Chalkin for Windows

Install and start drawing

1. Extract the complete ZIP into a folder. Open Chalkin.exe and keep the app folder beside it.
2. If Chalkin reports that WebView2 is missing, install the Microsoft Evergreen WebView2 Runtime, then reopen Chalkin. The ZIP already includes the .NET runtime.
3. Use Ctrl+Shift+D or double-click the tray icon to edit. Click Done to leave the drawing on your desktop. Entering editing minimizes other apps; use Alt+Tab to return to them.

This beta is unsigned, so Windows may show a security warning. There is no installer, automatic updater, or start-at-login setting.

To update, quit Chalkin through the tray menu and extract the new ZIP into a separate folder. Your drawings and settings stay in %LOCALAPPDATA%\Chalkin.

What to expect in this beta

• One active canvas on your primary monitor. ARM PCs, remote desktop, virtual desktops, and Explorer replacements are not verified.
• Desktop mode shows a still image of your drawing. Desktop icons remain usable after Done. Chalkin must stay running to display the drawing.
• Desktop placement depends on Windows Explorer. If that layer is unavailable, Chalkin keeps editing available and your saved drawing remains intact.
• Import and export .excalidraw files to move drawings between Windows and macOS. There is no live sync.

Help us test it

Use a test drawing for these checks. The canvas menu lets you create a separate canvas.

1. Draw, type, undo, add an image, and switch between two canvases with Ctrl+1 and Ctrl+2. Quit and reopen Chalkin; check that your work is still there.
2. Toggle editing and Done several times. In desktop mode, open and move a desktop icon and use the desktop context menu. Quit and check that your wallpaper and icons return.
3. Change the edit shortcut in Settings, reopen Chalkin, and check that it still works.
4. Check sleep and wake, display scaling, resolution changes, and primary-monitor changes. If you are comfortable restarting Explorer, check that the drawing and tray icon return.
5. Check image import/export with macOS if available. Look for unexpected CPU or memory use in Task Manager, including WebView2 processes.

Send your Windows version, display setup and scaling, what you did, and what happened. Include the beta version from app/build-info.json. Avoid sharing private drawings.