How to install cue on Windows

Before you start

These are one-time installs. If you have used PowerShell before, you may have them already — the first step checks.

1. 1

   Install Git

   Run the installer, then reopen PowerShell.

   Open installer ↗

   You know this worked when: Git responds with a version number

2. 2

   Install Node LTS

   Run the LTS installer, then reopen PowerShell.

   Open download ↗

   You know this worked when: Node responds with a version number

Install cue

1. 3

   Open PowerShell

   Keep it open beside this page.

   You know this worked when: PowerShell is open

2. 4

   Check Git and Node

   Git and the current Node LTS are required.

   Type this into PowerShell, then press Enter.

   git --version
   node --version

   You know this worked when: Git and Node respond with version numbers

3. 5

   Copy cue to this PC

   Type this into PowerShell, then press Enter.

   cd ~
   if [ ! -d cue/.git ]; then
   git clone https://github.com/Blueturboguy07/cue.git
   fi

   You know this worked when: A cue folder appears

4. 6

   Open the cue folder

   If it says no such file or directory, the clone step above didn't run — do that one first.

   Type this into PowerShell, then press Enter.

   cd cue

   You know this worked when: Your terminal prompt is inside the cue folder

5. 7

   Use the reviewed version

   Type this into PowerShell, then press Enter.

   git checkout 90aa366ce27e8ae9f5b86f8cffa791338abdd9a2

   You know this worked when: Git reports the reviewed commit

6. 8

   Install dependencies

   Type this into PowerShell, then press Enter.

   npm.cmd ci

   You know this worked when: The command finishes without an error

7. 9

   Build the installer

   Type this into PowerShell, then press Enter.

   npm.cmd run dist:win

   You know this worked when: A cue Setup .exe appears in dist

8. 10

   Install cue

   The command runs the installer electron-builder just produced — click through it.

   Type this into PowerShell, then press Enter.

   $setup = Get-ChildItem dist -Filter *.exe | Select-Object -First 1
   Start-Process -FilePath $setup.FullName -Wait

   You know this worked when: The installer finishes

9. 11

   Open cue

   Launches cue from its default install location.

   Type this into PowerShell, then press Enter.

   Start-Process "$env:LOCALAPPDATA\Programs\cue\cue.exe"

   You know this worked when: cue launches from its normal system shortcut

10. 12

    Allow microphone access

    Approve it when Windows asks.

    You know this worked when: cue opens without a permission warning

11. 13

    Add your own AI key

    Open Settings from the ••• button, pick a provider, paste the key.

    You know this worked when: cue answers a test question

If something goes wrong

Nothing here can damage your computer, and every step can be run again safely. If a command fails, the usual cause is the step before it not having finished.

Still stuck? Tell us what happened and we will fix the guide. Include the step number and we can usually reproduce it.