Desktop App

The Lag desktop app is built with Tauri, delivering a native experience with system-level features that the browser cannot provide. It is available for Windows and Linux.

Installation

Windows

Download the latest .msi installer from trylag.com/download. Run the installer and follow the prompts. Lag will be added to your Start menu and can optionally launch at startup.

Linux

Download the .deb package for Debian/Ubuntu-based distributions or the .AppImage for other distributions. For Debian-based systems:

sudo dpkg -i lag_latest_amd64.deb

For AppImage, make it executable and run:

chmod +x Lag-latest.AppImage
./Lag-latest.AppImage

System Tray

The desktop app runs in the system tray when you close the main window. This means voice connections stay active even when the window is not visible. Right-click the tray icon to:

  • Show or hide the main window
  • View your current voice room status
  • Disconnect from voice
  • Quit the app entirely

Push-to-Talk Hotkeys

Unlike the web app, the desktop app supports global push-to-talk. This means your configured push-to-talk key works even when Lag is not the focused window. Configure your preferred key in Settings > Voice.

Common push-to-talk keys include backtick, a mouse side button, or a modifier key combination.

Deep Links

The desktop app registers the lag:// protocol. This enables:

  • Auth callbacks - OAuth login flows redirect back to the desktop app via lag://auth/callback
  • Invite links - Clicking a Lag invite link can open directly in the desktop app
  • CLI integration - The CLI uses deep links for authentication

Auto-Updates

The desktop app checks for updates automatically. When an update is available, you will be notified and can apply it without leaving the app. Updates are signed and verified before installation.

Performance

The Tauri architecture provides significant advantages:

  • Lower memory usage than browser-based alternatives - typically 60-80 MB
  • Native audio pipeline with direct access to system audio devices
  • Faster startup compared to Electron-based apps
  • Smaller install size - the installer is under 15 MB

The app uses the system webview (WebView2 on Windows, WebKitGTK on Linux) rather than bundling a full browser engine.

System Audio

The desktop app has full access to system audio devices and can:

  • Switch input and output devices without browser permission prompts
  • Access devices that browsers may not expose
  • Maintain consistent audio routing across sessions