Help center

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Getting started

Up and running in about five minutes.

How do I install Spanbox?
Download the file for your system from the homepage. On macOS, open the .dmg and drag Spanbox to Applications. On Windows, run the .exe installer. On Linux, make the .AppImage executable and open it. Launch Spanbox and you're ready, no account needed.
How do I add my first apps?
Click the + in the left rail, choose a service like WhatsApp or Gmail, and sign in exactly as you would in a browser. Repeat for each app. Our setup guide has the full walkthrough.
Is Spanbox free?
Yes. Connect any 3 apps free, for as long as you like, with no account. Upgrade to Pro when you want unlimited apps and the deeper inbox features.
Do I need to create an account?
No. Spanbox has no sign-up. You just sign in to each app inside Spanbox, and those logins stay on your own device.

Plans & license keys

Buying, activating and moving your license.

How do I buy Pro or Lifetime?
Go to the Pricing page, choose Pro or Lifetime, and pay through our secure checkout. Your license key is emailed to you within about a minute.
How do I activate my license key?
Open Spanbox and go to Settings → Plan → Activate a license. Paste the key from your purchase email and hit Activate. There's no sign-up. Pro unlocks on that device right away.
I didn't get my license key email
Keys arrive within about a minute from keys@spanbox.co. Check your spam or promotions folder first. If it's still missing, email contact@spanbox.co with the email you paid with and we'll resend it.
How many devices can one key run on?
Your key runs on up to 2 of your own devices. Paste the same key on each machine. You can see every connected device, and remove one to free a slot, in Settings → Plan → Sessions & devices. So a reinstall or a new laptop is never a problem.
Can I cancel or get a refund?
You can cancel a subscription any time and keep Pro until the end of the paid period. For refund questions, email contact@spanbox.co and see our Terms.

Connecting apps

Add services and sign in the safe way.

How do I add an app?
Click the + in the left rail, choose the service, and sign in. Each app keeps its own private, isolated session on your device.
Can I run two accounts of the same app?
Yes. Add the same app twice and each copy keeps a separate login, so work and personal WhatsApp, or two Slack workspaces, sit side by side.
Which apps are supported?
More than 60 and growing, including WhatsApp, Slack, Gmail, Telegram, Discord, Microsoft Teams, Instagram, Messenger, Outlook, Proton Mail and ChatGPT. If a service has a web app, Spanbox can usually add it.
Why can't I add Signal, Viber, LINE or KakaoTalk?
Those apps don't offer a full official web client, so there's nothing for Spanbox to load. They stay on our roadmap until a web version exists that we can bridge in.

Unified inbox

One view, notifications on your terms.

What is the Unified Inbox?
A single view that gathers every unread message across all your connected apps and floats the important ones to the top, so you check one place instead of ten.
How do notifications work?
Spanbox creates its own notifications from unread counts, so they follow your rules rather than each app's. Turn them on or off, and mute individual apps, in Settings → Notifications.
What are Do Not Disturb and Quiet Hours?
Do Not Disturb mutes every notification instantly. Quiet Hours schedules that silence, for example overnight, so you're not pinged while you sleep. Both live in Settings → Notifications.
How do I jump between apps quickly?
Press ⌘K on Mac or Ctrl K on Windows and Linux to open the command bar, then type to jump to any chat or app. A global shortcut can also summon Spanbox from anywhere.

Privacy & security

Local-first, and locked down if you want it.

What does local-first mean?
Your logins and messages live on your own device. Spanbox runs no servers that receive or read your conversations, so there's nothing for us to sell or leak. The full detail is in our Privacy Policy.
How do I lock Spanbox with a PIN or Touch ID?
Go to Settings → Privacy & Security and turn on App lock. Set a PIN, and on a Mac you can also allow Touch ID. App lock is a Pro feature.
Does anything leave my device?
No message content ever leaves your device. The app only connects to the services you add and to our update endpoint. Optional, anonymous usage stats are off unless you turn them on.

Troubleshooting

Quick fixes for the common snags.

An app won't load
Right-click the app in the left rail and choose Reload. If it persists, sign out of that service and back in. A weak connection, or the service itself being down, can also cause it.
My notifications stopped
Check that notifications are on in Settings → Notifications, that Do Not Disturb is off, and that the app isn't muted. Also confirm your operating system allows notifications from Spanbox.
An update won't apply
Download the latest version from the homepage and install it over the top. Your apps and settings are kept.
I'm stuck in a login loop
Let the sign-in popup finish completely before closing it, especially for two-factor steps. Make sure your device date and time are correct, then try again.
How do I reset Spanbox?
Settings has a reset option that signs you out of every app and returns Spanbox to a clean state. You'll re-add your apps afterwards, and nothing is sent to us.

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