# Start in minutes

Canonical page: https://phishdestroy.github.io/TgWitness/docs/start/

First, explore a working example. Then connect your own account.

## Look around without an account

Download or clone the project, install **Python 3.11 or later**, and run the demo. The launcher creates a local environment and installs the pinned dependencies.

```
git clone https://github.com/phishdestroy/TgWitness.git
cd TgWitness
```

### Windows

```
.\scripts\Demo.cmd
```

### Linux / macOS

```
sh start.sh --demo
```

The browser opens a workspace with fictional messages. Open a conversation, compare an edit and inspect an export. Demo mode does not connect to Telegram.

![TgWitness conversation view with sample messages](https://phishdestroy.github.io/TgWitness/assets/chats-dark.png)

A sample workspace. Your own journal starts separately.

## Start your own workspace

Close the demo process, then use the normal launcher:

### Windows

```
.\Start.cmd
```

### Linux / macOS

```
sh start.sh
```

Open the local address shown by the launcher. If asked, enter the **panel access token** from the local file named in the terminal. This unlocks TgWitness; it is separate from Telegram sign-in.

## Capture your first message

1. [Connect a dedicated Telegram account.](https://phishdestroy.github.io/TgWitness/docs/accounts/)
2. Select a group or channel the account can access, then start observation.
3. Send a new message in a test group you control and check that it appears in the journal.

For a server installation, follow [Keep it running](https://phishdestroy.github.io/TgWitness/docs/server/).