Desktop app setup — first-time configuration

After you install the desktop app (install guide) and launch it, you sign in once. Then, each time you start a session, a short setup wizard tells the AI about the call before the live overlay opens. The desktop app runs on Windows and Mac.

Sign in

In the video: 0:00

Two ways:

1-Click Magic Login (quickest):

• Click 1-Click Magic Login and your browser opens
• Sign in there with Google or your email
• When the page says Desktop app signed in, go back to the app. It picks up the sign-in by itself.

Sign in with email:

• Your email and password, right in the app
• If you signed up with Google, first set a password on the web app, or use Magic Login

The first time, the app offers a one-minute practice run on the real toolbar (0:25). Nothing you say is saved.

The setup wizard

In the video: 1:31

The app's home is where every session starts: setups you saved show up there for a one-click start, and the gear has your settings, updates and Devices & Sessions. For a new setup, each step is one question. Skip what you don't have; more context gives better answers.

Step	What you pick
Session type	Interview, or Regular Call for any other kind of call (details)
Role	The job title, or paste the job post link and it fills things in for you
Company	Which company you're interviewing at
Job description	Paste it, so answers match what the job asks for (optional, but the biggest help)
Resume	Your main resume is already picked; choose another here (upload one)
AI model	Which model writes your answers (Model picker), and a session name if you like
Language	The language the interview will be in, so transcription listens for it
Speaker	Which speaker plays your call. Auto follows whichever speaker is playing (recommended). Test speaker and Test microphone check both right there
Instructions	Anything special the AI should know (Regular Calls pick a call template here)

Last, pick how your answers look and how big, keep Save as a template on so next time it's one click, and hit Start Session: the toolbar pops up over your call.

How the app hears the interviewer

On Windows the app listens to your computer's sound output directly (WASAPI loopback — built into Windows, no driver install). That's how it hears the interviewer through Zoom / Meet / Teams, while your microphone gives it your side.

If the AI can't hear the interviewer:

• Speaker step — pick the device your call actually plays through, or leave it on Auto
• Audio routing — make sure the call is playing through that device (some Bluetooth headsets don't support loopback)
• Logs — %APPDATA%\InterviewChamp\logs\main.log shows what the app captured

Microphone

If the app can't hear you:

• Wrong mic — the app listens to Windows' default microphone. Set the one you want as the default in Windows Sound settings, then check it with Test microphone on the setup's Speaker step
• Muted at the OS level — check Windows Sound settings
• Permission denied — Windows Settings → Privacy → Microphone → allow it for InterviewChamp

Common questions

Q: I signed in but the desktop app says "Not signed in." A: Quit the app fully and relaunch it. If it's still stuck, sign out and sign in again.

Q: Setup window is blank / white. A: Quit fully + relaunch. If it persists, check %APPDATA%\InterviewChamp\logs\ and message support with the log attached.

Q: I want to use a different mic mid-interview. A: The app uses Windows' default microphone, so set the mic you want as the default in Windows Sound settings, ideally before the session starts.

Q: Is there a Mac version? A: Yes. Install it from the download page (macOS 13 or later, Apple silicon or Intel; steps in the install guide). Setup is the same, with two differences: macOS asks for your microphone permission before the toolbar opens, and the speaker step is a short sound check instead.

Still stuck?

Help & how-tos → Contact us with category "Something is broken" + attach %APPDATA%\InterviewChamp\logs\main.log.