# Vagon Desktop Apps

The Vagon Desktop Application is the recommended way to connect when you use Vagon frequently or need a more consistent workstation experience. The native apps for macOS and Windows produce smoother input handling, more reliable audio, and better full-screen behavior than a browser tab.

## When to Use the Desktop App

Use the desktop app when:

* Browser streaming feels less responsive.
* You use keyboard shortcuts heavily.
* You need better full-screen behavior.
* Your browser extensions or settings interfere with streaming.

Vagon provides a dedicated desktop application for both macOS and Windows. Connecting through the app generally produces smoother input handling, more reliable audio, and better full-screen behavior than a browser tab.

## Download Links

Download the installer that matches your operating system:

* **macOS:** <https://app.vagon.io/apps/Vagon.dmg>
* **Windows:** <https://app.vagon.io/apps/Vagon.zip>

You can also visit [vagon.io/download](https://vagon.io/download) for the latest builds.

## Install on macOS

1. Open the downloaded `.dmg` file.
2. Wait for the installer to complete.
3. Drag the Vagon icon into the **Applications** folder.
4. The first time you launch the app, approve the system verification prompt.
5. Sign in with your Vagon account.

## Install on Windows

1. Extract the downloaded `.zip` archive.
2. Run the installer.
3. If Windows SmartScreen shows a security warning because the application is not yet classified, click **More info** and then **Run anyway** to continue.
4. Sign in with your Vagon account once installation finishes.

Once installation finishes, you can connect to any of your Vagon Computers from inside the app.

## In-Session Controls

The Dock Menu inside a running session gives you control over sound, display, files, resolution, and shutdown – the same on both the desktop app and the browser.

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[Inside Computer](/computer/introduction/inside-computer.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}

## Auto Turn-Off at the Dashboard Level

If you forget to shut your Vagon Computer down, it does not stay on indefinitely. By default, a session that has been idle for 15 minutes is automatically turned off so you do not continue to use credits while you are away.

You can adjust this behavior from the Dashboard:

* Change the Auto Turn-Off interval under **Run in Background**.
* Choose **Always On** if you do not want the session to stop automatically.

{% hint style="warning" %}
Sessions that are not idle keep running and keep using credits. If you choose **Always On**, the computer continues consuming credits or plan time until you stop it yourself.
{% endhint %}

## Basic Checks

If the desktop app does not connect:

* Confirm you are using the latest version.
* Restart the app and reconnect.
* Test from a different network if you suspect firewall or VPN interference.
* Try the browser connection to isolate whether the problem is app-specific.

## Next Steps

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[Inside Computer](/computer/introduction/inside-computer.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}

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[Performance Options & Specs](/computer/features/performance-options-and-specs.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}

{% content-ref url="/pages/trydFd4oFnVWu0wQKAQd" %}
[Computer Connection](/computer/troubleshooting/computer-connection.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}


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