Setup guide · updated 12 Nov 2026
Atticus: your own Jarvis on Mac, set up step by step
Atticus is a free, open-source (MIT) voice assistant for Mac. Hold ⌃ Control + ⌥ Option + Space, say what you need, let go. It opens apps, moves windows, finds files, reads your screen and writes replies.
Read this first
Mac only (macOS 26). It needs an AI to think with: Claude Code on a Claude plan (paid), Devin, Pi, or a local model (free). Simple commands like "open Spotify" run instantly with no AI at all. On Windows there is a separate community version (link below).
01Install
Option A: one command
Open Terminal and run the command from the project's README:
curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/SaarthurR/atticus-mac/main/install.sh | bash
Option B: let Claude Code do it
In Claude Code, paste the repo link and ask:
https://github.com/SaarthurR/atticus-mac set this up on my machine
Read what it wants to run before you approve each step.
02Finish the setup window
- Pick your AI: sign in to Claude, or choose Devin, Pi or a local model.
- Allow Microphone and Accessibility when macOS asks (System Settings → Privacy & Security). Atticus can't move windows or type without them.
03Hold, talk, let go
Hold ⌃ ⌥ Space and try:
- "Open Spotify" · "Terminal on the left"
- "Put Chrome next to Spotify"
- "Find my notes about the Tokyo trip"
- "What's on my screen?" · "Where do I click?"
- Open an email, then: "Reply to this. Thursday works." It writes the reply at your cursor and never sends it.
- "Remember that I like dark mode" (it keeps your preferences)
Extras: hold fn to dictate into any text field, or turn on a wake word in Settings → General.
04Safety and privacy
- Deletes, sends and purchases ask you first; risky commands like
rm and sudo are blocked.
- Your voice is processed on your Mac. Requests that go to Claude use your Claude plan's usage.
- It updates itself by default, and you can turn off the daily anonymous usage ping in settings.
05If something goes wrong
- Nothing happens when you hold the keys: check Accessibility and Microphone permissions, then restart Atticus.
- Install fails: make sure you're on macOS 26 and have Apple's command line tools (
xcode-select --install).
- Smart requests don't work: your AI client isn't connected. Open settings and sign in to Claude or pick a local model.