Welcome to Nook
This guide will walk you through installing Nook, completing the initial setup, and starting your first browsing session.Install Nook
If you haven’t already installed Nook, download and install it now:Installation guide
Download the DMG or build from source
First launch
When you launch Nook for the first time, you’ll see an onboarding flow that helps configure your browser.Welcome screen
The first screen introduces you to Nook’s philosophy and design.Click Continue to proceed.
Import data (optional)
You can import bookmarks and history from:Select your browser and follow the import flow, or click Continue to skip.
- Arc Browser
- Safari
- Dia Browser
Importing is optional. You can skip this step and start fresh, or import data later from Settings.
Configure AI assistant
Nook includes a built-in AI chat assistant. Choose whether to enable it:
- Enabled: You’ll see a chat panel where you can ask questions and get help
- Disabled: The AI features are hidden
Enable ad blocking
Nook offers cross-site tracking protection to enhance privacy.
- Enabled: Blocks cross-site trackers
- Disabled: Standard WebKit behavior
Choose URL bar position
Select where you want the address bar:
- Sidebar (default): URL bar integrated into the sidebar for a unified navigation experience
- Top bar: Traditional top-aligned URL bar
If you later switch to horizontal tabs (top of window), the URL bar will automatically move to the top.
Pick a visual theme
Customize the sidebar appearance by selecting a material effect:
- Arc (hudWindow): Similar to Arc Browser’s aesthetic
- Sidebar: Standard macOS sidebar material
- Window Background: Subtle, minimal effect
- And many more options
Your first browsing session
The Nook interface is organized into these key areas:- Sidebar (left or right): Contains tabs organized into spaces and folders
- URL bar: Enter addresses or search queries
- Web content area: The active webpage
- Status bar (bottom): Shows link previews on hover
Open your first tab
Essential features
Create a space
Spaces help you organize tabs by context (work, personal, research, etc.).Use the command palette
The command palette provides keyboard-driven navigation.Search for tabs or history
Start typing to search:
- Tab names to switch tabs
- URLs to navigate to recent pages
- Commands to execute actions
Try split view
View two tabs side-by-side in the same window.Use profiles
Profiles provide isolated browsing contexts with separate cookies, history, and cache.Enable incognito mode
Incognito windows use non-persistent storage that’s destroyed when the window closes.Keyboard shortcuts
Nook is designed for keyboard-driven workflows. Here are essential shortcuts:| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| New tab | ⌘T |
| Close tab | ⌘W |
| Reopen closed tab | ⌘⇧T |
| Switch tabs | ⌘1-9 |
| Command palette | ⌘K |
| Spaces sidebar | ⌘E |
| New window | ⌘N |
| New incognito window | ⌘⇧N |
| Find in page | ⌘F |
| Settings | ⌘, |
| Back / Forward | ⌘[ / ⌘] |
| Reload | ⌘R |
Customize Nook
Open Settings (⌘,) to customize:- General: Search engine, sidebar position, tab layout
- Appearance: Visual materials, themes, UI density
- Privacy: Tracking protection, cookie management
- Profiles: Create and manage isolated browsing contexts
- Extensions: Install and configure browser extensions (macOS 15.4+)
- AI: Configure AI assistant providers and models
- Keyboard Shortcuts: Customize and view all shortcuts
Get help
If you encounter issues or have questions:GitHub Issues
Report bugs or request features
Discord Community
Ask questions and get support
Next steps
You’re now ready to explore Nook’s full feature set:- Learn about the manager-based architecture in the source code
- Explore extensions and how to build your own
- Contribute to the project on GitHub
- Join the community and share feedback