Desktop app (Windows)

The Hapbeat Studio desktop app is a Windows app that shows Studio (web) with the Helper built in. No Python, pipx or command line is needed.

	Desktop app	Web version
What you need	The app only	Chrome / Edge and the Helper (Python, pipx)
OS	Windows 10 / 11	Windows / macOS
Opening without a network	Opens the version it saved last	Not possible

Requirements

Windows 10 / 11 (64-bit)
An internet connection (to load the latest version and updates; without one, the app opens the version it saved last)
The PC on the same 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi as the Hapbeat
For initial setup and firmware writing, a USB-C cable that carries data (not charge-only)

Install

Get HapbeatStudio-Setup-<ver>.exe from the download page and run it. It installs for the current user and starts (no administrator rights).
Next time, start “Hapbeat Studio” from the desktop or the Start menu.

Prompts on the first run

“Windows protected your PC”: shown because the app is not code-signed. Choose More info → Run anyway.
Windows Firewall: choose Allow access. Otherwise devices on the Wi-Fi cannot be found.
The app does not start (Smart App Control): on Windows 11 PCs where Smart App Control is on, unsigned apps cannot run. Turn it off in Windows Security → App & browser control → Smart App Control settings.

Differences from the web version

Every tab works the same as in the web version. The differences are:

Tabs shown: Kit, UI and Manage. Turn on “Show all features” in the panel opened from “Connection” at the top right to add the editor and scene tabs.
“Connection” at the top right: where the web version shows “Helper”. It opens the app panel: built-in Helper status, Restart Helper, Open the log folder, Reset device discovery, Check for updates and the display switch.
USB: with a single Hapbeat on USB, the port is chosen without a chooser. A port chosen once stays usable after restarting the app.

Updates

Studio screens: loaded from the internet at every launch. When a new version comes out while the app is open, “Reload to update” appears at the bottom right (nothing changes until you press it).
The app itself (with the built-in Helper): checks for a new version at launch, downloads it in the background and then shows “Restart and update”. If you choose Later, it updates the next time you close the app.

Offline

Without an internet connection the app opens the version saved at the last online launch (the version in the installer the first time) and says so at launch. Offline, these are not available:

Studio and app updates
The firmware list (firmware updates over Wi-Fi or USB)

About the Helper

The built-in Helper runs while the app runs and stops when the app closes.
It uses a fixed local port (7703), so while the app runs, Studio opened in a browser on the same PC works too.
On a PC where a Helper installed with pipx is already running, the app uses that one (the panel says it uses a separately installed Helper). To switch to the built-in Helper, run hapbeat-helper stop in a terminal; the built-in Helper takes over within seconds.

Troubleshooting

Symptom	What to do
Devices do not appear	Check that the PC and the Hapbeat are on the same 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi. If you did not allow the firewall prompt, allow `hapbeat-helper` in the Windows settings. Also try Reset device discovery in the panel.
”Connection” at the top right is red	Open the panel and press Restart Helper. If that does not help, check `helper.log` via Open the log folder.
A USB connection is not recognised	Use a cable that carries data, not a charge-only one. Try another USB port.
The app does not start	See Smart App Control above.

Logs are in %APPDATA%\Hapbeat Studio\logs. Attach that folder when you contact us.

Uninstall

Uninstall “Hapbeat Studio” from Windows Settings → Apps → Installed apps. Work folders where you saved kits are not deleted.

OS

Windows only. On macOS, use Studio (web) with the Helper.