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Install Guide

CouncilAI for Windows

CouncilAI is currently in beta and has not yet been code signed. This means Windows will show a security warning when you download and run the installer. This is expected and safe to bypass — here's how.

CouncilAI runs entirely on your own hardware after setup. No data leaves your device, no internet connection is required after the initial model download, and no accounts are needed. The warning is purely because the installer isn't yet code signed — not because of anything the app does.

Step 1 — Download

Click the download button on the Gumroad page. Microsoft Edge or Chrome may show a warning saying the file "isn't commonly downloaded." Click Keep or Keep anyway to proceed.

Step 2 — Run the installer

When you double-click CouncilAI_Setup.exe, Windows SmartScreen may appear with "Windows protected your PC." Follow these steps:

1️⃣

Click "More info"

This appears as a small link below the main warning text. Clicking it reveals additional options.

2️⃣

Click "Run anyway"

A "Run anyway" button will appear at the bottom of the dialog. Click it to launch the installer.

3️⃣

CouncilAI launches

The app will start, detect your hardware, and walk you through downloading the right AI models for your machine.

Why does this happen?

Windows SmartScreen builds trust for applications based on how many times they've been downloaded and whether they're code signed with a verified certificate. CouncilAI is a new beta app and hasn't yet accumulated enough download history. Code signing will be added before the full release, which will remove this warning entirely.

System requirements

Questions?

Email contact@councilai.ca if you run into any issues during installation.