This guide will get you up and running with Dayflow quickly. You’ll go from download to seeing your first automatic timeline in just a few steps.Documentation Index
Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://mintlify.com/JerryZLiu/Dayflow/llms.txt
Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
Download Dayflow
Download the latest
Dayflow.dmg from GitHub Releases:Download Dayflow.dmgAlternatively, install via Homebrew:Install and Grant Permissions
- Open
Dayflow.dmgand drag Dayflow to your Applications folder - Launch Dayflow from Applications
- When prompted, grant Screen & System Audio Recording permissions
- Open System Settings → Privacy & Security
- Select Screen & System Audio Recording
- Enable the checkbox next to Dayflow
You may need to restart Dayflow after granting permissions for them to take effect.
Choose Your AI Provider
Dayflow supports three AI processing options:Gemini (Recommended for most users)
- Get a free API key from Google AI Studio
- Most efficient: only 2 LLM calls per timeline segment
- Enter your API key in Dayflow settings
- Install Ollama or LM Studio
- All processing happens on your Mac - nothing leaves your device
- Requires more power and uses ~33+ LLM calls per segment
- Best when plugged in due to GPU usage
- Requires paid subscription: ChatGPT Plus/Pro (20/month)
- Install Codex CLI for ChatGPT or Claude Code for Claude
- Uses 4-6 LLM calls per segment
- Best-in-class narrative quality with frontier reasoning models
You can change your AI provider at any time in settings. Your historical timeline data is preserved.
Start Recording
- Click the Dayflow icon in your menu bar
- Select Start Recording
- Go about your day normally
- Dayflow will automatically capture and analyze your screen activity
Your recordings are stored locally at
~/Library/Application Support/Dayflow/recordings/. You can access them anytime from the Dayflow menu bar icon → Open Recordings.What’s Next?
- View your timeline - Open Dayflow to see your automatically generated activity timeline
- Export as Markdown - Share your timeline by exporting any date range
- Watch timelapses - Review your day as a visual timelapse
- Set up automation - Use URL schemes to start/stop recording from Shortcuts
Troubleshooting
Screen capture is blank or fails Check System Settings → Privacy & Security → Screen & System Audio Recording and ensure Dayflow is enabled. You may need to remove and re-add the permission. API errors with Gemini Verify yourGEMINI_API_KEY in settings and check your network connectivity. Ensure your API key is active at Google AI Studio.
Local models not working
Make sure Ollama or LM Studio is running and accessible. Check that you’ve downloaded the required model and the local server is active.