Troubleshooting
Most issues come from permissions, missing files, browser sign-in state, or a source that is not actually in the folder.
Perch is an early-access product, so a handful of rough edges are expected, and almost all of them trace back to the same few causes. Before assuming something is broken, it is worth checking the usual suspects: a folder Perch was never granted access to, a file that is not actually where you think it is, a browser session that has signed itself out, or a source you are asking Perch to verify that is not in the workspace. The fixes below are ordered by how often they are the real problem.
When something feels off
Most issues come from permissions, missing files, browser sign-in state, or a source that is not actually in the folder.
Download blocked
Early builds may trigger operating-system warnings. Open the file from the official Perch download link and follow the platform prompt.
Mac says the app is damaged
This can happen because the early Mac build is unsigned. If you downloaded Perch from the official site, drag it to Applications, run this Terminal command, then open it again.
xattr -dr com.apple.quarantine "/Applications/Perch AI Desktop.app"Folder looks empty
Confirm the desktop app has file access and that the selected folder contains the files you expect Perch to read.
Browser tool is signed out
Open the browser session, sign into the target app, then ask Perch to continue from there.
Citation cannot be verified
Add the missing source to the folder or ask Perch to remove the unsupported claim.
The app feels stale
Quit and reopen Perch. If the issue persists, download the current build from the Desktop page.
Still stuck? Email hello@perchai.app.