There are two downloads, both on the Downloads page. In Sessionwire it's the download icon in the left sidebar, and anyone can open it at studio.sessionwire.io/download, with or without an account.

• Sessionwire Application, the desktop app for Mac and Windows
• Sessionwire Audio Plugins, the free Plugin Suite for your DAW, which also installs the Sessionwire audio drivers

Do you need the app?

You can host and join Sessions in a supported browser without installing anything. The app gives you a dedicated window that doesn't depend on your browser.

You and your Guest both need the app if you plan to use Remote Desktop Control with them. It doesn't work in a browser.

Do you need the plugins?

Install the Plugin Suite if you want to send audio from your DAW into a Session, or record someone else's audio in your DAW.

Guests don't need an account for this. If a Host wants to hear your DAW, download the plugins from studio.sessionwire.io/download, install them for free, and put the Send plugin on your main output. Guests who only listen and talk don't need them.

Install on a Mac

Download the build that matches your Mac. The Intel build still opens on an Apple Silicon Mac, but it causes serious lag and audio problems. This is one of the most common issues we see.

To check which Mac you have, open the Apple menu > About This Mac. If it lists an Apple M chip (M1, M2, M3 or later), you have Apple Silicon. If it lists an Intel processor, you have an Intel Mac.

1. On the Downloads page, under Sessionwire Application, click Download For Apple Silicon or Download For Intel Mac.
2. Open the file you downloaded and follow the installer.
3. Under Sessionwire Audio Plugins, click Download Plugins and run that installer too. It installs the VST3, AU and AAX plugins and the audio drivers.
4. Restart your Mac so the drivers load.

On macOS 27, install Rosetta 2 before you use the plugins. See macOS Golden Gate.

Install on Windows

1. On the Downloads page, click Download For Windows, then Download Plugins.
2. Run both installers. The plugins install in VST3 and AAX formats.
3. Restart your computer.

Smart App Control can block the Sessionwire installer even though it's signed. If it does, right-click Setup.exe, choose Properties, tick Unblock, and run it again. Or turn Smart App Control off.

Some antivirus software flags the Sessionwire installer by mistake. If yours does, allow it and run the installer again.

Check the drivers loaded

In Sessionwire, open the HQ Audio and Talkback menus in your Studio. You should see four Sessionwire devices: Sessionwire Send Plugin, Sessionwire Receive Plugin, Sessionwire Talkback Send Plugin and Sessionwire Talkback Receive Plugin.

On a Mac you can also open Audio MIDI Setup (Applications > Utilities), where the same drivers are listed as ToSW, FromSW, ToSWTalkback and FromSWTalkback.

If the drivers don't show up on a Mac

macOS loads audio drivers from one folder, and one broken driver in it can stop the rest from loading.

1. In Finder, choose Go > Go to Folder, paste /Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/HAL and press Return.
2. Check the four Sessionwire drivers are there. If they aren't, run the plugin installer again.
3. Look for drivers from software you no longer use or that's out of date. Old drivers can stop macOS loading any of the others. Move them to a folder on your desktop rather than deleting them, in case you need them back.
4. Restart your Mac and check again.

On macOS 27, missing drivers usually mean Rosetta 2 isn't installed.

If you get "Couldn't open input device" on Windows

Another program has taken over the Sessionwire audio device.

1. Open Sound settings > More sound settings.
2. On the Playback and Recording tabs, check every Sessionwire device is enabled.
3. Open each Sessionwire device, go to Advanced, and turn off Allow applications to take exclusive control of this device.
4. Restart Sessionwire.

Still stuck? Email support@sessionwire.com with your computer, operating system and DAW, and what you see.