page is not the web account dashboard. If a newer control is missing, first check Availability, rather than assuming installation failed.

Open from the Command Line

On macOS, you can ask the operating system to open an installed Trace application with a project file:

open -a Trace /path/to/my-project.kicad_pro

For command-line work, use trace-cli bundled with Trace. Install the app and sign in to the desktop first; see CLI for locating the executable and checking its supported commands. PATH registration differs across packages.

Continue with Quick Start or learn the workbench.