> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.socketchat.org/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Install Socketchat

> One command installs Socketchat on macOS, Linux or Windows.

The installer downloads a ready-made `socketchat` program for your computer and puts it in a folder on your PATH, the list of folders your terminal searches for commands. You do not need Rust or any other library: the encryption code is built into the program.

## Run the installer

**macOS**

Open Terminal and run:

```bash theme={"dark"}
curl --proto '=https' --tlsv1.2 -LsSf https://github.com/sachio222/socketchat_v4/releases/latest/download/socketchat-installer.sh | sh
```

The program goes to `~/.local/bin/socketchat`. Works on Apple silicon and Intel Macs.

**Linux**

Open a terminal and run:

```bash theme={"dark"}
curl --proto '=https' --tlsv1.2 -LsSf https://github.com/sachio222/socketchat_v4/releases/latest/download/socketchat-installer.sh | sh
```

The program goes to `~/.local/bin/socketchat`. Ready-made programs cover Intel or AMD (x86\_64) and 64-bit ARM (aarch64), which includes a Raspberry Pi 4 or Zero 2 W on 64-bit Raspberry Pi OS. They need glibc 2.35 or newer, which Ubuntu 22.04, Debian 12 and Raspberry Pi OS 12 (Bookworm) have.

**Windows**

Open PowerShell and run:

```powershell theme={"dark"}
powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -c "irm https://github.com/sachio222/socketchat_v4/releases/latest/download/socketchat-installer.ps1 | iex"
```

The program goes to `.local\bin\socketchat.exe` in your user folder, and the installer adds that folder to your PATH. Works on 64-bit Windows on Intel or AMD.

## Open a new terminal

When it finishes, the installer prints what to do next:

```text theme={"dark"}
Socketchat is installed. Open a new terminal, then:
  socketchat server init                    set up a local server
  socketchat server run                     start a local server
  socketchat join '<invite link>'           join a server you were invited to
  socketchat                                open the chat screen
For a server friends on other computers can reach, add --host <address> to server init.
```

The installer adds the folder to your PATH if it was missing, so open a new terminal window for the change to take effect. Then check that the command works:

```bash theme={"dark"}
socketchat --version
```

`socketchat server init` with no `--host` sets up a server only this computer can reach, at `localhost`. For friends on other computers, pick an address first; [Host a server](/hosting/overview) shows how.

Run `socketchat` on its own before you have a profile, and it lists the same commands. A profile is the encrypted folder where Socketchat keeps your keys, rooms and messages on this computer. `socketchat join` makes it the first time you use an invite link.

## Build from source

Build from source on a system the ready-made programs do not cover. Install the Rust toolchain from [rustup.rs](https://rustup.rs). On Linux, also install the OpenSSL headers, which the encrypted local database needs:

```bash theme={"dark"}
sudo apt install build-essential pkg-config libssl-dev
```

Then build and install Socketchat:

```bash theme={"dark"}
cargo install --locked --git https://github.com/sachio222/socketchat_v4 socketchat
```

On Windows, add `--features vendored-openssl` to that command. It builds OpenSSL from source, which needs the Visual Studio C++ build tools and [Strawberry Perl](https://strawberryperl.com). The first build takes several minutes on a fast machine and much longer on a Raspberry Pi. `cargo` puts the program in `~/.cargo/bin/socketchat`.

## Next

> **[Quick start](/quickstart)**
>
> Set up a server and invite a friend.

> **[Got an invite?](/use/rooms-and-invites#join-with-a-link)**
>
> Join a room someone invited you to.


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