Install ThinkForge Desktop before connecting the Chrome extension or an AI client. Those connections need the desktop app to be running.
ThinkForge Desktop is available for Windows and Mac (Apple Silicon). Download the installer for your computer from ThinkForge Downloads. The installer steps below apply to Windows.
Install on Windows
Use Windows 10 or later on a computer that supports 64-bit Windows applications. Installation requires administrator permission. You do not need to install the .NET runtime separately.
- Run
ThinkForge-Setup-<version>.exe. - Accept the Windows permission prompt.
- Choose the installation options and complete setup.
- Launch Think Forge from the Start menu or the setup dialog.
The default installation folder is C:\Program Files\Think Forge. A desktop shortcut is optional and is not selected by default.
Choose where projects live
On a new installation, Welcome to Think Forge asks you to choose Your Projects Folder. Choose Move Projects..., select a writable folder, then choose Continue.
The default Windows location is Documents\Think Forge\Projects. Existing installations with settings or projects can skip this step.
You can change the location later under Settings → General. Change Default Location… selects another root without moving projects. Move All Local Projects… copies the current root and leaves the original in place. Restart ThinkForge after changing the location, then verify your projects. See Settings and Preferences.
Add the Chrome extension
The desktop companion extension is optional. ThinkForge shows its installed folder in the extension setup dialog; Copy Path copies that location.
Open chrome://extensions, enable Developer mode, choose Load unpacked, and select that folder. Keep ThinkForge running while using desktop-connected captures.
If you installed ThinkForge from the Microsoft Store, the folder is Documents\Think Forge\ThinkForgeExtension. ThinkForge keeps it up to date, so leave it in place.
For the full procedure, see Chrome Extension Installation.
Update ThinkForge
ThinkForge does not install updates itself. When a newer version is available, ThinkForge shows Update available after it starts. Choose Download to open the download page, or Not now to keep working.
Close ThinkForge and run the newer Windows installer over the existing installation. It replaces application files while keeping your settings and projects.
If you installed ThinkForge from the Microsoft Store, the Store updates it instead, and you won't see the update message.
If you use the bundled Chrome extension, reload it from chrome://extensions after updating so Chrome uses the new copy.
The installed version is shown under Help → About Think Forge.
Find and back up your data
On Windows, ThinkForge stores its application data under Documents\Think Forge. Projects use the location you selected; an external project stays in its original folder.
Back up each complete project folder. Include _captured, which contains quick notes and imports, and the hidden .fire folder if you want to preserve project settings and workspace state.
Tasks and clipboard history are stored separately from project folders. Include ThinkForge's application data in your backup to keep those too.
Deleting a document through ThinkForge normally sends it to the project's Trash. Trash is limited and does not replace a backup. See Projects and Documents.
Uninstall on Windows
Use the Think Forge uninstall entry or Windows application settings. Uninstall removes the application.
Your data under Documents\Think Forge is left in place. Reinstalling can use it again. External projects remain wherever you stored them.
Remove the Chrome extension separately from chrome://extensions.