Install and open
Quit AX Engine with Command-Q before installing or upgrading. The installer places AX Engine.app in Applications with its runtime bundled. Homebrew, Python and Xcode are not needed for the GUI distribution. Models download separately.
curl -fsSL https://download.automatosx.com/ax-engine-desktop/install | bashopen -a "AX Engine"Download from the supported catalog
Open Models → Catalog and search for an AutomatosX pack. For example, choose a compact Qwen 3.5 9B 4-bit pack on a smaller Mac, if offered by the installed catalog. Review its requirements, then click Download. Models → Transfers shows progress, cancellation and retry. Public catalog downloads need no Hugging Face account.
Wait for a successful transfer and a ready entry in Local Library. A 100% progress bar alone is not proof of a complete model. The GUI catalog does not import arbitrary third-party folders; use the CLI guide for those.
Start a model and chat
Go to Server → Choose Installed Model, select a ready model and click Start Server. Wait for the ready state, then open Playground and select the running model. Return or Command-Return sends a message; Shift-Return inserts a new line. Use Stop to end generation.
Settings and saved conversations
Open Settings with Command-Comma. Generation settings change your request defaults; Runtime settings choose the runtime and port. Save applies a valid draft and Revert restores saved values. Use Playground → Export before Clear when you want to keep a conversation archive. Changing a profile does not give a text-only model image or audio support.
Connect another local application
With the server ready, use Copy API URL and Copy API key on the Server page. Configure your client with that URL, the key and a model ID returned by /v1/models. The app-owned server creates a new key each time it starts. The copied key clears after 60 seconds if the clipboard has not changed; copy it again after a restart.
Update or quit
Quit with Command-Q and rerun the installer to update the app and bundled runtime together. Models, settings and conversations are preserved. Automatic app updates are not available yet. Closing the window does not quit the app. Disconnecting an attached external server does not stop that server.