Local Install
Run PC2 on your own computer. Choose your preferred method:
Option 1: Desktop Launcher (Mac & Linux)
Download the ElastOS Desktop Launcher for a visual interface:
| Platform | Download |
|---|---|
| macOS | Download .dmg |
| Linux | Download .AppImage |
The launcher provides one-click Start/Stop, status monitoring, and log viewing.
Windows users: Local installation is complex. We recommend using a VPS instead. See the Windows section below for details.
Mac Installation (One-Time Setup)
macOS shows a security warning for apps downloaded outside the App Store. Follow these steps once:
- Download the
.dmgfile from the link above - Double-click the downloaded file to open the disk image (a window will appear showing the app)
- Open Terminal (press
Cmd + Space, type “Terminal”, press Enter) - Copy and paste this command (it will install the app and open it):
cp -R "/Volumes/ElastOS 0.1.1-arm64/ElastOS.app" /Applications/ && xattr -cr /Applications/ElastOS.app && open /Applications/ElastOS.app- Done! The app opens automatically. You only need to do this once - next time just open ElastOS from your Applications folder.
Don’t drag the app manually - the Terminal command above handles everything: it copies the app to Applications, removes the security restriction, and opens it for you.
Why is this needed? The app isn’t signed with an Apple Developer certificate yet. The command copies the app to your Applications folder and removes the macOS security quarantine. Future updates will include proper signing.
Option 2: Terminal Install
Open your terminal and paste this:
curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Elacity/pc2.net/main/scripts/start-local.sh | bashWait for it to finish, then open http://localhost:4200 in your browser.
Works on macOS and Linux. Windows users should use a VPS or see the advanced WSL2 instructions below.
Common Questions
How do I stop my PC2 node?
pm2 stop pc2How do I start my PC2 node?
pm2 start pc2How do I restart my PC2 node?
pm2 restart pc2How do I check if PC2 is running?
pm2 statusYou’ll see a table. If PC2 shows “online”, it’s running.
How do I see what’s happening (logs)?
pm2 logs pc2Press Ctrl+C to stop watching logs.
How do I update PC2?
Open PC2 in your browser, go to Settings → About, and click Check for Updates.
Or via terminal:
cd ~/pc2.net
git pull origin main
npm install --legacy-peer-deps --ignore-scripts
cd pc2-node && npm run build
pm2 restart pc2Windows Users
Local Windows installation is complex. We recommend using a VPS instead for the best experience.
Recommended: Use a VPS
For $5/month, you get a cloud server that:
- Runs 24/7 (even when your PC is off)
- Works from any device (phone, tablet, laptop)
- No complex local setup required
See our VPS setup guide - it takes about 10 minutes.
Advanced: Local Installation (WSL2)
If you want to run PC2 locally on Windows, you need:
- Hardware virtualization enabled in BIOS (varies by manufacturer)
- WSL2 with Ubuntu installed:
wsl --install -d Ubuntu - Restart your computer
- Open “Ubuntu” from Start menu and run the install command:
curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Elacity/pc2.net/main/scripts/start-local.sh | bash
If you see errors about “Virtual Machine Platform” or “virtualization not enabled”, you’ll need to enable virtualization in your computer’s BIOS settings. This process varies by manufacturer and may not be possible on some corporate laptops.
Where is everything stored?
| What | Location |
|---|---|
| PC2 installation | ~/pc2.net/ |
| Your files | ~/pc2.net/pc2-node/data/ |
| Configuration | ~/pc2.net/pc2-node/config/ |
Troubleshooting
”Command not found: pm2”
Run this first:
source ~/.nvm/nvm.shPC2 won’t start
Check if something else is using port 4200:
lsof -i :4200If you see a process, kill it:
kill -9 <the PID number>Then start PC2:
pm2 start pc2Uninstalling
pm2 stop pc2
pm2 delete pc2
rm -rf ~/pc2.netThis deletes all your uploaded files! Back up ~/pc2.net/pc2-node/data/ first if needed.