Installation Guide — Windows & macOS

Installation & Upgrades

This guide covers how to install PhraseVault® on Windows and macOS, what to expect on first launch, and where your data is stored. The whole process takes about two minutes.

System Requirements

  • Windows: Windows 10 or later (64-bit)
  • macOS: macOS 12 (Monterey) or later, Apple Silicon

Windows Installation

There are three ways to install PhraseVault on Windows. Pick whichever suits you.

Direct Download (recommended)

  1. Download the installer — the file is called PhraseVault-Setup-{version}.exe.
  2. Double-click the downloaded file to run it.
  3. If Windows SmartScreen shows a warning, click More info, then Run anyway. This happens because PhraseVault is from an independent developer — the app is safe. See the SmartScreen guide for details.
  4. The installer finishes in a few seconds. PhraseVault is now in your Start Menu.

The direct download installs to your user profile (%LOCALAPPDATA%\PhraseVault\), so no administrator rights are needed.

Microsoft Store

  1. Open the PhraseVault page in the Microsoft Store.
  2. Click Get or Install.
  3. Launch PhraseVault from the Start Menu once the install completes.

The Store version avoids SmartScreen warnings entirely, and updates are handled automatically.

Winget (command line)

If you prefer the terminal, open PowerShell or Command Prompt and run:

winget install ptmrio.phrasevault

For silent installation (useful for deployment scripts), add the --silent flag.

Upgrading from v2.2.2 or Earlier

If you are updating from PhraseVault v2.2.2 or an earlier version, uninstall the old version first — the installer technology changed (from NSIS to Velopack), so the new installer cannot update in place. Uninstalling does not delete your phrases or settings. They remain in your data folder and the new version picks them up automatically.

macOS Installation

  1. Download the .pkg installer.
  2. Double-click the downloaded file and follow the on-screen steps.
  3. PhraseVault installs to /Applications/. The installer is signed and notarized with an Apple Developer ID, so macOS will not block it.
  4. Open PhraseVault from Applications, Spotlight, or Launchpad.

Grant Accessibility Permission (required)

On first launch, macOS will ask you to grant PhraseVault accessibility access. This step is required — without it, PhraseVault cannot detect the global hotkey or insert text into other applications.

  1. Open System Settings > Privacy & Security > Accessibility.
  2. Find PhraseVault in the list and toggle it on.
  3. If PhraseVault was already running, restart it.

This is a standard macOS requirement for any app that interacts with other applications (text expanders, clipboard managers, automation tools). PhraseVault uses this permission only to paste phrases into your active app.

For a full walkthrough and troubleshooting, see the macOS guide.

What to Expect on First Launch

Once installed, here is what happens when you open PhraseVault for the first time:

  1. License agreement — read and accept to continue.
  2. 14-day free trial starts automatically — no account, no activation key, no credit card. Every feature is available during the trial.
  3. PhraseVault minimizes to the system tray (Windows) or menu bar (macOS). It runs in the background so it is always ready when you need it.
  4. Autostart is enabled by default — PhraseVault will launch automatically when you log in. You can change this in Settings if you prefer to start it manually.

To open the PhraseVault window at any time, press:

  • Windows: Ctrl + .
  • macOS: Cmd + .

This keyboard shortcut works from any application. Start typing to search your phrases, use the arrow keys to navigate, and press Enter to paste. For a full walkthrough, see How to Use PhraseVault.

Where Your Data Is Stored

PhraseVault stores all data locally in a single SQLite file. Nothing is uploaded to any server — your phrases stay on your machine.

The default database location is:

  • Windows: %LOCALAPPDATA%\PhraseVault\phrasevault.sqlite
  • macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/PhraseVault/phrasevault.sqlite

You can move the database to any location via Settings — for example, to a Dropbox, OneDrive, or Google Drive folder to keep your phrases in sync across multiple computers.

This file contains all your phrases and settings. Back it up like any other important file. If you move to a new computer, copy this file to the same location on the new machine (or point PhraseVault to it in Settings) and it will pick up right where you left off.

Next Steps

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