Help

A Windows 10 or 11 computer, an internet connection, and a microphone that can hear the table (a laptop's works; a conference microphone works better). Phones or a TV for your players are optional. Sidebard is not available for Mac yet.

Windows is cautious about programs it hasn't seen often yet. Choose More info, then Run anyway. You only see this when installing; updates install themselves.

On the sign-in page, choose Create an account. We email you a six-digit code to check the address is yours, then you choose a password. Making an account is free; voice, maps, AI help and the download start when you choose a plan, which you can do from your account page. If you buy a plan first, the account is made for you with the email you pay with.

Your account doesn't have a plan yet, or its plan has ended. Your account page shows the plans; choose one and everything switches on. Sidebard on your computer stays signed in and picks it up by itself.

In Sidebard, press Sign in with your browser. If you're signed in on sidebard.app, one click finishes it: check that the code matches the one Sidebard shows. You can also type your email and password.

On the sign-in page, choose Forgot password? or First time here? Set up your password. We email you a six-digit code, and you choose a new password with it.

On a second screen: a TV or monitor plugged into your computer. During a session, press Players’ screen at the top, then Open the players’ screen — it opens full screen on your second monitor. You can also put a picture up, or fill it with any colour.

Joining from players’ own phones is built but switched off for now, while it gets more testing.

• Check the header says MIC LIVE and its level bar moves when someone talks.
• In Windows Settings > Privacy & security > Microphone, make sure apps may use the microphone.
• Voice needs you to be signed in and online.

Tell your players the microphone is on: it's the right thing to do, and in some places the law requires it.

Press ? during a session for everything you can say and every key. The ones worth learning first: space accepts a card, esc dismisses it, M maps a place, N brings up a person.

On your computer, in %LOCALAPPDATA%\Sidebard. Sidebard copies them before every update and once a week (Settings > Backups).

On the campaign list, press Export on the campaign. It saves one file with everything in it, maps included. On the other computer, press Import archive and choose that file.

Sidebard downloads new versions by itself. When one is ready, the campaign list says Restart to update; it takes about a minute and brings you back to the same page. See what's new.

On your account page, press Manage billing. Cancelling stops future charges; you keep access until the end of the month you've paid for. Your account stays, with your computers and history, and you can choose a plan again from the same page whenever you like.

On your account page, under Your computers, press Sign out beside it. It stops working within a minute.

Speech goes to our speech-to-text provider to be turned into text; the text is kept on your computer. The privacy policy has the details.