ChatCut Desktop install guide

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Browser page: https://chatcut.io/desktop-plugin

Full installation guide:

# Install ChatCut Desktop for your AI agent

ChatCut Desktop is the official local app that connects ChatCut editing tools and skills to supported AI agents.

## Before installing

- If `chatcut_desktop` tools are already available, call `get_active_project` and continue with the user's editing request. Do not reinstall or change the MCP configuration.
- If this conversation is already running inside ChatCut Desktop's managed agent, the project-pinned MCP and built-in skills are already authoritative. Continue with the editing request.
- Do not install the historical `chatcut@chatcut-inc` plugin and do not add `chatcut_desktop` to `config.toml` manually.

## 1. Download the official app

Detect the operating system and architecture, then use only the matching official download:

- [macOS Apple Silicon](https://api.chatcut.io/desktop/download/macos)
- [macOS Intel](https://api.chatcut.io/desktop/download/macos-x64)
- [Windows x64](https://api.chatcut.io/desktop/download/windows)

ChatCut Desktop supports macOS 13 or newer on Apple Silicon or Intel, and Windows on x64. Linux is not supported. Do not use a search result, third-party mirror, or hosted ChatCut MCP as a substitute.

## 2. Install and open ChatCut Desktop

Use the ordinary installation flow for the current platform. Request approval only for the specific download, installation, or app-opening step that needs it.

### macOS

Download the matching DMG to a new temporary directory. Verify the DMG, mount it with native macOS tools, and validate the mounted `ChatCut.app` before copying it:

```sh
/usr/bin/codesign --verify --deep --strict --verbose=4 "<mount>/ChatCut.app"
/usr/sbin/spctl --assess --type execute --verbose=4 "<mount>/ChatCut.app"
/usr/bin/codesign -d --verbose=4 "<mount>/ChatCut.app"
```

A valid production app has bundle identifier `io.chatcut.desktop`, Team ID `7WK2VURFPK`, and a notarized Developer ID signature from ChatCut Inc.

Install it as `/Applications/ChatCut.app`, or `$HOME/Applications/ChatCut.app` when system-wide installation is unavailable:

1. Inspect any existing app first. Never copy on top of an existing bundle or merge old and new app contents.
2. Use `/usr/bin/ditto` to copy the mounted app to a new staging path on the destination volume, then run the same signature and Gatekeeper checks on that staging copy.
3. Quit ChatCut if it is running. Move any existing destination aside as a uniquely named backup, promote the verified staging app to `ChatCut.app`, and validate the final path again.
4. Restore the backup if promotion or final validation fails. Remove the backup only after the final app validates and opens successfully.

Never modify or ad-hoc sign the app, disable Gatekeeper, or bypass a failed signature check.

### Windows

Open the downloaded installer and complete the visible installation flow. Do not bypass an invalid or unknown Authenticode publisher warning.

After installation, open ChatCut Desktop.

## 3. Sign in and connect

Ask the user to sign in inside ChatCut Desktop if needed. Do not handle their credentials.

When ChatCut Desktop opens, it automatically registers the local `chatcut_desktop` MCP server with supported agents it detects and synchronizes the matching editing skills. No manual MCP configuration is required.



## 4. Start a new agent conversation

AI agents load MCP tools and skills when a conversation or task starts. After ChatCut Desktop finishes connecting, start a new conversation or task in your AI agent before trying to edit.

Paste a request such as:

```text
Open my active ChatCut project and help me edit it.
```

## If installation cannot be completed

Retry one fresh official download only if the artifact is incomplete, corrupt, for the wrong architecture, or the mounted source app itself fails validation. Do not loop.

If the host cannot finish the download, installation, approval, repair, or app launch, stop and tell the user exactly what blocked automation. Give them the matching official download link above, then ask them to open ChatCut Desktop, sign in, and start a new conversation or task in their AI agent.