Desktop App
OpenReader Desktop is the full OpenReader reader packaged as one app for macOS, Windows, and Linux. You get the same read-along playback, word highlighting, PDF layout analysis, and audiobook export as a server install. There is no Docker, server, or account to set up.
Download OpenReader Desktop. The download page picks the right installer for your computer and lists past versions.
Platforms
| Platform | Installers | Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| macOS | .dmg for Apple silicon (signed and notarized) | macOS 12 or later |
| Windows | .exe for x64 and Arm | Windows 10 or later |
| Linux | AppImage and .deb for x86-64 and ARM64 | Most distributions; .deb for Debian and Ubuntu |
Windows and Linux installers are not code-signed, so Windows SmartScreen may ask you to confirm the first launch. Intel Macs have no build; use Docker Compose instead.
Every installer is also attached to its GitHub release.
What is inside
The app runs the same runtime as the slim Docker image: the Next.js app, the embedded compute worker, NATS, SeaweedFS, SQLite, and FFmpeg. Everything listens only on 127.0.0.1, on ports chosen when the app starts, so it can run beside a development stack or a Docker install.
You are signed in automatically as the app's only owner. There are no passwords, user management, or sign-up settings.
Voices
A fresh install is set up with Kokoro (local), which runs Kokoro-82M on your computer with no API key. On first launch, the app asks you to either download its voices (about 336 MB) or set up a voice service. You can keep reading while the voices download. To remove the voices later, or download them again, use the Kokoro card in Settings → Providers.
Kokoro (local) is English only. For other languages or voices, add a cloud provider or a self-hosted server in the same place; see TTS Providers.
Opening documents
- File → Open… (Cmd+O or Ctrl+O) opens PDF, EPUB, TXT, Markdown, and DOCX files.
- Drag files from your file manager onto the library.
- The app registers itself for
.epuband offers itself for.pdf, so you can use Open With. On Linux, the.debregisters these file types; an AppImage does not unless you integrate it.
DOCX conversion needs LibreOffice, which is not bundled. Install it in its standard location and the app finds it.
Updates
The app checks GitHub Releases for new versions and downloads them in the background. Restart to update appears in the library sidebar once one is ready; otherwise it installs the next time you quit. You can also choose Check for updates in Settings or the application menu.
To turn off automatic updates, go to Settings → Instance → Desktop app. An update check sends nothing about your library.
On Linux, a .deb update asks for your password. An AppImage moved to a read-only location cannot update itself.
Your data
Your library, settings, generated audio, and voice models are stored in the app's data folder (OpenReader in your system's application data folder). Settings → Library and storage → Show data folder opens it. Settings → Maintenance → Open logs folder opens the logs, which are useful when reporting a problem.
Uninstalling the app leaves this folder in place, so reinstalling keeps your library.
What the app sends over the network, and when, is in the desktop privacy policy.
Native iPhone, iPad, and Mac app
OpenReader for iPhone, iPad, and Mac is a separate Swift app with on-device voices. It is in beta on TestFlight. It is a different product from OpenReader Desktop and does not share its library.