Install and update Terndesk
Terndesk runs on Linux and macOS. It installs through your package manager and updates with the rest of your system, because the app never checks for updates itself.
Download the files from GitHub. The .dmg, .deb, .rpm and AppImage are on the latest release. The AUR package and the Homebrew tap aren't published yet, so those two commands don't work today; until they are, install the .dmg on macOS. To hear about new versions, follow the releases feed.
By system
| System | Install | Update |
|---|---|---|
| Arch Linux | yay -S terndesk-bin | yay -Syu |
| macOS 11 or later | brew install --cask terndesk/tap/terndesk | brew upgrade --cask terndesk |
| Ubuntu 22.04+ and Debian 12+ | sudo apt install ./Terndesk-linux-amd64.deb | Install the new .deb the same way |
| Fedora and openSUSE | sudo dnf install ./Terndesk-linux-x86_64.rpm | Install the new .rpm the same way |
| Any other 64-bit Linux | chmod +x Terndesk-linux-x86_64.AppImage | Replace the file with the new one |
Any AUR helper works in place of yay. On openSUSE, use sudo zypper install with the same .rpm. After the chmod, run the AppImage file itself. The Linux builds are for 64-bit x86 computers. Windows is coming soon.
The .deb, .rpm, .AppImage and .dmg files come with a SHA256SUMS.txt to check them against.
Why there's no built-in updater
An app that checks for updates has to contact a server that isn't your mail provider's. Terndesk doesn't, so your package manager does the updating instead.
After installing
For Gmail, choose Sign in with Google. You sign in with Google in your own browser, and the sign-in is kept in your system's secure credential store. For any other account, choose Add another email account (IMAP) and enter your name, address and password. Terndesk finds your provider's settings and checks that it can sign in before it saves anything.
Providers with two-step verification don't accept your normal password over IMAP. Create an app password and use that instead:
- iCloud
- appleid.apple.com → Sign-In and Security → App-Specific Passwords
- Fastmail
- Settings → Privacy & Security → Integrations → App passwords
- AOL
- Account security → Generate app password
Outlook.com, Hotmail, Microsoft 365 and Yahoo Mail accept only their own sign-in, which isn't switched on yet. Adding one of those accounts stops with a message saying so.