Set up the desktop app

Deploying to managed computers?

To install the app on many computers with Intune, Jamf Pro, Group Policy or your Linux tools, already connected to your server, see Deploy and manage the desktop app.

The Dew desktop app lets people upload files and folders from the menu bar or system tray and copy the link. Install it on your own computer first and connect it to your server, then get it to your team.

1. Download Dew

Go to the download page. It suggests the right file for your computer. Dew runs on macOS 12 or later and Windows. The Linux app, for Ubuntu 22.04, Debian 12 or Fedora 36 or later, is in preview.

• Mac: click Download for Mac to get the installer (.pkg). A disk image (.dmg) is also offered. Both work on Apple silicon and Intel Macs.
• Windows: click Download for Windows to get the installer (.exe). An MSI package is also offered, and both come in an Arm64 version for Arm PCs.
• Linux: choose the .deb package (Ubuntu, Debian) or the .rpm package (Fedora) for your computer’s processor, x64 or arm64. An AppImage, which runs without installing, is also offered.

2. Install Dew

• Mac: open the downloaded .pkg file and follow the installer. With the .dmg, open it and drag Dew to your Applications folder.
• Windows: open the downloaded .exe or .msi file and follow the installer.
• Linux: open the .deb or .rpm file with your software installer. With the AppImage, make the file executable and open it.

On Linux, use the .deb or .rpm package if you can. On Wayland, the keyboard shortcut that shows and hides Dew doesn’t work with the AppImage.

3. Open Dew

• Mac: open Dew from your Applications folder. Dew runs in the menu bar at the top of the screen, not in the Dock.
• Windows: open Dew from the Start menu. Dew runs in the system tray at the bottom right of the screen. If you don’t see its icon, click the arrow next to the tray to show hidden icons.
• Linux: open Dew from your applications menu. Dew runs in the system tray or top bar.

When you open Dew, its window appears next to the icon. Click the icon to show or hide the window later.

On Linux with GNOME, Dew adds its own top bar extension, which shows the icon from the next time you sign in to your computer. Until then, on Ubuntu, clicking the icon opens its menu, and double-clicking shows the window. On Fedora and Debian, the icon doesn’t appear until then, so Dew opens its window by itself when it starts.

4. Sign in

1. In Server URL, enter your Dew server’s address, for example https://files.example.com.
2. Click Sign In with Browser. Your browser opens your Dew server.
3. If you aren’t signed in to Dew in that browser, sign in.
4. On Pair this device?, check that you started this from the Dew desktop app, then click Confirm & connect.

The browser shows Connected! and you can close the tab. The Dew window now shows the upload view.

5. Check it worked

Drop a file onto the Dew window. When the upload finishes, Dew copies the link by default, so you can paste it into an email or chat. Your uploads are also listed under My links in the Dew web app.

Get the app to your team

• Send the download link: share getdew.io/download and your server’s address. People install the app and sign in with the same steps.
• Deploy it: install the app on managed computers with the server address filled in and locked. See Deploy and manage the desktop app.

If something goes wrong

What you see	What to do
Couldn't reach the server. Check the server address and your internet connection, then try again.	Check the Server URL for typos and that it starts with https://. Check that you can open the same address in your browser.
Couldn't sign in at this address. Check the server address and try again.	The address doesn’t point to a Dew server. Use the address you open Dew at in your browser. Administrators find it under Settings → Domains.
Couldn't open your browser to sign in. Try again.	Make sure you have a default browser set, then click Sign In with Browser again.
Sign-in timed out (5 minutes). Please try again.	Click Sign In with Browser again and finish signing in in the browser within 5 minutes.
The browser shows “This sign-in link has expired” or “This sign-in link isn’t valid”	Start again from the desktop app with Sign In with Browser.
Unrecognized certificate	Your server uses a certificate this computer doesn’t trust. Set up a trusted certificate in Set up a domain and HTTPS, or see Use a server with a private certificate.
You can’t find the Dew icon	On Windows, check the hidden icons next to the tray. On Linux with GNOME, sign out of your computer and back in to turn on Dew’s top bar extension.

For anything else, contact support@getdew.io.