Chessware desktop app

Chessware is the desktop app for Windows 10 and Windows 11 (64-bit). This page covers everything from downloading it to removing it.

Downloading Chessware

1. Sign in at https://chessware.net and open your dashboard.
2. Go to the Downloads tab and download Chessware. The tab shows the current version (1.0.0), the file size and a SHA-256 checksum.
3. Optionally, verify the checksum to confirm the file is exactly what we published.
4. Put Chessware.exe wherever you like, for example on your desktop or in a folder of its own, and open it.

Chessware is a single file. There's no installer and nothing extra to install.

Warning: Only download Chessware from your dashboard. Copies from anywhere else may have been modified, may be unsafe, and aren't supported.

If Windows SmartScreen or your antivirus shows a warning, see Troubleshooting.

Logging in

When Chessware opens, it asks for your license key and nothing else.

1. Copy your key from the Licenses tab of your dashboard.
2. Paste it into Chessware and select Log in.

Chessware checks the key with our server over an encrypted connection. Two things have to be true:

• The key is linked to your Discord account. Keys you buy are linked automatically. A key someone gave you needs to be redeemed in your dashboard first.
• The key is locked to this PC. The first log-in locks the key to the PC you're on. After that, it only works on that PC.

If either check fails, Chessware tells you why. Each message is explained in Troubleshooting.

Chessware doesn't save your key on your PC. You paste it each time you open the app, and logging out clears it.

Inside the app

• Your profile is in the bottom left: your Discord name and avatar, your roles in our Discord server, and Log out.
• Main shows your license (plan, time left and the two checks) and Choose platform, where you tell us whether you play on Chess.com or Lichess.org.
• Engine is where Chessware's coach gets its analysis. It uses Stockfish 19, which you can install from this tab with one click. See the engine below.
• System shows your PC's hardware and how much memory, CPU and GPU memory Chessware itself is using.

The window can be resized and maximised like any other app.

The engine

The Engine tab downloads Stockfish 19 from the official Stockfish release on GitHub, checks the file against the published checksum and keeps it in %LOCALAPPDATA%\Chessware\engines\stockfish-19. Test engine runs a short analysis so you can see it working. Stockfish is free software under the GPL v3, and the tab links to its source.

Staying online

Chessware checks your license when you log in and every few minutes while it runs. This is how a revoked or expired key stops working. Keep your internet connection on while you use Chessware.

Staying up to date

When we publish a new version, an Update Chessware card appears in the sidebar. Select it and Chessware:

1. downloads the new version from our servers;
2. checks it matches the published build (size and SHA-256 checksum, and the publisher signature when the app is signed); and
3. replaces itself and restarts, still logged in.

You can also download the new version from the Downloads tab yourself. See Updating Chessware.

Removing Chessware

1. Close Chessware.
2. Delete Chessware.exe.
3. To remove the engine too, delete the folder %LOCALAPPDATA%\Chessware. You can paste that path into the File Explorer address bar.

Removing the app doesn't change your account or license:

• Your key stays locked to this PC. If you're moving to a new PC, ask for a device reset in our Discord server. See License keys.
• Your plan isn't cancelled and your account isn't deleted. To delete your account and data, see Deleting your account.