Short answers, in one place.

If she can't do something, she usually says why. If she doesn't, the answer is probably here.

Getting started

How do I install her?

Open Nova Installer.pkg and click Next until it finishes. She appears in Applications and opens with her face. There is nothing to configure in a terminal, ever.

What happens on the first run?

She asks your name, your language and how you'd like to wake her. Then she asks for your email, sends a six-digit code, and the 7 free days start when you type it. Her hearing model and voices download once, about a gigabyte.

macOS says the installer is from an unidentified developer.

That message appears when a build hasn't been notarised yet. Only install Nova from heynovapro.com. If you got the file from anywhere else, don't open it; download it again from the site.

Can I move her to another computer?

Yes. Install her there (a Mac, today) and sign in with the same email. An account works on up to three devices, each with its own key. Her memory and workspace stay on each machine; they don't sync.

Waking and talking

How do I wake her?

Say “Hey Nova” or «يا نوفا». Or, in Settings, choose a tap anywhere, a clap, two claps or a whistle instead. Space starts a turn without any wake word; Esc stops her; and you can type in the box at the bottom at any time.

She didn't hear the wake word.

Speak at normal volume from where you usually sit, and give her a beat after the wake word. If the room is loud, use the tap or Space. If she never hears anything, check that Nova has Microphone permission in System Settings → Privacy & Security.

Can I interrupt her?

Yes. Talk over her and she stops to listen. If you'd rather she finished, wait; she keeps answers to a line or two.

Can I talk to her from my phone?

Connect Telegram in Settings. Text her, and she does the job on your computer and answers in the chat. She can send you files and voice notes there too.

Voice and languages

Which languages does she speak?

English and Arabic, both fully: hearing, thinking and her own voice in each. She understands Gulf and standard Arabic, and she switches languages when you do, mid-conversation.

Her voice sounds like the built-in system voice.

Nova needs Apple silicon (M1 or later). On first run, wait for the voice download to finish on first run; her Heart panel shows whether her voice is ready.

Can I give her a different voice?

Yes. Settings lists her built-in voices in both languages. If you have an ElevenLabs account, add your own key and she'll use that voice; the key stays on your device.

Can I rename her?

Yes, in Settings. Her wake word follows the new name in both languages.

Permissions

Why does she ask for so many permissions?

Because she does real work on your computer. Microphone to hear you; Accessibility to click and type in your apps; Screen Recording to see the screen when you ask her to look; Automation for Mail, Messages and the browser; Full Disk Access only if you want her to read and answer your texts. macOS asks for each one the first time she needs it, and every one can be refused.

What can't she do without them?

Without Microphone she can't hear you (typing still works). Without Accessibility she can't drive your apps. Without Screen Recording she can't see what's on screen. She tells you which one is missing when you ask for something that needs it.

Does she send my screen anywhere?

Only when you ask her to look at something, and only that request. Nothing is recorded or kept.

Heart and health

What does the Heart check?

Every 15 seconds: memory, processor, disk, battery, temperature, internet, apps that keep crashing, and her own hearing and voice. Press H to see the panel.

She said my computer is swapping memory. What now?

Say “fix it” and she names the app using the most memory and offers to quit it. She never quits anything without your yes.

Her hearing or voice stopped.

She notices and restarts that part herself. If it stays down, quit and reopen her; her Heart shows each part's state.

Plans and billing

How does the free trial work?

Seven days of everything, no card. It starts when you sign in with your email and ends with one message from her. Nothing is charged unless you choose a plan.

What's the difference between Pro and Business?

Pro is all of her for one person, $29 a month. Business adds Company mode and a larger monthly allowance, $99 a month. Both work on up to three devices.

How do I cancel?

From the link in any billing email, any month. She keeps working to the end of what you paid for; your files and memory stay on your device.

Refunds?

If she didn't work for you in the first 14 days of a paid plan, write to hello@heynovapro.com and we refund it.

Still stuck?

Write to us with your system version and what she said. A person answers within a working day.

Contact us

Be first to get Nova.

Mac first, opening soon; Windows and phone next. Leave your email and Nova Cloud will send one message on the day, nothing else.

Windows and phone are on the same list, on the download page.