Everything you need to know about DeskSip
Privacy, camera access, how detection works, and getting set up — answered.
Getting Started
Is DeskSip free?
Yes, DeskSip is completely free. The core features — camera-based drink detection, nudges, and hydration tracking — are all free with no account required. A Pro tier is coming soon with cloud sync and long-term history across devices.
How do I install DeskSip?
Install DeskSip from the Chrome Web Store and pin it to your toolbar. Click the icon to open the settings panel, set your daily water goal, and turn the camera on. That's it — DeskSip runs silently in the background.
Does DeskSip work on Mac and Windows?
Yes. DeskSip is a Chrome extension and works on any desktop or laptop running Chrome on macOS or Windows.
Privacy & Camera
Does DeskSip record or store video?
No. DeskSip never records, transmits, or stores any video. All detection happens entirely on your device using your local CPU/GPU. Video frames are processed in memory and immediately discarded — nothing ever leaves your machine.
Does DeskSip work without an internet connection?
Yes. The core detection and nudge features work completely offline. The extension only needs internet access for Pro features like cloud sync (coming soon).
Can I turn the camera off?
Yes. There's a camera on/off toggle in the DeskSip popup. Turning it off stops all camera activity immediately and closes the detection process until you turn it back on.
What camera permissions does DeskSip need?
DeskSip requests access to your webcam to detect when you drink. The permission is used only for on-device analysis — no data leaves your machine. You can revoke camera permission from Chrome settings at any time.
How It Works
How does DeskSip detect that I'm drinking?
DeskSip uses computer vision running entirely on your device to detect when you raise a bottle or cup to drink. It watches for the gesture and logs it automatically — no buttons to press or manual logging.
What counts as a "sip" in DeskSip?
DeskSip detects drink detection events when it sees you raising a vessel to your mouth. Each detected event counts toward your daily hydration goal. You can set your vessel size in settings so the oz tracking is accurate.
How does DeskSip decide when to send a nudge?
DeskSip monitors how long it's been since your last detected drink. When that gap exceeds your configured interval (default: 45 minutes), it sends a gentle browser notification reminding you to drink. You can adjust the interval in settings.
Does DeskSip work when I'm not at my computer?
DeskSip only tracks when your camera is active and your computer is in use. It won't count time when your screen is locked or the camera is off toward your nudge interval.
Troubleshooting
DeskSip isn't detecting my drinks — what should I do?
A few things to check: make sure your camera is enabled in the DeskSip popup, ensure you're in a reasonably lit environment, and confirm Chrome has camera permission for the extension. If detection seems off, the calibration feature can tune the detector to your specific setup.
I'm not receiving nudge notifications — why?
Check that Chrome notifications are enabled for DeskSip in your system settings. On Mac, go to System Settings → Notifications → Chrome. On Windows, check Notification settings in the Action Center. Also verify that notifications are enabled inside the DeskSip settings panel.