You cannot get the Desktop app running:
- Download from the site never starts or the installer file is incomplete
- Installer fails, quits early, or macOS/Windows blocks the app
- Cortex icon appears but the window stays blank or never opens
- App opens once, then crashes or will not relaunch after update
Applies to Desktop only. For web onboarding chat issues, use the AI or login guides instead.
- Wrong OS installer selected (macOS vs Windows)
- Security prompt or OS Gatekeeper / SmartScreen blocking first launch
- Incomplete download or interrupted update
- Stale process still running after a failed quit
- Insufficient disk space or missing OS permissions
- Confirm your OS: macOS or Windows (and chip type on Mac if known: Apple silicon vs Intel).
- Re-check you downloaded from Cortex.
- Note any OS dialog text (damaged app, unidentified developer, SmartScreen, access denied).
- Check whether Cortex still appears in Activity Monitor / Task Manager after you quit.
- Note whether this is a first install or an update from a previous version.
- Download a fresh installer from Cortex for your OS. Do not reuse a partial file.
- Install again. On Windows, if SmartScreen appears, choose more info → run anyway when you trust the official download. On macOS, approve the app in System Settings → Privacy & Security if prompted.
- Fully quit Cortex (including background processes), wait a few seconds, then reopen.
- Restart the computer once, then launch Cortex again and sign in.
- If the window is blank: quit, reopen, and if needed reinstall over the same version from the download page.
- Cortex opens to the welcome or project screen without crashing
- You can sign in and open a project folder
- Chat panel is available (or can be restored from the top-right chat control)
Email support@withcortex.ai if:
- Official installer still fails after Steps 1–5
- OS repeatedly reports the app as damaged or blocked after a fresh download
- The app crashes on every launch with the same dialog
Attach the exact OS error text and your OS version.
- OS and version (macOS / Windows)
- Mac chip if known (Apple silicon / Intel)
- Installer source URL used
- Exact OS or installer error text
- First install vs update
- Whether a previous Cortex version worked on this machine
- Steps already tried