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Installation

ARIS is web-first: the full app runs in any modern browser with nothing to install. Native iOS and Android apps are available as betas, with over-the-air updates, and there is a Mac app as well.

Use ARIS in the browser (zero install)

Section titled “Use ARIS in the browser (zero install)”

There are two ways to open ARIS on the web, and they end up in the same app:

  • https://app.arisastro.com — the signed-in path. Sign in and you land on your fleet: every rig you’ve paired, with live online/offline presence, reachable from anywhere. When you’re at home on the same network as a rig, ARIS automatically connects to it directly over your LAN — the cloud only brokers the introduction.
  • http://<rig-name>.local:8080 — the direct path (for example, http://aris-pi-ai.local:8080). 8080 is the default port; you can change it with the pencil next to the rig’s name in Settings → Connection. Every ARIS rig serves the app itself, so this works with no internet: point any browser on the same network at the rig and you’re in. This is what makes a zero-cell-coverage dark site a non-event. One exception needs an account: a rig flashed with ARIS Rig OS that you have claimed for remote access asks each device to sign in once, with internet, and after that it works offline. A hand-installed rig, a NINA rig and an unclaimed rig never ask — see Sign in.

Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and Edge are all supported, on desktop, tablet, and phone.

Install the native apps (beta)

Section titled “Install the native apps (beta)”

The iOS app is distributed through TestFlight during the beta:

  1. Request a beta invite (contact us) — it arrives at your Apple ID email.
  2. Install Apple’s TestFlight app if you don’t already have it.
  3. Accept the invite inside TestFlight and install ARIS Astro.

The apps update themselves

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Beta builds ship fixes over the air. When an update has downloaded you’ll see a banner, “Update downloaded — restart ARIS to apply.” — close and reopen the app and you’re current, no store visit needed. Settings → About → Software shows the exact version and patch number, which helps when reporting issues. If the app is ever too old for your rig (or vice versa), it tells you exactly what to update. The Mac app does not take over-the-air updates: each new version of it is a new download.

In the browser, if things look stale right after an update, do a hard refresh (Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+R) — see Troubleshooting.

System requirements

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Any modern browser works for the web app. The native apps need iOS 15 or later on iPhone and iPad, Android 7.0 or later, and macOS 12 or later for the Mac app. For supported backend hardware and the tested camera/mount matrix, see the Compatibility page.

Set up your rig

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The app is only half the story: your equipment is controlled by the ARIS backend running on a rig computer (typically a Raspberry Pi or other Linux machine) connected to your gear over USB. The quickest way to build one is ARIS Rig OS, a card image with INDI, the drivers and the backend already installed, written to the card with Raspberry Pi Imager. To pair the rig for remote access afterwards, use Settings → Connection → Remote access in the app.

Follow Install ARIS on Your Rig for the full walkthrough, including the NINA option for Windows imaging PCs.

What’s next

Section titled “What’s next”