Portable ZIP
Unpack, run, done. Zen updates itself from GitHub.
Download for Windows x64. On Windows on ARM see Other ways.-
Download the zip
Click the button above and save Zen-Windows.zip.
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Unpack the whole zip
Right-click it and choose Extract All. You get a folder Zen. Keep it whole, with nothing else inside.
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Run zen.exe
Open zen.exe in that folder. If SmartScreen says *Windows protected your PC*, click More info → Run anyway.
If something goes wrong
Where is “Run anyway”?
Click the small More info link in the blue window first; then Run anyway appears.
Smart App Control blocked Zen
Windows 11 with Smart App Control on blocks apps without a code signature, as Zen has none yet, and offers no *Run anyway*. You can turn it off in Windows Security → App & browser control → Smart App Control settings → Off. That lowers protection for the whole computer, so decide for yourself. Or use Zen on your phone or another computer.
My antivirus warns about Zen
New unsigned programs sometimes get false alarms. Compare the zip with the checksums: if they match, it is the file from GitHub. Report the false alarm to the antivirus maker.
SHA256SUMS Microsoft DefenderOther ways
Windows on ARM (for example Surface Pro X): the x64 build runs there too; a native build is experimental.
Zen-Windows-arm64.zipAn installer would bring no gain while Zen is unsigned, so there is none.
Zen is installed. What now?
Add your first friend and learn the basics.
How to use Zen