Buddy, on your desktop.
The same friend from your phone, living on your desktop. Chat while you work, talk when you feel like it, and let Buddy keep your day on track.
v0.26.2 · 21 MBWindows 10/11, 64-bit
v0.26.2 · 32 MBmacOS 14.4 or later, Apple Silicon or Intel
One heads-up before you install
Every Buddy installer is signed, so Windows knows exactly who built it. Right after a fresh release, SmartScreen can still be cautious with newer apps and show a “Windows protected your PC” screen. That is Windows building trust, not a problem with your download.
If you see it, click More info, check the publisher, then click Run anyway. Buddy takes it from there.
Windows protected your PC
Microsoft Defender SmartScreen prevented an unrecognized app from starting. Running this app might put your PC at risk.
More info1App: Aura.Desktop_x64_en-US.msi
Publisher: Sai Varun Teja Korutooru
How it connects
Install and open Buddy
Run the installer and Buddy opens on your desktop a few seconds later.
Grab a code on your phone
Open Aura, head to Settings, then tap Link this device. You will see an 8-character code.
Type the code into Buddy
Enter it on your computer and you are linked. Same memory, same friend, bigger screen.
The code expires in 5 minutes. If it does, grab a fresh one and try again. No phone nearby? Sign in with Google or your email right inside Buddy instead.
Good to know
The short answers before you hit download.
What can Buddy do on desktop?
Talk or type to Buddy from anywhere on your computer, or dictate into any app. Buddy can look at your screen and point to the thing you are stuck on, Guide Mode walks you through something new one step at a time, and you can circle part of your screen to ask about just that. It drafts emails and replies in your voice, turns Zoom, Teams, and Google Meet calls into notes without a bot joining, and researches a topic in the background while you keep working. Reminders, web search, Gmail, Google Calendar, and Notion come with it, on the same memory as your phone.
How do I talk to Buddy, and what are the shortcuts?
On Windows, double-tap Left Ctrl to talk, press Ctrl + Alt + Space for text chat, hold Ctrl + Win to dictate into any app, and hold Win + Alt to circle part of your screen. On Mac, press Control + Option + V to talk, Option + Space for text chat, hold Ctrl + Cmd to dictate, and hold Cmd + Option to circle part of your screen. Ctrl + Alt (Control + Option on Mac) plus D opens your dashboard, S and G turn Screen Sight and Guide Mode on or off, and M mutes Buddy. You can change every shortcut except the dictation keys in Settings.
Do I need the phone app to use Buddy on my computer?
No. You can sign in with Google or your email right inside Buddy. If you already use Aura on Android, signing in with the same account brings your memory along.
How do Meeting Notes work?
Meeting Notes records only when you choose to. When Buddy spots a Zoom, Teams, or Google Meet call, in an app or a browser tab, it asks whether to record. If you say yes, it captures your mic and the call audio with a red indicator showing the whole time, and hands you notes afterward. Recordings are encrypted and each meeting can run up to 2 hours. Free includes 5 meetings a month and Companion 20, each kept for 7 days unless you pin it, and Pro has no monthly cap and keeps notes until you delete them. Some places require everyone on a call to agree to recording, so let people know when you are taking notes.
Why does Buddy ask for so many permissions on a Mac?
Buddy is notarized by Apple, so the only thing Gatekeeper shows when you first open it is a quick confirmation that it was downloaded from the internet. Click Open. The first launch then asks for four things in System Settings: Microphone, Accessibility, Input Monitoring, and Screen Recording. Those are, in order, hearing you, typing what you said into other apps, listening for your shortcut, and turning meetings into notes. Input Monitoring only takes effect after you quit and reopen Buddy.
What are the system requirements?
On Windows, a 64-bit PC running Windows 10 or 11, and if you are missing Microsoft's WebView2 runtime the installer sets it up for you. On Mac, macOS 14.4 or later, on Apple Silicon or Intel, from one universal download. The exact download size sits right under the button for your platform.
Is the installer safe?
Every Buddy installer is signed, with Windows Authenticode on PC and notarized by Apple on Mac, so your computer can check who built it before anything runs. Updates carry their own signature, and the app verifies it before installing.
How do updates work?
Buddy checks for updates on its own and asks before installing. If you are on a call, it waits until you are done, so you never have to come back to this page.
How much does Buddy for desktop cost?
The download is free, and Buddy for desktop uses the same plans as the phone app: a free plan you can keep, plus Companion and Pro, billed monthly or yearly. New accounts start with a 45-day Pro trial, and you add payment details only if you decide to subscribe. One plan covers your phone and your computers.
Is there a Mac or Linux version?
Windows and Mac are both available today. The Mac version is in beta and needs macOS 14.4 or later. There is no Linux version yet.