Install guide

Helix on Linux

From buying a license to your first encrypted message — on any modern distro. Portable, no root required.

Windows macOS Linux Android iPhone / iPad

Buy a license

Pick a tier on the pricing page and pay with BTC, ETH or USDT. Your license key appears the moment payment confirms — no account, no email.

Closed network; one desktop + one mobile seat per license.

Get your download + key

You receive the private download link, the SHA-256, and your HELIX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX key.

Save the key like a seed phrase — no reset, no re-issue.

Verify the download

sha256sum Helix-linux-x64.tar.gz

Compare to the published value. Mismatch → don't run it.

Extract & run (portable)

mkdir -p ~/Apps/helix
tar -xzf Helix-linux-x64.tar.gz -C ~/Apps/helix
cd ~/Apps/helix
./helix

If your distro is missing GTK runtime libraries, install them once:

# Debian/Ubuntu
sudo apt install libgtk-3-0
# Fedora
sudo dnf install gtk3
Optional desktop entry: create ~/.local/share/applications/helix.desktop pointing Exec= at ~/Apps/helix/helix so it shows in your launcher.

First run — set your unlock secret

No ordinary login. Set a private unlock secret that reveals the real app.

No recovery for the unlock secret. Not stored anywhere we can read.

Activate your license

Account → Activate, paste your HELIX-… key — claims the desktop seat. Activate your phone for the mobile seat.

Configure your protection

  • VPN & onion network — pick an exit country, fail-closed.
  • Physical Meeting — kill mic, camera and GPS in one tap. For an OS-level cut you can also unload the kernel modules (sudo modprobe -r uvcvideo for the camera).
  • Disappearing messages or Compliance mode.

Start using it

  • Add people by invite or QR — outsiders can't reach you.
  • Message, call & video, share files, use the self-custody wallet.

Troubleshooting

"error while loading shared libraries"

Install the GTK3 runtime for your distro (commands above). That's the only common dependency.

Won't execute

Ensure it's runnable: chmod +x ~/Apps/helix/helix, then launch from inside its own folder so it finds the bundled library.

Wayland glitches

If rendering misbehaves on Wayland, launch with GDK_BACKEND=x11 ./helix.

New machine

Extract and activate the same key — the desktop seat rolls over automatically.

Get your license