# Windows: Detailed Install Guide

Install Nimbalyst on Windows, open a project, and connect Claude Agent or OpenAI Codex using a plan login or API key.

This guide takes you from the Windows installer to your first agent session. Download the current `.exe` from the [Nimbalyst download page](https://nimbalyst.com/download/).

## Install the App

1. Open the downloaded Nimbalyst installer.
2. Choose the installation options you want and finish setup.
3. Launch Nimbalyst from the Start menu or the shortcut you created.

<figure><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://nimbalyst.com/docs/assets/image-21.png" alt="The Windows installer showing Nimbalyst installation options"><figcaption><p>Choose the shortcuts you want, then continue through the installer.</p></figcaption></figure>

## Open a Project

A project is a folder on your PC. It can be a Git repository or any other folder containing the documents and files you want to work with.

1. On the Project Manager screen, choose **Open Folder** or **New Folder**.
2. Complete the welcome screen. Choose Standard Mode for a simpler writing workspace or Developer Mode for Git, terminal, and worktree features; you can change this later.
3. Use **Start tutorial** if you want a disposable example project, or **Get started…** to open your own folder.

<figure><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://nimbalyst.com/docs/assets/image-25.png" alt="Nimbalyst Project Manager for choosing or creating a project folder" width="563"><figcaption><p>Each project is backed by a folder on your filesystem.</p></figcaption></figure>

## Connect an Agent

The standard Claude Agent and OpenAI Codex integrations are included with Nimbalyst. You do not need to install Git for Windows or a separate CLI for either one.

1. Open **Settings > Application > AI Providers**.
2. Select **Claude Agent** or **OpenAI Codex** and enable it.
3. Authenticate with a supported subscription login, or choose the API-key option and enter your own key.
4. Return to the workspace, create a session, and select that provider in the composer.

Claude plan login opens a terminal for the OAuth flow and may ask you to type `/login`; return to Settings and click **Refresh** when authentication finishes. Codex plan login opens the ChatGPT sign-in flow in your browser.

<div class="docs-hint docs-hint-info" role="note">

Git for Windows is still useful for Git repositories and is required by some optional CLI-based providers, but it is not required for Nimbalyst's standard bundled Claude Agent or Codex integrations. See [AI Provider Setup](https://nimbalyst.com/docs/setup-nimbalyst/ai-provider-setup-and-notifications/).

</div>

## Windows Spellchecker

Nimbalyst uses Electron's Windows spellchecker, which defaults to English. You can turn it off in Settings.

## Start Working

Type a request in the agent panel. The agent can research, write and edit files, build mockups and diagrams, and work with the project context that you give it. You review file changes in Nimbalyst before accepting them.