Get running in four steps
No setup wizard. The whole app lives in one folder you control.
Unzip the folder
Right-click Scribwolf-Portable.zip and choose Extract All. Put the folder anywhere you like - Desktop, Documents, or a USB drive.
Run Scribwolf.exe
Open the folder and double-click Scribwolf.exe. There is nothing to install and no admin rights are required.
Keep the folder
Your recordings, transcripts, and settings live inside the folder's data directory. Move or back up the whole folder to keep your data.
Update later
To update, double-click Update Scribwolf.bat inside the folder - it downloads the latest version and keeps all your data. Or come back here and download the new zip.
Before you run it
Honest answers to the questions Windows will raise.
Windows shows "Windows protected your PC" — why, and what should I do?
Scribwolf is new independent software and is not yet code-signed with an EV certificate, so Windows SmartScreen flags it on first run based on reputation, not a malware scan result. Click More info, then Run anyway only after you've verified the SHA-256 checksum above matches. The prompt goes away once the release builds enough download history or is code-signed.
Chrome says "This file isn't commonly downloaded and it may be dangerous" — why, and what should I do?
Chrome or Windows may warn because this portable app is new and unsigned — this is a reputation warning based on download volume and code-signing, not a virus scan result. Verify the SHA-256 checksum above before running. Click the arrow next to the warning and choose Download suspicious file (or Keep in the downloads bar) once you've confirmed the checksum matches. This warning goes away once the release is code-signed and has enough download history.
Will Microsoft Defender scan or quarantine it?
Defender may scan the exe after download — that is normal behaviour for any newly downloaded executable. If Defender moves it to quarantine, you can restore it from the Defender interface and add an exclusion for the Scribwolf folder. This is a common step for independent portable software that is not yet widely known to Windows reputation systems.
What system permissions does Scribwolf need?
Scribwolf needs access to your microphone (to record your voice) and system audio (to capture the other side of a call). It reads and writes files only inside its own folder. It does not require admin rights, does not install system services, and does not write to the Windows registry.
Do I need to create an account?
You don't need an account to download Scribwolf — the file above is free and open to anyone. To use the app, you do need a free account, created the first time you run it. It takes seconds and never asks for a credit card. Your meeting audio still never leaves your device on Free and Pro — the account just identifies your install; it doesn't upload your recordings.
Can I run it from a USB drive or external folder?
Yes. The portable build is truly self-contained. Put the folder anywhere — a USB drive, a network share, or an encrypted drive — and it will run. Your recordings and transcripts travel with the folder. There is nothing installed to the Windows system.
System requirements
Windows 10 or 11
64-bit Windows. The portable build runs without an installer.
8 GB RAM
Minimum for smooth local transcription. A GPU helps but is not required.
Disk space
About 250 MB to 3 GB for the models you choose, downloaded once on first use.
Private by default
Audio never leaves your machine on Free and Pro. Cloud sync is optional.