# Sponge for Mac

Sponge for Mac shows your web library in its own window and adds ways to save from anywhere on the Mac. It needs macOS 15 or later and a Sponge account.

The app queues links. A computer running `sponge` captures them, and that can be the same Mac. See [How Sponge works](/docs/how-it-works).

## Install

1. Download the app from [sponge.computer/mac](https://sponge.computer/mac). The page lists the version, size and SHA-256 of the download.
2. Open the download and drag Sponge to Applications. The app is signed and notarized by Apple; macOS asks once to confirm an app from the internet.
3. Open Sponge and sign in with your account, by email code, passkey or Sponge key. It is the same account as the web library.

To capture what you save on this Mac, also set up the command:

```sh
npm install -g @hraness/sponge
sponge init
sponge login
sponge sync
sponge worker install     # keep capturing in the background
```

## Save

| Way | How |
| --- | --- |
| Share menu | Share › Sponge in Safari, Chrome, Mail, News, Notes or any app with a Share menu |
| Services | Select a link or text containing links, then Services › Save to Sponge |
| Menu bar | The Sponge item saves the front browser tab or a pasted link |
| Keyboard | `⌃⌥⌘S` saves the front browser tab from any app |
| File menu | Save URL… (`⌘L`) or Save Front Browser Tab |
| Dock | Drop a link, a `.webloc` or `.url` file, or a downloaded PDF on the Sponge icon |

Saving the front tab works with Safari, Chrome, Chromium, Brave, Edge, Vivaldi and Arc. The first time, macOS asks whether Sponge may control that browser. Sponge asks only a browser that is already open, and reads only the tab's address and title. Firefox, Zen and Orion do not offer their tab to other apps; use Share or Save URL… there.

A downloaded PDF is saved by the web address it came from, which macOS records with the download. A PDF with no recorded address cannot be saved from the app; add it with `sponge add /absolute/path/file.pdf --kind pdf --wait`.

### What the confirmation means

| Message | Meaning |
| --- | --- |
| Saved to Sponge | The link is in your queue |
| Saved for later | You are offline; the link waits on this Mac and is sent when you reconnect |
| Your library is full | The free cloud plan is at its limit; see [Sponge Plus](/docs/billing) |
| Sign in to save | The app is not connected to an account |
| Not a web page | The item has no `http` or `https` address |
| Couldn't save | The request failed; try again |

"Saved" means queued. The article appears in the library after one of your computers captures it.

## Settings

Open Settings with `⌘,`.

- **Shortcut.** Change or clear the global save shortcut.
- **Show Sponge in the menu bar.**
- **Open Sponge at login.**
- **Account.** Shows links waiting to be sent with **Send Now**, and **Disconnect**, which stops this Mac from saving to the account.

## Updates

Sponge checks for updates once a day and verifies each one against its signing key before installing. **Check for Updates…** in the Sponge menu checks now.

## Automation

Three link forms work from scripts, Shortcuts and launchers:

```text
sponge://save?url=https%3A%2F%2Fexample.com%2Fessay
sponge://library
sponge://sync
```

[Keyboard shortcuts](/docs/shortcuts) lists every key in the app.

## If something is wrong

- **A save never appears.** Open **Save** in the library to see the queue. If it says no computer is connected, run `sponge sync` on a computer signed in to the same account.
- **The front tab is not saved.** Allow Sponge under System Settings › Privacy & Security › Automation, or use Share.
- **Saving stopped working.** Choose Disconnect in Settings and sign in again, or remove the app under Connected apps on your [account page](https://account.sponge.computer/account).
- **Remove the app.** Disconnect in Settings, then move Sponge to the Trash. Your library and account are not affected.