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Install IconCU

1. Download the Windows app and run the file.
2. Follow the installation steps and open IconCU.
3. First choose a personal or business account when you register. A personal account cannot later be converted into a business account. On the left, click Sign in / Create account. For a new account, you need an email address, a unique username and a password of your choice, entered twice. Then verify your email with the code we send you. The eye icon keeps a password visible until you click it again. “Fill in using browser” lets you use your browser’s saved address suggestions. Your name and address are optional.

Other people in chats cannot see your email address. You can use the same account on several PCs. You can also chat as a guest and read public Second Layer content without an account.

Connect your browser (optional)

1. In Chrome, Brave or Edge, open the IconCU listing in the Chrome Web Store. The Windows app can open this page in your chosen browser via “Choose & set up browsers”.
2. Confirm “Add” or “Add to Brave”. In Edge, allow extensions from other stores if requested.
3. Open the puzzle-piece menu → IconCU and pin its icon if you want.
4. For the Windows app, choose “Connect to app”. If automatic local pairing is not ready, copy the pairing code from IconCU and confirm “Save code & connect”.

Repeat the store installation in each browser profile you want to use. Each profile has its own settings. Store updates then arrive automatically. New permissions may require another browser confirmation.

The instructions for the current web app connection and active window switching refer to the newer test version. Keep an existing newer test copy for now; switching to the older store version would remove these features.

Your browsers. Your visibility.

Open the IconCU icon in your browser. Send tabs turns the entire browser profile on or off. When off, no tabs are queried or sent to the app. Your saved choice is retained. New tabs start out visible unless a permanent exclusion rule applies. During a session, Off stays off even after a connection drops or the extension reloads.

Below that, the eye icon controls only the currently open web tab. An open eye means visible; a crossed-out eye means hidden. New tabs are visible by default. Chrome and Brave are detected separately. If the name is wrong, choose the correct browser under “Browser name in app” in the extension. The tab’s visibility is retained as you navigate, update the app or reload the extension. Newly opened tabs are visible again after a fresh browser start.

In the app, your tabs appear in compact groups under each browser. The eye on the right of a row controls that same tab. Hidden tabs stay in your list but join neither the page chat nor the whole-website chat. Messages already sent are retained. If the same website is open in another visible tab or added manually, its chat stays active there.

Click the browser nameto expand or collapse all its rows. This changes only your view. Move browser groups by dragging the handle on the left or using the up/down arrows. The order and collapsed groups are retained after app restarts and updates.

Under Browser management → Add browser you’ll find the setup steps. To keep the plugin visible, open the puzzle-icon menu and click the pin next to IconCU. Browsers do not allow extensions to pin themselves.

Store installations receive approved plugin updates automatically. Only an unpacked test copy needs “Reload” after replacing its files. App updates without plugin changes do not need this step. “Pause” pauses chats; manage excluded domains in settings.

Protected account, email and banking areas

From IconCU 0.58.0, known account, email and banking addresses, recognisable private paths, access tokens and personal identifiers are excluded using fixed URL rules. Extension 0.38.4 checks these rules before transmission. The new Windows app also checks data from older paired extensions.

A protected browser row shows at most a public homepage address with a neutral title. It always stays disabled: its eye control cannot be enabled and the row has no website chat, Second Layer or public presence. This homepage address is only an inactive hint and does not automatically open a community. This protection rule does not delete existing messages.

Detection is based only on the address. IconCU does not read cookies, login state, forms or page contents for this purpose. Unknown private address patterns may therefore go unrecognised. If in doubt, do not share confidential pages and use the browser-wide OFF switch.

Your space. Your layout.

Open several Second Layers from the website list on the left. Each keeps its own tab until you close it with ×. Open tabs are saved on this device for your account or guest profile. The whole-website chat tile inside the layer updates automatically. Click it to open the full chat, or reply directly in the small field below it. Long web addresses are shortened; hover over them to see the full address.

Open your profile through “My profile” on the right of the view toolbar. Edit your pictures, description, work, education, interests and languages. Previously saved information is carried over. Username, first name and surname remain fixed; your contact email is your account email. Your display name is public. You choose visibility for other profile fields and posts. Photos and MP4/WebM videos are supported: up to four media items per post, each no larger than 25 MB.

IconCU restores your most recently opened views and windows at the next start. With no saved layout, the Second Layer starts on the left and personal conversations on the right. “↺ Default” restores this arrangement with your last Second Layer and your last personal, group or All Chats conversation, splitting the centre evenly. Closed views stay closed. The shimmering switch buttons open website chat or Second Layer in a free half. If both halves are occupied, the new view appears on the right. Existing tabs are retained. A small preview in the layer header shows the last three messages from that website’s whole-website chat. They are marked as read only when you open the chat.

Website chat, Second Layer and personal conversations use the same window actions. Choose your view with Left / Centre and Right . Clicking a Second Layer opens it directly inside the app.

Drag a view’s labelled handle to the left or right half. Adjust the sizes with the divider. If you close everything, the centre stays empty.

Return a separate window using Back to app . On Windows, you can also drag its title bar into the centre of the visible app and release it: the pointer position determines left or right. Your layout is saved locally for your account or guest profile.

Two conversations side by side

Personal chats and groups are on the right, with search and filters. Open a conversation: the centre splits into website chat on the left and your personal conversation on the right. Drag the divider to adjust the width. You can also use the arrow keys while the divider is focused; Enter or a double-click restores equal widths. × closes the personal view. Text drafts are retained when you switch conversations and saved on this device for up to 30 days. Find saved text under “Drafts”. Select files that had not yet uploaded again after a restart.

On the live statistics page you can see web and chat server availability and the history of server measurements. The centre of the app is for your conversations.

Page chat or whole-website chat?

Choose a website on the left. In the page chat you talk to people on the same page. The whole-website chat brings together people across different pages of the same website. The numbers show how many people are connected to each chat.

Write your message and press Enter. Shift + Enter starts a new line. These chats are public: do not share confidential information.

Notice new messages

When IconCU is minimised, a number on the app icon indicates unread messages. Open the relevant chat to read them. The icon near the clock may be hidden in the overflow menu.

Open Second Layer

Next to a website, click Open Second Layer. The Second Layer opens inside the app’s main area. Use “Left / Centre” to switch back to website chat whenever you like. “Window ↗” moves the layer into its own window, beside the app or on another display. “Back to app” returns it. Your chosen layout is saved. You need an IconCU account to publish content and use settings across devices.

Second Layer is an independent community, separate from the original website operator. Addresses with and without www belong together; different subpages and product parameters remain separate. Opening an empty layer only prepares it temporarily. The first saved interaction, including a chat message, makes it permanent.

Up to eight Second Layer windows can stay open at once. The tabs at the top of the app bring each window to the front; × closes only that Second Layer.

Read anonymously

New accounts and new browser tabs start out visible. Your later app settings are saved for your guest access or account. Under “Visibility”, next to “My profile”, you control chat mode and Second Layer presence separately.

With Visible / Read anonymously you switch to a public reading mode without signing out. Your shared presence disappears; public messages, posts, comments and ratings are paused. Your personal conversations remain available. Published content keeps its author. This mode hides your public presence, not technical connection data from the operator.

Recognise quality

Each post shows its author’s username. Click the stars to rate websites, posts or exchanges with members using the displayed criteria. Five stars is the highest rating. Each account has one vote, which you can change or withdraw at any time. You cannot rate your own content. Website reviews can include text and receive comments.

Your modules

Drag a module by its handle or use ↑ and ↓. − hides it only for you. Under My view you can turn modules back on and restore the default layout. Your view is retained when you sign in on other devices.

Posts, reviews and media

Write posts, comment and reply to comments. Use @username to mention someone. You can change your own rating later; it still counts once. Images and videos up to 25 MB are stored on our server. Media in posts share the same discussion as in the gallery. From a content view, you can share, bookmark, follow, edit, delete or report it.

Personal chats and groups

On the right of the main app, you’ll find Personal & groups. Your website chat stays open alongside it. The buttons at the top, or a click inside a section, select which conversation you are reading. Start a chat with a username or create a group. Invited members must join before they can see messages. The group owner can invite or remove people, rename the group and transfer ownership. Transfer ownership before leaving if needed.

Files and voice messages

In personal chats and groups, you can send up to eight attachments per message: images, videos, audio, PDF, TXT and macro-free DOCX, XLSX and PPTX files. Each file can be up to 25 MB. Documents are downloaded through a save dialog. Members gain access after you send the message.

With Voice message and Start recording starts a microphone recording of up to two minutes. You can listen to it, discard it or add it as an attachment and then send it. Windows must allow microphone access. Closing the recording window or hiding the app stops an active recording.

Community at a glance

At the bottom, you can see accounts, signed-in members and guests online, posts, and three active chat rooms and content-rich Second Layers. While the app runs, these numbers update roughly every five seconds; server time and last update show their freshness. They count participating IconCU users, not every visitor to other websites. Technical connection data is on our live statistics page.

Visibility and notifications

Presence is enabled for new accounts. Under “Visibility”, you can change it separately for websites and Second Layer. The list includes only IconCU users. Manage reply and mention notifications under “My view” in the Second Layer, and personal chat notifications using the gear on the right. Individual discussions and conversations can be muted.

Open shared content

A share link leads to the Windows app; open the Web App from the main menu. If you need to install the app first, keep the link page open, then click Open in IconCUafter installation. The link keeps its destination. Alternatively, paste it into the Second Layer window or Personal & Groups using Open link . Even with a link, private conversations are accessible only to their members.

What is saved?

Posts, ratings, comments, media, bookmarks, layouts and personal and group chats have no automatic deletion deadline. Public website chats and “All Chats” retain the latest 300 messages per room. That history remains on the server when the last person leaves. A new message replaces the oldest one. Website chats have no automatic time-based deletion or full-text search. Your online presence ends after 60 seconds without a connection. Personal and group chats are separate from this.

Your profile. Your people.

Click “My profile” at the top or your name at the bottom left. Shape your profile with a profile picture, cover image, display name, short description, location, work, education, interests, languages and website. Your display name is public; other information can be public, friends-only or private. “Public view” shows your visible profile content.

Click a registered member’s name to open their profile in new website and All Chats messages, personal chats, groups and Second Layer. Guest names are not verified accounts and are therefore not linked to someone else’s profile. Older website messages may not yet include an account association.

From a profile, you can request, accept, decline or end a friendship, send a private message, block or report someone. “Friends” in the right-hand chat area manages your contacts and incoming or outgoing requests. Under Edit profile, choose who may message you, send requests or invite you to groups. Blocking also ends an existing friendship; unblocking does not restore it automatically.

Your timeline holds text, photos and videos, with up to four media items per post. Choose Public, Friends or Only me. You can edit or delete your own posts and comments. Members can comment on visible posts and rate them with stars. In anonymous Second Layer mode, you can read; personal chats remain available according to your chat settings.

Profile pictures: JPG, PNG or WebP up to 5 MB. The app optimises these images and removes embedded metadata. Profile and cover pictures and your username are public. Your email address, postal address and date of birth from registration are not automatically added to your public profile.

Always up to date

While running, IconCU notifies you about new versions. Click Update · install a prepared update immediately. The app installs the update and then reopens. Your login, settings and browser pairings are retained.

After an extension update, open your browser’s extension manager and click Reload ↻ next to IconCU. Your on/off setting and pairing are retained. If you installed the extension separately from a ZIP, extract the new ZIP into the same folder and reload it.

Frequently asked questions

Your account in the browser

“Sign in / Create account” opens the form directly in IconCU. “Fill in using browser” deliberately takes you to the account page and closes the app form. Confirm “Connect to IconCU” there only for an action you started yourself. The app picks up the confirmed login automatically. This connection request lasts five minutes.

Under Account you can edit saved details, change your password, confirm an email change or delete your account even when the app is closed. It is the same account with the same details. By default, your normal sign-in remains active until you sign out, including after you close the browser. Browser limits, deleted site data or changed session rules may require you to sign in again.

Your websites and the centre area

Use “Add website manually” in Browser management on the left to add a public web address. It appears in your website list. “⋯ → Remove manual website from list” removes that specific entry. These settings are separate from chat history.

Opening a second view uses the free half of the centre, keeping Second Layer and website chat visible together. If both spaces are already occupied, the left-hand view stays and the new view appears on the right. Open tabs are retained until you close them.

Guest access and your account

“My profile → Edit” loads your saved information. Username, first name and surname are fixed after registration. Date of birth, location and country use the same data as your account. Edit your private address and address supplement under “Account” in the app or on the browser account page. Your email address and its change action appear together. Changing your email requires your current password and a code sent to both the old and new addresses. Other sessions are then signed out. Your profile contact email is always your login address and is private by default. Your display name is public; you choose visibility for other profile fields.

Under “Visibility”, set chat mode, Second Layer mode and your presence on websites and in the layer separately. Presence is on for new accounts; your choice is saved. The presence list updates automatically. Switch between Light and Dark next to “My profile”. This choice also applies to separate windows and is retained for your local guest or account profile.

Website chats and public content work without an account. Sign in to publish in the Second Layer, rate, comment or use permanently saved personal and group conversations.

First choose a personal or business account when you register. A personal account cannot later be converted into a business account. Choose “Sign in / Create account”. An email address, unique username, date of birth and a password entered twice are required. Then verify your email with the code sent to you. The eye icon keeps a password visible until clicked again. “Fill in using browser” lets you use saved browser address suggestions. Usernames are not distinguished by letter case. Your name and address are optional; your address remains private. You choose whether your username or real name is displayed publicly. Business accounts can also display their company name.

Under “Account”, save personal details, change your password or permanently delete your account. Password changes and deletion require your current password and invalidate other logins. After account deletion, you can continue reading and chatting as a guest.

Test installation: which folder belongs to which browser?

Google Chrome, Brave and Microsoft Edge: always use chromium. Extract the ZIP first. Open chrome://extensions, brave://extensions or edge://extensions. Enable Developer mode → “Load unpacked” → select the entire chromium folder. Do not open popup.html.

Mozilla Firefox only: firefox. Open about:debugging → “This Firefox” → “Load Temporary Add-on”. Select manifest.json inside the firefox folder. This test installation lasts until the next browser restart. A permanently installable, Mozilla-signed extension is not yet available.

Then open the puzzle icon → IconCU. Enter the pairing code shown in the app under “Connect browser”. If the extension changed too, reload the unpacked extension in each browser you use. You can select the browser name in the extension if needed. Use the pin icon next to IconCU to pin it in the browser.

Messages, updates and hidden pages

New personal, group and All Chats messages open and maximise a hidden IconCU window. Turn automatic maximising off using the gear next to Personal & Groups on the right. Messages remain available through their notifications. New personal, group and All Chats messages have sound enabled by default. Available updates also make a sound. Five sounds and the message-sound switch are in the chat settings gear; update sounds remain in general app settings. Clicking a Windows notification opens the relevant chat or update settings; the click itself does not install an update.

Use ⋯ beside a tab to hide that page permanently. This also applies after a restart and in other connected browsers. The eye makes it visible again; find the list under Settings → Permanently hidden pages.

New updates automatically appear as a glowing notice at the top of the app. Windows also receives a notification once per version and app start. If Windows shows no notification, use Settings → Show test notification and open Windows settings. Do not disturb or disabled Windows banners can suppress notifications.

The live statistics page shows web and chat server availability, your browser’s connection time and the proportion of successful server checks. The graph displays minute-by-minute chat server checks for the last six hours. Missing checks leave gaps. The app’s centre stays available for your conversations.