> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.pidgeon.health/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Get started with Pidgeon (the launcher)

> One sign-in, one place to see which Pidgeon apps are installed, what version they're on, and what your account includes.

Pidgeon is the launcher app: one sign-in and a single grid showing all four products (Post, Flock, Loft, Migrate), whether each is installed, what your account entitles you to, and a button to open each one. You don't need it to use any individual app, but it's the fastest way to see everything at once.

## Before you start

* [Install Pidgeon](/getting-started/install-windows) (or on [macOS](/getting-started/install-macos)).

## One loop: sign in, see your products, launch one

<Steps>
  <Step title="Sign in">
    Launch Pidgeon and sign in with your Pidgeon account. The launcher requires sign-in; there is no anonymous mode here (Post is the app that works without an account).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Read the product grid">
    The **Products** view shows a card per product. Each card carries:

    * Installation status: **Installed**, **Not installed**, or **Checking…** while it resolves
    * An entitlement badge showing what your account includes for that product
    * **Open** when the app is installed and entitled
  </Step>

  <Step title="Launch an app">
    Click **Open** on an installed product, or press <kbd>mod</kbd>+<kbd>K</kbd> for the command palette, arrow to a product, and hit <kbd>Enter</kbd>.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Check versions and updates">
    The status bar shows the launcher version. Product cards show installed versions.

    When the beta update channel is live, the launcher surfaces an update prompt on a product card when a newer version exists.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## When something fails

| What you see                                                            | What it means                                                            | Next action                                                                                                                         |
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| A product card shows **Not installed**                                  | That app isn't on this machine; the launcher doesn't bundle the products | Download its installer from [downloads.pidgeon.health](https://downloads.pidgeon.health), install, and the card flips to Installed. |
| An error banner about your session, with the product grid still visible | The account service couldn't be reached or the session expired           | The grid never goes blank; entitlements show as unknown. Sign in again or retry once you're back online.                            |
| Cards stuck on **Checking…**                                            | Installation detection is still resolving (or could not complete)        | Give it a moment; if it persists, relaunch the launcher. The apps themselves still launch directly from the OS.                     |

## Next steps

* [Your Pidgeon account](/getting-started/account)
* [Get started with Post](/getting-started/post)
* [Get started with Flock](/getting-started/flock)
* [Get started with Loft](/getting-started/loft)
* [Get started with Migrate](/getting-started/migrate)
* [Troubleshooting](/support/troubleshooting)