Install and configure Granola AI meeting notes app with calendar integration.
Use when setting up Granola for the first time, connecting calendar accounts,
or configuring audio capture permissions.
Trigger with phrases like "install granola", "setup granola",
"granola calendar", "configure granola", "granola permissions".
Install Granola, the AI notepad that captures meeting audio directly from your device (no bot joins the call), transcribes with GPT-4o/Claude, and produces structured notes with action items. Supports Zoom, Google Meet, Teams, Slack Huddles, and WebEx.
Prerequisites
macOS 12+ or Windows 10+ (iOS/Android for mobile)
Google Calendar or Microsoft Outlook account
Active internet connection for initial auth
Instructions
Step 1 — Download and Install
# macOS via Homebrew
brew install --cask granola
# Or download directly
open "https://www.granola.ai/download"
Windows: download the installer from granola.ai/download and run the .exe.
Step 2 — Create Account and Authenticate
Launch Granola
Click Sign up — authenticate with Google or Microsoft
Granola uses WorkOS for SSO; enterprise users may see their IdP login (Okta, Azure AD)
Step 3 — Grant System Permissions
macOS (critical — both required):
System Settings > Privacy & Security > Microphone
→ Enable Granola
System Settings > Privacy & Security > Screen & System Audio Recording
→ Enable Granola
The Screen Recording permission is required because macOS bundles system audio capture under that category — Granola does not record your screen.
Windows:
Microphone permissions are granted automatically. Confirm at:
Join or start any meeting (Zoom, Meet, Teams). Granola shows a floating notepad when it detects a calendar event with a conferencing link. Verify the live transcription indicator appears.
Step 6 — Configure Preferences
Setting
Location
Recommended
Auto-start with calendar
Preferences > General
On
Default template
Preferences > Templates
Match your meeting type
AI model
Uses GPT-4o/Claude
No configuration needed
Auto-update
Preferences > General
On
Output
Granola installed and running on login
Calendar connected with meeting auto-detection
System audio + microphone permissions granted
Live transcription verified on a test call
Error Handling
Error
Cause
Fix
No audio captured
Missing Screen & System Audio permission (macOS)
System Settings > Privacy & Security > Screen & System Audio Recording > enable Granola, then restart
Calendar not syncing
OAuth token expired or wrong account
Disconnect calendar in Settings, re-authenticate
App won't launch
macOS Gatekeeper block
Right-click Granola.app > Open, or xattr -cr /Applications/Granola.app
Meeting not detected
Event has no video link
Add a Zoom/Meet/Teams link to the calendar event
Bluetooth audio drops
BT device causes transcription stops
Switch to built-in mic or wired headset
Granola Architecture (How It Works)
Your Device Audio ──→ Granola Desktop App ──→ Granola Cloud (transcription)
│ │
Local notepad GPT-4o / Claude
(your typed notes) (enhance + summarize)
│ │
└────── Merged Output ───┘
│
Structured meeting notes
with action items
Audio is transcribed server-side; Granola does not store raw audio after processing
Your typed notes are merged with the transcript for context-aware summaries
No bot joins your meeting — capture happens via system audio
