Installation & getting started
System requirements
- Windows 10 Build 19041+ or Windows 11
- 4 GB RAM minimum, 8 GB recommended
- 200 MB free disk space
- Home Assistant with mobile_app enabled
- .NET 10 and WebView2 are bundled or installed with the installer
Installation steps
- Download the installer from the HACAW download page.
- Run the installer and choose the installation directory.
- Let the installer include .NET 10, WebView2, and Visual C++ redistributables.
- Launch HACAW from the Start Menu or desktop shortcut.
First run experience
On first launch, HACAW opens a nine-page onboarding wizard that covers the EULA, system checks, Home Assistant connection, device registration, sensors, commands, notification preferences, and the trial.
After onboarding, the main app opens with the dashboard loaded and the background services running.
Quick start
- Complete onboarding and sign in to Home Assistant.
- Confirm HACAW appears under Home Assistant mobile_app devices.
- Send a test notification to verify delivery.
- Enable sensors and, if desired, opt in to remote commands.
service: notify.mobile_app_<your_device_name>
data:
title: 'Hello'
message: 'HACAW is working!'Configuration & customization
General settings
| Setting | Default | Options / notes |
|---|---|---|
| Theme | Dark | Light or Dark |
| Launch on Startup | Off | Adds HACAW to Windows startup |
| Logging Level | Info | Debug, Info, Warning, or Error |
Notification settings
| Setting | Default | Options / notes |
|---|---|---|
| Notifications Enabled | On | Master toggle |
| Toast Type | Custom WPF | Custom or Windows system toasts |
| Notification Sounds | On | Enable or disable sound |
| Toast Position | Bottom Right | Bottom right or bottom left |
| Display Screen | Primary | Primary or selected monitor |
| Default Timeout | 10s | 1 to 300 seconds |
| Never Auto-Hide | Off | Require manual dismissal |
Sensor settings
| Setting | Default | Options / notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sensors Enabled | On | Global reporting toggle |
| Update Interval | 60s | 10 to 3600 seconds |
| Per-sensor toggles | On | Managed from the Sensors page |
Command settings
| Setting | Default | Options / notes |
|---|---|---|
| Commands Enabled | Off | Master switch for remote commands |
| Allow Elevated Commands | Off | Permits UAC elevation |
| Require Confirmation for All | Off | Confirms every command |
| Confirm Elevated Commands | On | Always confirms admin commands |
| Allowlist Mode | Off | Only custom commands are allowed |
| Allow Script Execution | Off | Permits PowerShell and CMD |
| Confirmation Timeout | 60s | 0 to 120 seconds |
| Sanitize Logs | Off | Redacts command arguments |
| Capture Output | Off | Includes stdout/stderr in results |
Integrations & ecosystem
Home Assistant integration surface
- OAuth2 / IndieAuth authentication
- REST API device registration
- WebSocket API notification delivery
- Webhook API sensor updates and event firing
Windows platform integrations
- Windows DPAPI for credentials
- WMI for device information
- Performance Counters for CPU usage
- GlobalMemoryStatusEx for memory metrics
- Windows Forms power APIs for battery state
- Registry usage for startup
Distribution and file formats
- Velopack handles updates from updates.pangaia.software/hacaw
- Command history exports to CSV
- Custom commands import and export as JSON
- Settings use JSON and license data is stored as XML
Other Pangaia Software tools
A planned HACAW integration with Kynos will allow HACAW to trigger or dismiss the Kynos lock screen remotely.