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Home/Apps & Tools/TrakNotch/Setup

Setting up TrakNotch

Install it, open it, and connect only what you want. Everything beyond the notch itself is optional.

Before you start

  • Package: Windows x64 only. There's no ARM-native, macOS or Linux build.
  • Tested on: Windows 10, Windows 11. The installer checks for Windows 10 or later; that check isn't a certification for every Windows 10 or 11 setup.
  • Publisher signing: the current build isn't publisher-signed, so Windows SmartScreen may warn that the publisher is unknown. Check the SHA-256 checksum on the download panel matches your file. Don't turn off your antivirus or Windows protections — if your security software blocks the file, contact us instead.

Install and run

  1. Upgrading? Quit the older TrakNotch from its tray menu first (right-click the tray icon → Quit).
  2. WebView2. TrakNotch uses Microsoft WebView2 Runtime, which most up-to-date Windows PCs already have. The installer includes a small bootstrapper that installs it if missing — that needs an internet connection. Portable users must already have it installed (it's available free from Microsoft's WebView2 page).
  3. Installer: run the downloaded .exe and follow the steps. Portable: extract the whole ZIP to a folder, keep traknotch.exe and traknotch-hook.exe together, then run traknotch.exe.
  4. Find the notch at the top edge of your screen. Hover or click to expand it.

Everyday use

  • Hover or click the compact notch to expand it.
  • Ctrl+Alt+N opens TrakNotch while it's running. Escape collapses it unless it's pinned.
  • Tray → Open always works if the notch is hidden.
  • Settings let you turn sound on or off, choose auto-hide or collapse behaviour, pick which monitor the notch sits on and lock its placement, and optionally start TrakNotch with Windows.

Ask (optional)

  1. Open Ask.
  2. Choose a provider: Claude (Anthropic) or OpenAI.
  3. Save that provider's API key. You create this in the provider's developer dashboard, and usage is billed by them. A ChatGPT subscription doesn't include an API key.
  4. Choose a model your account can use.
  5. Type your own prompt and send it.

Switching provider or model starts a fresh conversation.

Drop a file as context (optional)

  1. Open Drop.
  2. Choose or drag in a supported file. The picker shows which file types your build accepts.
  3. Ask your question about it.

Limits in the current build: OpenAI attachments up to 20 MB; text and code used as context up to 200 KB. Dropped files are copied into TrakNotch's local inbox and sent to your chosen provider when you submit.

Claude Code and Codex hooks (optional)

  1. Choose to install hooks for Claude Code or Codex in TrakNotch.
  2. Review the proposed change it shows you before accepting.
  3. Back up your existing hook configuration, then install.
  4. Start a fresh Claude Code or Codex session so the hooks load.
  5. Codex users may need to review and trust the new hooks with /hooks.

Claude approval requests can appear in the notch. Codex permission decisions always stay in Codex.

Removing hooks: open the same hook configuration and delete only the entries that run traknotch-hook.exe. Leave any other hooks as they are, or restore your backup.

Connect services (optional)

  1. Enable the pill for the service you want.
  2. Save credentials with the access listed below.
  3. Open its card and refresh it to check the connection. Saved credentials aren't verified until a refresh succeeds.
Resend

Access needed: An API key that can list sent emails.

Shows: Recent sent emails, recipient and subject, and the last delivery event. Opens Resend for anything further.

Checks: Every 60 seconds, while enabled, configured and not paused.

Doesn't: Send emails, automate follow-ups or raise automatic bounce alerts.

n8n

Access needed: Your n8n instance URL and an API key that can read executions.

Shows: Newly completed workflow executions, success or error, and available result details.

Checks: Every 15 seconds, while enabled, configured and not paused.

Doesn't: Trigger workflows from the notch.

Vercel

Access needed: A token that can read deployments for your account or team.

Shows: Recent completed deployments, status, branch and commit, plus a notification when a new one completes.

Checks: Every 30 seconds, while enabled, configured and not paused.

Doesn't: Deploy projects.

GitHub

Access needed: A token that can read your repositories.

Shows: Repository count and stars across up to 100 repositories you own.

Checks: Every 5 minutes, while enabled, configured and not paused.

Doesn't: Monitor pull requests, issues or CI.

Stripe

Access needed: A key that can read balance and charges (a restricted read-only key is recommended).

Shows: Balance and recent charges, with a notification for a new charge.

Checks: Every 30 seconds, while enabled, configured and not paused.

Doesn't: Make payments, issue refunds or replace your accounting records.

Notion

Access needed: An internal integration token, shared with the pages you want to see.

Shows: Recently edited pages and databases your integration can access.

Checks: Every 5 minutes, while enabled, configured and not paused.

Doesn't: Edit content.

Cal.com

Access needed: An API key that can read bookings.

Shows: Upcoming bookings and attendee details.

Checks: Every 5 minutes, while enabled, configured and not paused.

Doesn't: Create or change bookings.

The first events seen may set a starting point rather than notify you. Checks aren't real-time and may not catch every event.

Troubleshooting

Ask gives no response

Check you're online, that a provider and model are selected, and that the key is saved for that provider. Try a short prompt.

Wrong or expired API key

Create a new key in your provider's dashboard, then save it again under Ask for that provider.

Missing permissions

Service keys need read access to the data the panel shows (see the table below). Create a key with the listed access and save it again.

Model unavailable

Your account may not have access to that model. Choose another model from the list.

No internet

Ask and service panels need a connection. The notch itself still opens offline.

Service panels aren't updating

Polling may be paused — resume it. Also check the service is enabled and its card shows saved credentials, then refresh the card.

App won't start / blank window

Microsoft WebView2 Runtime is probably missing. Install it from Microsoft (see step 2), then start TrakNotch again.

Ctrl+Alt+N does nothing

Another app may already use that shortcut. Close or reconfigure the other app, or open TrakNotch from the tray.

Can't find the tray icon

Click the ^ arrow beside the Windows clock to show hidden icons. You can drag TrakNotch onto the taskbar to keep it visible.

Coding sessions don't appear

The hook relay (traknotch-hook.exe) may be missing or moved. Keep it next to traknotch.exe, reinstall the hooks, and start a fresh session.

Uninstall and cleanup

Uninstalling the current version removes the app but keeps your preferences, inbox files, saved credentials and the staged hook relay. To remove everything:

  • Remove TrakNotch's hooks as described above.
  • Delete TrakNotch's saved credentials in Windows Credential Manager (Control Panel → Credential Manager → Windows Credentials).
  • Delete TrakNotch's settings and inbox folder from your user app-data folder.

Built-in cleanup controls are planned for a future release.

Still stuck?

Email jan@trakcorp.co.uk for setup help. Please don't include API keys, private files, customer information or unsanitised logs.