Install

Get the installer from GitHub releases. File names look like PlayPets_version_os.extension.

macOS and Windows may warn before opening

The release files are not code-signed yet, and the macOS app is not notarized. Gatekeeper or SmartScreen may warn or block opening it. These checks do not establish that the file is safe; only continue if you trust the download from the official release page. The available controls depend on your operating system and device policy. Signing is planned.

macOS since 0.1.0

File	For
PlayPets_version_macos-universal.dmg	Both Apple Silicon and Intel

1. Open the dmg and drag PlayPets into the Applications folder.
2. Try opening PlayPets. If macOS reports an unidentified developer or says it cannot verify the app, close the alert.
3. Go to System Settings > Privacy & Security. Look for the note about PlayPets and Open Anyway.
4. If that option is available and you trust the download, click Open Anyway, authenticate if asked, then click Open in the next alert. macOS saves an exception for the app.

These steps follow Apple's guide to safely opening apps. If macOS says the app will damage your computer, do not treat that as an unidentified-developer warning. Managed devices may restrict opening apps.

Windows since 0.1.0

File	For
PlayPets_version_windows-x64-setup.exe	Installer for regular PCs (x64)
PlayPets_version_windows-arm64-setup.exe	Installer for ARM PCs
PlayPets_version_windows-x64-portable.zip, …_windows-arm64-portable.zip	Unzip and run, no installation

1. Run the installer. If SmartScreen shows "Windows protected your PC" for an unrecognized app, check that the file came from the official release page.
2. If you trust the download, select More info to see the available options.
3. If Run anyway is available, select it to continue with the installer. If it is unavailable, your device's security settings or organization policy may prevent continuation.
4. Choose English, Korean, Japanese or Simplified Chinese in the language dialog, then follow the installation steps.

For the portable zip, unzip it into any folder and run playpets.exe. The same unrecognized-app warning may appear. SmartScreen evaluates file and publisher reputation, so a new version can warn again. See Microsoft's explanation of SmartScreen reputation. Keep the protections enabled; a malware warning is a different case from an unrecognized-app warning.

On an ARM PC (Snapdragon and the like), use the arm64 file. The x64 one runs there too, through emulation, but its installer and uninstaller cannot close a running PlayPets for you: quit it from the tray first.

TIP

The Windows build was checked in a virtual machine, but has not been tested enough on real machines yet. If something looks wrong, let us know in a GitHub issue.

Linux since 0.1.0

File	For
PlayPets_version_linux-x64.deb, …_linux-arm64.deb	Debian and Ubuntu family
PlayPets_version_linux-x64.AppImage, …_linux-arm64.AppImage	Compatible Linux distributions

Install the deb with your package manager. For the AppImage, make it executable and run it.

chmod +x PlayPets_*.AppImage
./PlayPets_*.AppImage

Good to know on Linux

• The AppImage needs FUSE 2. On Ubuntu 22.04, install it with sudo apt install libfuse2; on Ubuntu 24.04, the renamed package is sudo apt install libfuse2t64. See the AppImage FUSE guide for your distribution. Without FUSE, start it with ./PlayPets_*.AppImage --appimage-extract-and-run.
• Closing the window leaves the app in the tray. GNOME hides tray icons unless the "AppIndicator and KStatusNotifierItem Support" extension is on. Even without the icon, starting the app again brings the yard back.
• API keys go to the Secret Service (GNOME Keyring, KWallet). Without one, saving a connection that needs a key shows a message that the secure store cannot be reached. Ollama and the subscription CLIs need no key.

Updates since 0.1.0

• Check now with Check for updates under About PlayPets in the Settings tab, Check for updates… in the tray menu, or PlayPets → Check for Updates… in the macOS menu bar.
• The new-version button appears at the far left of the yard controls, before the place selector. A dot also appears on Settings inside Menu. The button opens the update window: What’s new, Later or Install and restart. Download progress, signature verification and installation appear in that window; a failed attempt can be retried there. After a successful restart, a brief notice confirms the installed version.
• 20 seconds after the app starts, it checks once quietly. If there is a new version, a notice appears and you can install it from the Settings tab.
• New versions are found through latest.json in GitHub releases. A downloaded file is installed only after it is verified with the update signing key. A file that fails verification is not installed.
• The Windows portable zip is not covered by automatic updates. Download the new zip and replace it.

Uninstall

Operating system	How
macOS	Move PlayPets from the Applications folder to the Trash
Windows installer	Remove PlayPets in Settings > Apps
Windows portable	Delete the folder you unzipped
Linux deb	Remove it with the package manager you installed it with
Linux AppImage	Delete the file

The data folder below stays after you remove the app. To remove the settings and imported pets too, delete the data folder as well.

Data folder since 0.1.0

Operating system	Location
macOS	~/Library/Application Support/app.playpets/
Windows	%APPDATA%\app.playpets\
Linux	~/.local/share/app.playpets/

Inside are state.json (friends and settings), bridge.json (the port and token for agent hooks), pets/ (imported pets) and builtin/ (the three starter pets). To keep it somewhere else, put a folder path in the PLAYPETS_DATA environment variable and start the app. See Settings for details.