Getting Started with the Desktop App
Follow these 5 steps to install the Desktop App, set up your vault, and process your first document.
Download the Desktop App
Choose the version for your operating system. Windows is fully supported. macOS and Linux builds are in development.
Which version should I download?
- Installer (.exe): Recommended for most users. Installs to Program Files, supports auto-updates.
- MSI: For enterprise deployments and IT administrators.
- Portable (.zip): No installation required. Run from anywhere — USB drive, network share, or restricted PC.
Install the Application
Windows Installer (.exe)
- Double-click the downloaded .exe file
- If prompted by Windows SmartScreen, click 'More info' then 'Run anyway'
- Accept the license agreement and follow the installer prompts
- Click 'Finish' and launch anonym.legal from the Start Menu or Desktop
Portable (.zip)
- Extract the .zip file to any folder
- Double-click to launch
anonym.legal.exe - No installation required — settings are saved in the same folder
Create Your Vault
The vault secures your encryption keys and app settings using military-grade cryptography.
Generate your 24-word recovery phrase
anonym.legal generates a unique BIP39 mnemonic phrase for you. This phrase is the master key to your vault.
This phrase cannot be recovered if lost. Write it on paper and store it safely. We do not have access to it.
Verify the recovery phrase
You will be asked to confirm a few words from your phrase to ensure you have recorded it correctly.
Set a PIN
Choose a 6-digit PIN for quick day-to-day access. The PIN is derived using Argon2id and never stored in plain text.
Sign In to Your Account
Link the Desktop App to your anonym.legal account to sync your presets, custom entities, and encryption keys.
Browser-based authentication
- Click 'Sign In' in the Desktop App
- Your default browser will open with the anonym.legal login page
- Sign in with your email and password
- The browser will redirect to a local authentication handler
- The Desktop App confirms the login — you are in!
No account yet?
Create a free account to get started. Free accounts include 200 tokens to test the platform.
Process Your First File
You are ready! Here is how to anonymize your first document.
Open a file
Click 'Open File' or drag-and-drop a PDF, DOCX, XLSX, TXT, CSV, JSON, or XML file.
Select a preset
Choose a preset (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA) to detect the right entity types for your use case.
Analyze
Click 'Analyze' to detect PII in your document. Review the highlighted entities.
Anonymize
Select an anonymization method and click 'Anonymize' to replace detected PII.
Save the result
Save the anonymized document to your chosen location. The original file is never modified.