Using the app
Getting started
ScreenGuardian notices the small things that wear you down at a screen, slouching, leaning in too close, skipped eye breaks, and gives you a gentle nudge in the moment. It runs entirely on your computer. Here is how to get from download to your first session.
1. Install the app
Download the build for your platform from the download page. On macOS, open the disk image and drag ScreenGuardian into Applications. On Windows, run the installer and launch it from the Start menu. If macOS says the app is damaged or cannot be opened, follow the macOS quarantine helper on the download page; the app never runs that step for you or hides it.
2. Allow camera access
On first launch the app asks for camera permission. It needs the camera to estimate posture, screen distance, eye breaks, and hand-to-face habits. Camera frames are processed in memory on your computer and are never saved to disk, uploaded, or stored. If you deny permission by accident on macOS, open System Settings, then Privacy & Security, then Camera, and turn ScreenGuardian on.
3. Do a quick calibration
The first run walks you through a short calibration so distance and posture feedback fit your body and your desk, no measuring tape or typing in numbers. It takes under a minute. See calibrating your setup for what each step does.
4. Run a short first session
Start with about five minutes in normal lighting, sitting how you actually work. Look at the live view and notice how posture drift, distance guidance, and break reminders appear. The point is calm awareness, not a stream of alerts; ScreenGuardian is designed to stay quiet until something is worth mentioning.
5. Let it run in the background
Once you are set up, you can leave ScreenGuardian running while you work in other apps. It keeps checking and only surfaces when needed. If you want an alerts-only, extra-private session, switch on Notification mode.
Common questions
Do I need an account?
No. ScreenGuardian works without one. An account only carries your access forward across builds; it is not required to use the app, and nothing about your posture or camera is tied to it.
Will it slow down my computer?
The detection is tuned to be light and to back off when you are away or the window is hidden. If anything feels heavy, tell us through Help, then Send feedback in the app.