Frequently Asked Questions

This is a common false positive. Antivirus software sometimes flags new or less-known applications, especially those that aren't digitally signed by a well-known publisher. Ferdium is completely safe and open-source.

What to do:

• Click "More info" or "Run anyway" when Windows Defender shows a warning
• Add Ferdium to your antivirus whitelist/exceptions list
• Verify the download came from the official GitHub releases page
• Check the file hash if you're concerned about authenticity

If Ferdium won't start, try these troubleshooting steps:

1. Check system requirements: Ensure your OS version is supported
2. Clear cache: Delete the Ferdium cache folder (location varies by OS)
3. Reinstall: Uninstall completely and reinstall the latest version
4. Check logs: Look for error messages in the console or log files
5. Run as administrator: On Windows, try running with administrator privileges
6. Disable antivirus temporarily: Sometimes real-time scanning interferes

If the problem persists, visit our Contact & Support page or check the download page for installation guides.

Adding a service is simple:

1. Click the "+" button or "Add Service" in Ferdium
2. Browse or search for the service you want to add
3. Select the service from the list
4. Enter your credentials or authorize the connection
5. The service will appear in your workspace

If a service isn't in the list, you can create a custom service recipe or request it on our GitHub repository.

Ferdium is a community-driven fork of Franz with several key improvements:

• Free and open-source: No subscription required, completely free
• Self-hostable server: Run your own server or use the community server
• Active development: Regular updates and community contributions
• No account required: Use Ferdium without creating an account (optional)
• Better privacy: More control over your data
• Community-driven: Features and improvements driven by users

To configure notifications:

1. Right-click on a service tab
2. Select "Service Settings" or go to Ferdium Settings
3. Navigate to the "Notifications" section
4. Enable/disable notifications for specific services
5. Customize notification sounds and behaviors
6. Set quiet hours if needed

You can also configure system-level notifications in your OS settings to work with Ferdium.

Yes! Ferdium can be used completely offline without creating an account. However, creating an account (or using your own server) provides these benefits:

• Sync settings across multiple devices
• Backup your service configurations
• Access your workspace from anywhere
• Share workspaces with team members

You can always use Ferdium locally without any account - all your services will work perfectly fine.

Ferdium can update automatically or manually:

Automatic Updates:

• Ferdium checks for updates automatically
• You'll be notified when a new version is available
• Click "Update" to download and install

Manual Updates:

• Download the latest version from our Download page with complete installation guides
• Install over the existing version (your settings will be preserved)
• Or uninstall the old version first, then install the new one

If a service isn't working correctly, try these steps:

1. Reload the service: Right-click the service tab and select "Reload Service"
2. Clear service data: Remove and re-add the service
3. Check service status: Verify the service is working in your browser
4. Update Ferdium: Make sure you're using the latest version
5. Check recipe: The service recipe might need updating
6. Disable extensions: Some browser extensions in Ferdium might interfere

If the issue persists, report it on our GitHub issues page or contact support for assistance.

Creating workspaces helps organize your services:

1. Click on "Workspaces" in the sidebar or menu
2. Click "Add Workspace" or the "+" button
3. Name your workspace (e.g., "Work", "Personal", "Gaming")
4. Add services to the workspace by dragging or using the "+" button
5. Switch between workspaces using the workspace selector

Workspaces help you separate different aspects of your digital life and keep things organized.

Ferdium is completely safe and privacy-focused:

• Open-source: All code is publicly available for review
• No data collection: We don't collect or sell your data
• Self-hostable: Run your own server for complete control
• Local-first: Your data stays on your device
• No tracking: No analytics or tracking scripts

Ferdium acts as a wrapper around web services - it doesn't intercept or store your messages. All communication goes directly to the service providers, just like using a browser.

Ferdium is generally more memory-efficient than running multiple browser tabs:

• Each browser tab runs a separate process, consuming significant RAM
• Ferdium uses a single Electron process with shared resources
• Services are loaded on-demand, not all at once
• Better memory management through service lifecycle control

While exact memory usage varies, most users report 30-50% less memory usage compared to equivalent browser tabs. You can also configure Ferdium to unload inactive services to save even more memory.

Yes! Ferdium can work completely offline:

• No internet connection required for basic app functionality
• Services will work if they support offline mode (like reading cached messages)
• All your settings and configurations are stored locally
• You can add, remove, and organize services without internet

Note: Individual services (like Slack, WhatsApp) still require internet to send/receive messages, but Ferdium itself doesn't need constant connectivity.

Ferdium offers extensive customization options:

1. Go to Settings → Appearance
2. Choose from built-in themes or create custom themes
3. Adjust colors, fonts, and layout preferences
4. Set service-specific appearance settings
5. Configure dark mode and accent colors

You can also install community-created themes from the Ferdium community or create your own using CSS customization options.

If a service stops working, try these troubleshooting steps:

1. Reload the service: Right-click and select "Reload Service"
2. Check service status: Verify the service works in a regular browser
3. Update Ferdium: Make sure you're using the latest version
4. Update service recipe: The service recipe might need updating
5. Clear service data: Remove and re-add the service
6. Check for updates: Service providers sometimes change their APIs

If the issue persists, check the Ferdium GitHub issues page or community forums for known issues and solutions.

Yes! You can use Ferdium on multiple devices:

• Without account: Each device runs independently with local settings
• With account: Sync settings, workspaces, and service configurations across devices
• Cross-platform: Works seamlessly between Windows, macOS, and Linux
• Manual sync: Export/import settings if you prefer manual control

To sync across devices, create an account on the community server or your self-hosted server. Your service credentials are never synced - only Ferdium's configuration.

There are several ways to backup your Ferdium data:

1. Account sync: If using an account, settings are automatically backed up
2. Export settings: Go to Settings → Export to save your configuration
3. Manual backup: Copy the Ferdium data directory (location varies by OS)
4. Cloud backup: Use cloud storage to backup the data directory

Important: Service credentials (passwords, tokens) are stored securely and are not included in backups. You'll need to re-authenticate services after restoring from backup.

Yes! Ferdium includes comprehensive keyboard shortcuts:

• Ctrl/Cmd + K: Quick service switcher
• Ctrl/Cmd + ,: Open settings
• Ctrl/Cmd + W: Close current service tab
• Ctrl/Cmd + T: Add new service
• Ctrl/Cmd + 1-9: Switch to service by number
• Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + W: Close Ferdium

You can customize all keyboard shortcuts in Settings → Keyboard Shortcuts to match your preferences.

Absolutely! Ferdium is open-source and welcomes contributions:

• Code contributions: Submit pull requests on GitHub
• Bug reports: Report issues you encounter
• Feature requests: Suggest new features
• Documentation: Improve documentation and guides
• Service recipes: Create or update service recipes
• Translations: Help translate Ferdium to your language
• Community support: Help other users in forums and Discord

Visit the Ferdium GitHub repository to get started. All contributions, big or small, are welcome and appreciated!