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Desktop Application

The Sigvault desktop application is a companion app that runs on your computer and bridges communication between your hardware wallets and the Sigvault service. It handles device detection, key extraction, and transaction signing.

Why a Desktop App?

Section titled “Why a Desktop App?”

Web browsers cannot directly communicate with hardware wallets over USB. The desktop application solves this by:

  • Connecting to hardware wallets over USB or serial
  • Relaying signing requests between Sigvault and your device
  • Displaying device status and connection information
  • Managing signing sessions securely

Supported Platforms

Section titled “Supported Platforms”

The desktop application runs on:

  • Linux (x86_64)
  • macOS (Intel and Apple Silicon)
  • Windows (x86_64)

Getting Started

Section titled “Getting Started”
  1. Download the desktop application from the Sigvault dashboard
  2. Install and launch the application
  3. Register your machine as a trusted device in the Sigvault web app
  4. Connect your hardware wallet via USB

How It Works

Section titled “How It Works”

The desktop app operates in the background and responds to events from the Sigvault service:

Device Registration

Section titled “Device Registration”

When you create a new device in Sigvault, the desktop app:

  1. Detects the connected hardware wallet
  2. Communicates with the device to extract the extended public key (xpub)
  3. Reads the device fingerprint
  4. Sends the public key information back to Sigvault

Transaction Signing

Section titled “Transaction Signing”

When a transaction needs signing:

  1. Sigvault sends the unsigned PSBT to the desktop app via a secure session
  2. The desktop app forwards the PSBT to your hardware wallet
  3. The hardware wallet displays transaction details on its screen
  4. You verify and approve on the device
  5. The signed PSBT is returned to Sigvault

Device Status

Section titled “Device Status”

The desktop app reports the status of connected devices:

  • Connected — Device is plugged in and responsive
  • Locked — Device requires PIN or passphrase entry
  • Active — Device is currently participating in a signing session

Security

Section titled “Security”
  • The desktop app never has access to your private keys
  • Communication between the desktop app and Sigvault is encrypted
  • Each machine must be registered as a trusted device
  • Signing sessions are temporary and scoped to a single operation