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Getting Started

Biowatch is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux. Download the latest release for your platform below.

Download

Windows

  1. Download Biowatch-setup.exe
  2. Run the installer
  3. Follow the installation wizard
  4. Launch Biowatch from the Start menu or desktop shortcut

macOS

  1. Download Biowatch.dmg
  2. Open the disk image
  3. Drag Biowatch to the Applications folder
  4. On first launch, right-click and select "Open" (required for apps from identified developers)

Linux

AppImage

  1. Download Biowatch.AppImage
  2. Make it executable: chmod +x Biowatch.AppImage
  3. Run: ./Biowatch.AppImage

Debian / Ubuntu

  1. Download Biowatch_<version>_amd64.deb
  2. Install: sudo dpkg -i Biowatch_*.deb

Your First Study in Two Minutes

The fastest way to get a feel for Biowatch is the built-in demo dataset — a sample study based on Snapshot Kruger, with camera trap images from Kruger National Park, South Africa.

On first launch, Biowatch greets you with the Create Your First Study screen:

Create your first study
The import screen on first launch
  1. Click Get Started on the Demo Dataset card.
  2. Biowatch downloads the sample data and builds the study — this takes under a minute on a typical connection.
Demo import complete
The demo dataset imports in seconds

When the import finishes you land on the study's Overview tab: a satellite map of camera locations, headline numbers (species, deployments, time span, observations, media), a strip of best captures, and the species distribution with IUCN conservation status.

From there, each tab digs deeper:

  • Overview — the study at a glance
  • Explore — interactive map, activity patterns, and a filterable image gallery
  • Media — browse and filter every image and video
  • Deployments — when and where each camera was active
  • Sources — where the study's media comes from
  • Settings — sequence grouping, exports, cache, and study deletion

The Exploring Your Data guide walks through each tab in detail. When you're ready to work with your own data, head to Importing Data.