Installation Guide
Get iNatSpectro running in your browser to start analyzing bioacoustic spectrograms on iNaturalist.
Browser Support
iNatSpectro is available for the two most popular browsers:
Chrome & Chromium-based browsers ⭐ Recommended
- Chrome, Edge, Brave, Opera
- Full feature support with latest Web Audio API capabilities
- Automatic updates through Chrome Web Store
- Optimized performance and stability
Firefox
- Complete feature parity with Chrome version
- Firefox Add-ons distribution
- Alternative architecture optimized for Firefox
Quick Installation
Choose your browser and follow the installation guide:
Install on Chrome → Install on Firefox →
System Requirements
Minimum Requirements
- Modern Browser: Chrome 88+ or Firefox 85+
- Audio Support: Web Audio API capability (standard in all modern browsers)
- Memory: 4GB RAM recommended for large audio files
- Network: Internet connection for initial installation and updates
Optimal Performance
- Desktop/Laptop: Best experience on full-size screens
- 8GB+ RAM: For processing long audio recordings
- Updated Browser: Latest version for newest features and performance improvements
What Gets Installed
The iNatSpectro extension is lightweight and privacy-focused:
- Extension Size: ~2MB total
- Permissions: Only access to iNaturalist.org pages
- Privacy: No data collection, all processing local to your browser
- Updates: Automatic through browser extension stores
After Installation
Once installed, iNatSpectro will:
- Automatically activate on iNaturalist observation pages with audio
- Load spectrograms automatically for audio files ≤1 minute
- Provide manual controls for longer audio files
- Remember your settings per species profile
Getting Help
If you encounter issues during installation:
- Check that your browser version is supported
- Ensure you have sufficient disk space for the extension
- Try refreshing the iNaturalist page after installation
- See browser-specific troubleshooting in the detailed guides
Ready to install? Choose your browser above to get started!