this FAQ is organized around the questions people ask support most often: what to try first, how billing works, why installs or pipes fail, how meetings and audio behave, and how privacy works when AI or cloud features are enabled.Documentation Index
Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.screenpi.pe/llms.txt
Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
start here
| if you want to… | read this |
|---|---|
| get value in the first hour | quickstart, then use cases |
| fix install, login, empty timeline, or audio | troubleshooting |
| debug a custom pipe | pipe debugging |
| connect Claude, Codex, Cursor, or ChatGPT | MCP server |
| check what data leaves your computer | privacy data flow |
| deploy to a team | teams and Intune deployment |
getting value
Show what should I try first after installing screenpipe?
Show what should I try first after installing screenpipe?
start with one repeated workflow, not every feature.good first workflows:
- daily recap: ask “what did I work on today?” or install a daily-summary pipe
- meeting memory: turn on audio, join one Zoom/Meet/Teams call, then search the transcript
- AI memory: connect Claude Desktop, Codex, Cursor, or another MCP client and ask about the last 10 minutes
- SOP capture: do one repeated process while screenpipe records, then ask AI to turn it into a step-by-step guide
Show what are pipes?
Show what are pipes?
pipes are scheduled AI agents that run on your screenpipe data. each pipe is usually a
pipe.md prompt plus a schedule. it can search your local screen/audio history, summarize work, write notes, send notifications, or call connected apps.examples:- write a daily Obsidian note
- summarize meetings and draft follow-up emails
- monitor a specific app or window for changes
- sync activity to Notion, HubSpot, Toggl, or another tool
Show how does screenpipe help with Claude, Codex, Cursor, or ChatGPT context loss?
Show how does screenpipe help with Claude, Codex, Cursor, or ChatGPT context loss?
screenpipe gives AI tools a searchable memory of what was on your screen, what apps you used, and what was said in meetings. when a chat or coding agent loses context, it can ask screenpipe for recent activity instead of relying only on the current conversation.the usual setup is:
- install screenpipe and let it capture a few minutes of activity.
- connect your AI tool through MCP.
- ask questions like “what was I doing before this chat compacted?” or “find the error message I saw in the terminal.”
Show can screenpipe create SOPs or training docs from work I do on screen?
Show can screenpipe create SOPs or training docs from work I do on screen?
yes. record one clean run of the workflow, then ask a pipe or AI assistant to summarize the steps using screen text, app names, timestamps, and transcript evidence.best first SOP prompt:start with one repeated workflow such as invoice review, CRM update, client onboarding, QA review, or weekly reporting.
Search the last 45 minutes of screenpipe data.
Turn the workflow into an SOP for a new teammate.
Include:
- goal
- systems used
- numbered steps
- decisions or exceptions
- screenshots/timeline moments to review
- questions that still need a human answer
billing, license, and account
Show can I try screenpipe before buying?
Show can I try screenpipe before buying?
yes. screenpipe has two common trial paths:
- CLI:
npx screenpipe@latest recordgives you local recording, search, and API access from the terminal. - desktop app: download from screenpi.pe/onboarding for timeline, pipes, settings, chat, and connections.
Show where do I find my screenpipe receipt or invoice?
Show where do I find my screenpipe receipt or invoice?
open the account or billing area from the desktop app or the screenpipe website using the same email you used to buy.if you cannot find the receipt:
- check the inbox for the purchase email and payment confirmation
- confirm you are signed in with the same email used at checkout
- include your purchase email when contacting support so the license can be found quickly
Show I paid, but the app still says free or asks me to upgrade. what should I do?
Show I paid, but the app still says free or asks me to upgrade. what should I do?
this usually means the desktop app is signed into a different account than the one that bought the license, or the local account state is stale.try this:
- sign out in screenpipe.
- restart the app.
- sign back in with the exact purchase email.
- wait a minute, then reopen the billing or account screen.
Show do cloud credits, Claude, ChatGPT, or API keys replace a screenpipe license?
Show do cloud credits, Claude, ChatGPT, or API keys replace a screenpipe license?
no. AI provider access and screenpipe licensing are separate.
- screenpipe license or subscription: unlocks screenpipe app features, depending on your plan
- Claude/ChatGPT/OpenAI/Anthropic/Ollama: powers AI responses when you choose that model path
- cloud archive or cloud transcription: optional services for storage or processing
Show do you offer student discounts, refunds, or promo codes?
Show do you offer student discounts, refunds, or promo codes?
discounts and refunds depend on the current offer and account state. use the current pricing page as the source of truth, and contact support from the purchase email if a code expired or the wrong plan was applied.include:
- purchase email
- order date
- plan shown in the app
- the promo or student-discount context, if any
install, login, and timeline
Show screenpipe installed, but I do not see a timeline.
Show screenpipe installed, but I do not see a timeline.
if you installed only the CLI, recording and the API can work without the desktop timeline. for the visual timeline, install the desktop app from screenpi.pe/onboarding.if you already have the desktop app:
- check
curl http://localhost:3030/health. - wait 1-2 minutes after startup.
- confirm screen recording and accessibility permissions are enabled.
- open the desktop app timeline or search page.
- run
curl "http://localhost:3030/search?limit=5&content_type=all"to verify data exists.
Show login fails, loops, or says failed to load user.
Show login fails, loops, or says failed to load user.
try:
- quit screenpipe completely.
- reopen the app and sign in again.
- make sure the default browser can open the login callback.
- disable VPN/proxy temporarily if the callback never returns.
- confirm the clock on the machine is correct.
Show screenpipe is running but search returns nothing.
Show screenpipe is running but search returns nothing.
run:if health is OK but search is empty:
curl http://localhost:3030/health
curl "http://localhost:3030/search?limit=5&content_type=all"
- wait 1-2 minutes after startup
- confirm screen recording permission
- confirm accessibility permission, especially on macOS and Windows
- make sure your included/ignored windows filters are not excluding everything
- try a broad search before filtering by app, window, speaker, or time range
Show does screenpipe use OCR or accessibility APIs?
Show does screenpipe use OCR or accessibility APIs?
screenpipe primarily uses operating-system accessibility APIs to extract structured screen text when the platform and app expose it. OCR is a fallback for pixels or apps that do not expose enough accessible text.in the API you may see content types such as:
accessibility: text from the OS accessibility treeocr: OCR fallback textaudio: transcript dataall: search across available content types
content_type=all or content_type=accessibility before narrowing to OCR-only searches.Show I get 404 from /api/search. what is the right endpoint?
Show I get 404 from /api/search. what is the right endpoint?
the local endpoint is:not
curl "http://localhost:3030/search?limit=5"
/api/search.use the api reference tab or API recipes for copy-paste examples.Show can I record only specific apps, windows, or work hours?
Show can I record only specific apps, windows, or work hours?
yes. use recording filters to include or ignore windows, apps, or URLs. this is useful for meetings, compliance, privacy, and reducing storage.for scheduled capture or work-hour behavior, use the app settings when available. for custom behavior, a pipe can check the current time and either run, pause itself, or ignore results outside work hours.
pipes and custom automations
Show my pipe runs but does not do anything useful.
Show my pipe runs but does not do anything useful.
most pipe failures are prompt shape, data scope, or provider auth.check:
- the pipe is enabled
- manual run works
curl http://localhost:3030/healthsucceedscurl "http://localhost:3030/search?limit=5&content_type=all"returns data- the prompt tells the pipe exactly where to write, notify, or save output
- the AI provider is connected and has credits
- the pipe has permissions for the endpoints it calls
Show on Windows, a command window opens and closes when a pipe runs.
Show on Windows, a command window opens and closes when a pipe runs.
that usually means the pipe process started, hit an error immediately, and exited before you could read it.do this:
- open the pipe logs from the app.
- run the pipe manually from the pipe page.
- check whether the pipe has a valid
pipe.md, schedule, and permissions. - confirm the local API works:
curl http://localhost:3030/health. - if a script is involved, run it from PowerShell so the error stays visible.
Show my custom pipe searches the wrong thing or misses a specific window.
Show my custom pipe searches the wrong thing or misses a specific window.
use precise filters only after a broad search works.start broad:then add one filter at a time:window names can differ from what you see in the title bar, and some apps expose little accessibility text. if accessibility text is empty, try
curl "http://localhost:3030/search?limit=10&content_type=all"
curl "http://localhost:3030/search?limit=10&content_type=accessibility&window_name=Your%20Window"
content_type=all so OCR fallback and audio can help.Show notifications, sounds, Telegram, or other integrations do not fire from my pipe.
Show notifications, sounds, Telegram, or other integrations do not fire from my pipe.
split the problem:
- confirm the pipe run starts.
- confirm search returns the event you expect.
- confirm the prompt tells the pipe exactly when to notify.
- confirm the integration is connected and the token is current.
- test the notification or API call outside the pipe once.
audio and meetings
Show does screenpipe join meetings as a bot?
Show does screenpipe join meetings as a bot?
no. screenpipe records locally from your screen, microphone, and selected audio devices. it can capture Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, Slack huddles, and other call surfaces without a meeting bot joining.see meeting intelligence.
Show my meeting transcript is empty or late.
Show my meeting transcript is empty or late.
check:
- microphone permission is granted
- the correct input device is selected
- system audio is selected if you need other speakers
- transcription engine is not overloaded
curl "http://localhost:3030/search?content_type=audio&limit=1"returns audio data
Show can screenpipe identify speakers?
Show can screenpipe identify speakers?
yes, but speaker naming depends on audio quality, calendar context, and cleanup. name a speaker once in the UI, merge duplicates when needed, and connect calendar for better meeting context.speaker labels are useful for meeting summaries, follow-ups, and relationship memory, but you should review important transcripts before sending them externally.
privacy, storage, and enterprise
Show is my screenpipe data private?
Show is my screenpipe data private?
capture and storage are local by default. data leaves your machine only when you enable something that sends it out, such as:
- a cloud AI provider
- cloud transcription or media analysis
- cloud archive or sync
- a connected-app proxy call
- a support bundle you choose to send
Show where is data stored? can I move it to a NAS or external drive?
Show where is data stored? can I move it to a NAS or external drive?
local data is stored under
~/.screenpipe/ by default:db.sqlite: metadata, accessibility text, OCR fallback text, transcriptsdata/: screen and audio mediapipes/: installed pipes
Show does screenpipe work for teams or enterprise trials?
Show does screenpipe work for teams or enterprise trials?
yes. enterprise and team workflows usually focus on:
- managed installs on test devices
- device heartbeat and status
- privacy filters and policy controls
- shared pipe configurations
- centralized archive or storage design
- integration with Microsoft 365, SharePoint, cloud storage, CRM, or internal systems
Show is screenpipe employee surveillance software?
Show is screenpipe employee surveillance software?
screenpipe is built as local-first AI memory and workflow automation, not a manager surveillance dashboard. the important default is that the user owns local capture. team and enterprise controls should be configured transparently, with clear policies for what is captured, filtered, shared, or archived.if you need DLP-style real-time enforcement, review your requirements carefully. if you need employee-owned AI memory, SOP capture, meeting memory, or local workflow intelligence, screenpipe is designed for that model.
performance and hardware
Show what hardware does screenpipe need?
Show what hardware does screenpipe need?
practical baseline:
- dual-core CPU, 2GB RAM, and enough disk for local media
- quad-core CPU, 4GB+ RAM, and SSD storage recommended
- around 30GB/month at 1 FPS, depending on settings and retention
Show screenpipe uses too much CPU, RAM, disk, or WindowServer.
Show screenpipe uses too much CPU, RAM, disk, or WindowServer.
try:
- lower capture FPS
- exclude apps/windows you do not need
- select fewer audio devices
- use a faster transcription model
- close the timeline when you are not reviewing video
- archive or delete old media
help
Show what should I include when asking for support?
Show what should I include when asking for support?
include:
- OS and version
- screenpipe version
- whether you use desktop app, CLI, or both
- output of
curl http://localhost:3030/health - the exact page, pipe, or endpoint that failed
- pipe logs, if a pipe is involved
- selected audio device, if audio is involved
- purchase email, if billing is involved