How to use Hugo.

Hugo runs on your Mac. Download Hugo, then:

1. Click Downloads in your Dock, then Hugo.dmg.
2. Drop the Hugo icon onto the Applications folder.
3. Press Command-Space, type Hugo and hit Return.

Click Get started. Hugo asks a few quick questions: what best describes your work, the project, what you'll work on today and which browser you use for work. Your answers shape Hugo AI's decisions, and you can change them later.

It all happens on one screen, Almost there. Two quick steps. It's the only setup Hugo will ever ask for.

• Screen access Required Click Grant access, then switch Hugo on in System Settings > Privacy & Security > Accessibility. It lets Hugo see which apps and windows you have open.
• Chrome extension If you use Chrome Click Install to add Hugo Bridge from the Chrome Web Store, then come back. Several Chrome profiles? Install it on each one.
• Screen reading Recommended In Hugo AI sessions, Hugo reads the text on the window you're working in to tell your project from a detour. The picture never leaves your Mac, and only a few lines of text reach Hugo's AI. Click Allow, or Skip for now and turn it on later in Settings.
• Safari extension Recommended for Safari Click Enable in Safari so Hugo can check every Safari tab, not just the one in front.

Hugo is ready turns green once the required rows are done.

Hugo can start sessions from your own plans. Connect Calendar and the solo blocks you planned become one-tap sessions. Connect Reminders and your open reminders are offered when you sit down to focus.

Everything is read-only. Hugo never changes your data. Todoist, TickTick, Google Calendar and Notion connect from Settings whenever you want them.

Not now? Click Skip for now.

Hugo asks which apps and which tabs you need for today's goal. Tap to keep open the ones you need. Everything else is temporarily hidden. Nothing closes.

Your first session is 10 minutes of Hugo AI, and it's on us. Click Start session and focus on your work normally. If you open something off-task, Hugo will let you know.

Afterwards Hugo offers your 14 days: enter your email and click Start my 14 days. More in Trial and pricing.

Every session starts with one goal, whatever the mode. Under What will you focus on?, click the goal box and type it, or click the microphone and say it. Be specific: the more detail you give Hugo, the better it protects your focus.

Under Your tools and Browser tabs, click each app and tab you need. Hugo counts the items staying open. Everything else is gently hidden until the session ends.

Then press Command-Return or click Start focusing to set the timer. If the goal box is empty, Hugo shows Start with intention. and waits for one.

Pick a preset: 15, 25, 45, 60 or 90 min. Or click the clock, type your minutes and press Return.

Click the mode at the top to switch. Choose your mode. lists four:

• Hugo AI, recommended. AI evaluates your tabs and handles distractions.
• Deep Work. Every new tab asks for your reason. The pause keeps you honest.
• Research. Browse freely. Only your blocklist is enforced.
• Break. Timer only. Hugo steps back entirely.

For Pomodoro, click Add breaks and pick a break length and the number of cycles.

Then choose how hard Hugo holds you. Light: end anytime. Standard: ending early takes a signed reflection. Locked In: no early exit, one emergency exit a week, and Hugo asks you to confirm with Lock in. You can raise it during a session, never lower it.

Click Start focusing. Want someone to hold you to it? Tell a friend shares your goal before you start.

The session screen says Stay focused. above your goal, the time left and a progress bar. Everything you didn't keep stays hidden.

• A tab that doesn't fit. In Hugo AI, Hugo checks each new tab against your goal. If it looks off-task, Hugo noticed something. asks why you need it: answer and click Submit, or Close tab. In Deep Work, every new tab asks Why do you need to open this tab? Research stops only your blocklist.
• An app you hid. Open it and Hugo says it's blocked during this session. Click Need it? (or keep trying) and Hugo asks why you need it: write your reason and click Allow this time, or Stay focused.
• Screen reading. In Hugo AI sessions, Hugo reads the window in front of you, on your Mac, to tell your project from a detour.
• One document. When an editor has one document open, Hugo will lock to it, and the session screen shows Locked to: and its name. Hugo first asks you to Let Hugo see which document is open.
• Ending early. End session follows the intensity you chose. Light asks End session early? Standard opens Stopping early. with two quick questions and a reason you sign. Locked In has no early end, only one emergency exit every 7 days, with a written reason and a two-minute wait.

When the time is up, Hugo says Locked in. above your goal and the time, then your Focus score, Distractions caught, Streak and Mode. Every app comes back where you left it.

Tell a friend turns the session into a card. Send it to iMessage, WhatsApp, Slack, LinkedIn or X, or click Copy link.

Go again takes you back to a fresh goal.

Projects (Command-3) save an app and tab setup. Click + New project, name it, pick a color, add optional context for Hugo, then Choose your tools. Next time it's one click.

Insights (Command-2) compares this week with last, sums up your last 30 days, finds your Peak performance and lists your Patterns: Sweet spot, Focus endurance, Battle report and, if you've ended sessions early, Early exits.

Weekly review. Once you have a few sessions, Hugo opens Your weekly reflection on Sunday at 6 pm (change the day and time in Settings). You can also write one from Insights, under How was your week?.

Hugo works from the keyboard. These are the shortcuts in the app today.

While you're new, the goal screen keeps the first few at the bottom of the window.

A 14-day free trial of everything Hugo can do. No card. Just an email to keep your trial yours.

When the 14 days end, sessions pause until you subscribe. Your insights and history stay yours either way.

Chose Not now during setup? Hugo offers the 14 days again when you start a session.