GoTerm
Menu
Get started
All guides

Start here

GoTerm on your desktop

The desktop app is GoTerm on Windows: the same workspace as in your browser, plus Direct mode, tunnels and goterm Free, which needs no account.

Updated

On this page
  1. How it works
  2. Install it on Windows
  3. Sign in to a workspace
  4. Dial from this computer
  5. goterm Free
  6. Updates
  7. Wipe this computer
  8. More desktops
  9. Good to know

How it works

Signed in to a workspace, the app works as your browser does: through GoTerm’s gateway. Direct mode dials a host from your own computer instead.

Gateway modeSessions keep running, and the team can jointhem.HTTPSSSHThis computerthe goterm appGoTermthe gatewayweb-01203.0.113.10Direct modeSSH from your own computer, with its ownaddress.SSHThis computerthe goterm appweb-01203.0.113.10
In gateway mode the app reaches the server through GoTerm; in Direct mode it dials the server itself.
  • Gateway mode is the default, and the only one in a browser.
  • Direct mode reaches what your computer reaches, with keys kept on your computer.
  • Tunnels run in the desktop app, in either mode.

Install it on Windows

The installer isn’t signed for Windows yet, so Windows warns you the first time.

  1. Download the installer from goterm.net/download. It installs for you alone, with no admin prompt.
  2. Windows says Windows protected your PC. Choose More info.
  3. Choose Run anyway. GoTerm opens once it’s installed.

Tip: Want to be sure of your copy? Check its SHA-256 against the one on the download page before you run it.

Windows’ warning on the first install: choose More info, then Run anyway.

Sign in to a workspace

  1. Open GoTerm. Under Server, type your workspace’s address, such as https://acme.us.goterm.net.
  2. Sign in with your Email and Password, and the code from your phone if two-factor is on.
  3. This computer is a new device: confirm it with the link we email you, or from a device you already use.
HTTPSThe desktop appServer: your workspace’s addressGoTermpassword, code, deviceYour workspacethe same hosts and sessions
The desktop app signs in to your workspace at its address, through the same checks as a browser, and shows the same hosts and sessions.

Dial from this computer

Direct mode connects from your own computer, as a terminal on it would.

  1. On Hosts, open a host’s … menu. Under Dial from, choose This computer (Direct).
  2. The first time, GoTerm asks for its Local credential: the password or key, sealed on this computer and never sent to GoTerm.
  3. Your own keys from the Vault work too, once personal sync has sent them to this computer.

Tip: Direct mode can’t go through a jump host, and a host whose sessions are recorded always goes through GoTerm.

SSHThis computerDirect modeIts own storethe key, sealed hereYour serversees this computer’s address
In Direct mode, the key is opened on your own computer, which signs in to the server over SSH from its own address.

goterm Free

No account? The desktop app works signed out, for free: SSH and tunnels from your own computer, with your hosts kept on it.

goterm Freeno accountYour hostskept on this computerSSHfrom this computerTunnelslocal, dynamic, remote
goterm Free, with no account: hosts kept on this computer, SSH from it, and tunnels of every kind.
  • Choose Use without an account on the sign-in screen.
  • Sign in to a workspace later, and the app offers to bring your hosts along.
  • Sharing, files, snippets and the web terminal come with a plan.

Updates

The app looks for a new version when it starts and every few hours, downloads it in the background, and installs it when GoTerm closes.

1A new versionfound by the app2Downloadedin the background3Its signature checkedsigned by GoTerm4Installedon restart, or when GoTerm closes
A new version is found and downloaded; the app checks it was signed by GoTerm, and installs it when you restart or close GoTerm.
  • An update not signed by GoTerm is never installed, and the app tells you so.
  • Turn off Update automatically in Preferences, and it updates only when you choose Check now, then Restart to update.

Wipe this computer

  1. Open your name at the bottom of the sidebar, then Preferences.
  2. Choose Wipe this computer…, type wipe, and confirm.
  3. Every host, password, key and tunnel GoTerm keeps on this computer is deleted, and you’re signed out. Your workspace stays as it is.
Wipe this computerin PreferencesDeletedfrom this computerHosts and tunnelsPasswords and keysKnown host keysand your sign-in
Wipe this computer deletes the hosts, tunnels, passwords, keys and known host keys GoTerm keeps on it, and signs you out.

More desktops

  • macOS and LinuxThe desktop app on a Mac and on Linux, with the same Direct mode, tunnels and goterm Free.
The desktop appWindowsmacOSLinux
The desktop app on Windows, macOS and Linux.

Good to know

  • It installs for your Windows user alone: no admin prompt, now or for updates.
  • A PC that won’t run the installer, with Smart App Control or a company’s app rules, can use GoTerm in the browser instead.
  • goterm Free’s only request to the internet is the update check, which carries no account or device ID.
  • Direct mode doesn’t go through GoTerm, so your workspace’s allowed addresses don’t apply to it.

Didn’t find your answer?

Write to us, and an engineer who builds GoTerm will reply.

Ask an engineer

  • Getting started

    Try the demo, add your first host and open a terminal.

  • Hosts and jump hosts

    Quick connect, groups, and private servers through a bastion.

  • Sessions and sharing

    Keep sessions running, come back to them, and share them live.

  • Files

    Move files beside your terminal, or between hosts.

  • Web tabs and tunnels

    Open private pages and forward ports through a host.

  • Snippets

    Save commands once, and run them on one host or ten.

  • Monitors

    Check sites and ports, and get told when they go down.

  • Teams and roles

    People, teams, roles, host groups and each team’s activity.

  • Access and contractors

    Give a host for a few hours, and see what changed after.

  • Audit log and recordings

    Who did what, from where, and what their screen showed.

  • Running a workspace

    Your address and region, colours, settings and moves.

  • The Vault and your keys

    Save, share and replace passwords and private keys.

  • Security and sign-in

    Two-factor, confirmed devices, and how secrets are kept.

  • Allowed addresses

    Open your workspace only from your office or VPN.

  • VPN only

    Open your workspace only to your own WireGuard devices.