Getting started
Install Prequel
Download the app, open it once, and find it in the menu bar.
What you need
Prequel runs on Apple Silicon Macs with macOS 14 or newer. There is no Intel build and no Windows build.
Download and open
- Download the disk image from prequel.sh/download.
- Open it and drag Prequel to your Applications folder.
- Open Prequel from Applications.
The first launch opens a short welcome window. It walks you through the permissions macOS needs, offers to sign you in so you can share recordings, and shows the shortcut that starts a take. You can skip the sign in and come back to it later.
Where the app lives
Prequel has no Dock icon and no window until you ask for one. It lives in the menu bar. Click the icon to open the recording dock; right-click it for the menu.
Because there is no Dock icon, the menu bar is also how you quit: right-click the icon and choose Quit Prequel.
Staying up to date
Prequel checks for updates itself and installs them when you relaunch. The dock shows an Update pill when one is waiting. You can also check by hand from the menu bar with Check for Updates…, or from the foot of the Settings pane.
Next
Permissions explains the four grants macOS asks for and what each one is for.
Frequently asked questions
- Does Prequel run on an Intel Mac?
- No. Prequel is built for Apple Silicon and needs macOS 14 or newer. There is no Intel build and no Windows build.
- Where is the app? There is no Dock icon.
- Prequel lives in the menu bar. Click its icon to open the recording dock, or right-click it for the menu. It has no Dock icon by design, and the menu bar is also where you quit.
- How do I update Prequel?
- It updates itself. The dock shows an Update pill when a new version is waiting, and it installs when you relaunch. You can also choose Check for Updates from the menu bar or from the foot of Settings.