# Getting started

Welcome to hypershot — a powerful screenshot and annotation tool for macOS and Windows, built natively for both (see [Native on Mac and Windows](/docs/hypershot/getting-started/native)).

## Free trial

New users receive a **7-day free trial** with full access to all features. No credit card required. [Purchase a license](/docs/hypershot/settings/licensing ) anytime to continue using hypershot after your trial ends.

## Download

The links below always resolve to the newest release — no version number to track down.

| Platform | Download |
|----------|----------|
| macOS (Apple Silicon) | [Download for Apple Silicon](/hypershot/download/mac) |
| macOS (Intel) | [Download for Intel](/hypershot/download/mac/x64) |
| Windows (installer) | [Windows installer](/hypershot/download/windows) |
| Windows (MSIX) | [Windows MSIX package](/hypershot/download/windows/msix) |

## First launch

### macOS
1. Open hypershot from your Applications folder
2. A **permissions window** appears on first launch, guiding you through granting:
   - **Screen Recording** — Required to capture your screen
   - **Accessibility** — Recommended; needed only if you use a macOS system shortcut (like ⌘⇧4) as a capture hotkey. The default hotkeys work without it
3. Once permissions are granted (or you dismiss the window), the onboarding flow begins automatically
4. hypershot runs in your menu bar (look for the icon near your clock)

> **Don't see the icon?** On notched MacBooks a full menu bar pushes status
> icons under the notch — invisible, but present. Hold **⌘** and drag nearby
> icons to make room, or use a menu bar manager like
> [Bartender](https://www.macbartender.com). You can also hold **⌘** and drag
> the hypershot icon itself to reposition it — the spot is remembered.

> **Note — Permissions and onboarding**
> The permissions window shows a live status for each permission. Grant both in System Settings, and the window auto-advances to onboarding. You can also dismiss it manually to skip — hypershot will re-prompt if a required permission is missing when you try to capture.

### Windows
1. Run hypershot from the Start menu
2. hypershot runs in your system tray (bottom-right corner)
3. No special permissions needed
> **"Windows protected your PC"?** The first time you run the installer,
> Windows SmartScreen may stop it with a blue box. Click **More info**, then
> **Run anyway**. hypershot is code-signed; SmartScreen warns about apps it
> hasn't yet seen many people install, and the warning stops as more do.

<div style="display: grid; grid-template-columns: repeat(auto-fit, minmax(240px, 1fr)); gap: 12px">
  <img style="margin: 0" src="/download/smartscreen-1.svg" width="560" height="400" alt="Windows protected your PC: click More info." />
  <img style="margin: 0" src="/download/smartscreen-2.svg" width="560" height="400" alt="Then, under the app and its publisher, click Run anyway." />
</div>

## Taking your first screenshot

1. Press `⌘⇧2` on macOS or `Ctrl+Shift+3` on Windows — the default region capture hotkey
2. Drag to select the area you want to capture
3. Release — the capture drops into the [preview folder](/docs/hypershot/capturing/capture-history) in the corner of your screen; click **Edit** on its card to open the editor (or set **Settings → Captures → After capture** to **Edit** to go straight to the editor)
4. Add annotations using the toolbar
5. Click **Copy** in the export pane to copy the image, or press **Cmd/Ctrl+E** to export it as an image file

## Essential shortcuts

| Action | macOS | Windows |
|--------|-------|---------|
| Area capture | `⌘⇧2` | `Ctrl+Shift+3` |
| Quick Access Panel | `⌘⇧P` | `Ctrl+Shift+P` |
| Undo | ⌘Z | Ctrl+Z |
| Save project (`.hypercapture`) | ⌘S | Ctrl+S |
| Export image | ⌘E | Ctrl+E |

## Tool shortcuts

| Tool | Key |
|------|-----|
| Select | V |
| Arrow | A |
| Pen | P |
| Highlighter | H |
| Line | L |
| Text | T |
| Rectangle | R |
| Ellipse | O |
| Counter | C |
| Spotlight | S |
| Redact | X |
| Sticky Note | N |
| Artboard | B |
| Timeline | F |

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*See [Keyboard Shortcuts](/docs/hypershot/keyboard-shortcuts ) for the complete list.*

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From https://hypernuclear.com/docs/hypershot/getting-started/