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The SunGuard app runs SunGuard on your own computer. It installs Java for you, checks your license key, and starts the server. You don’t need to install Java, move files into folders, or edit license.txt.
Coming from the old launcher (SGL.exe)? The new app replaces it and can import your existing setup. See Moving from the old launcher.

What you need

  • Windows 10 or 11 (64-bit) or macOS 11 or newer (Apple silicon or Intel)
  • The SunGuard server file, for example SunGuard-1.1.1.jar, from BuiltByBit or wherever you bought SunGuard
  • Your license key. See Get your license key.
  • An internet connection. The first start downloads SunGuard’s components (about 155 MB), plus Java (about 190 MB) if you don’t already have Java 21 installed. Later starts don’t download anything.

Step 1: Install the app

Download for Windows

Windows 10 and 11, 64-bit. About 10 MB.

Download for macOS

macOS 11 or newer, Apple silicon and Intel. About 10 MB.
1

Run the installer

Double-click SunGuard-Setup-Windows.exe. It installs for your Windows user only, so it doesn’t ask for administrator rights.
2

If you see “Windows protected your PC”

Click More info, then Run anyway. Windows shows this for apps that aren’t signed with a paid certificate. You only see it once.
3

Open SunGuard

Open SunGuard from the Start menu or the desktop shortcut.

Step 2: Choose your server file

SunGuard welcome screen listing the server file and license key, with a Get started button
  1. Click Get started. Java starts downloading in the background right away; you can see its progress at the top right.
  2. Drag your SunGuard-x.y.z.jar into the window, or click Browse… and choose it. You can also choose the .zip you downloaded; the app finds the server file inside.
  3. When you see a green SunGuard Server x.y.z, click Continue.
Choose your SunGuard server file screen showing SunGuard Server 1.1.1 accepted
The app keeps its own copy of the server file, so you can delete the download afterwards. If you choose the wrong file, the app tells you what it is and what to choose instead. See Troubleshooting.

Step 3: Enter your license key

  1. Paste your license key.
  2. Click Check key. The app checks it with the license server for this computer.
  3. When you see License active, click Continue.
Enter your license key screen showing License active
You only enter your key once. The app remembers it.

Step 4: First start

The first start downloads SunGuard’s components (about 155 MB). This usually takes 3 to 5 minutes. Keep the app open. Later starts take a few seconds.
Starting SunGuard for the first time, with a checklist and a progress bar for server components
Click Show details if you want to see the server’s output while it starts.

Step 5: Open SunGuard

When you see SunGuard is running, click Open SunGuard. SunGuard opens in its own window. To use your web browser instead, click Open in browser.
SunGuard is running, with Open SunGuard, Open in browser, Restart and Stop buttons
  1. Log in with username admin and password admin.
  2. Change the password in SunGuard under Settings → Account.
  3. Drag and drop your .jar files, choose your obfuscation settings, and click Start Obfuscation.
Files you download from SunGuard go to your Downloads folder. ✅ You’re all set! SunGuard is now ready to secure your .jar files.

Everyday use

  • Starting: open the SunGuard app. It starts the server by itself and doesn’t ask any questions.
  • Closing the window: the first time, the app asks whether to keep SunGuard running in the background. If you keep it running, reopen the window from the SunGuard icon in the menu bar (macOS) or system tray (Windows).
  • Quitting: use Quit SunGuard in the menu bar or tray icon. This stops the server cleanly.
Keep SunGuard running? dialog with Stop SunGuard and quit and Keep running buttons

Settings

Click Settings at the top right to:
  • update SunGuard to a new version (Server file → Update…)
  • change your license key
  • give SunGuard more memory for large files
  • start SunGuard when you log in to your computer
  • choose whether SunGuard opens in its own window or your browser
SunGuard settings with server file, license key, memory, and app options

Updating SunGuard

  1. Download the new SunGuard-x.y.z.jar.
  2. In the app, go to Settings → Server file → Update… and choose the new file.
  3. Click Use this file and restart.
Your SunGuard data, login and license key stay as they are. The app keeps the previous version, so if the new one has a problem you can click Go back to x.y.z in Settings.

Troubleshooting

When something goes wrong, the app tells you what happened and offers a button to fix it.
Your license key was not accepted, with Change license key, Try again and Open setup guide buttons
You chose a plugin .jar instead of the SunGuard server. Choose the server file from your SunGuard purchase, usually named SunGuard-x.y.z.jar.
Error shown when a Minecraft plugin is chosen instead of the SunGuard server
The app also tells you if the file didn’t finish downloading, is damaged, or is the old launcher. In each case, download the server file again from the store and choose it.
Check that you’re using the key for your SunGuard purchase. If you moved SunGuard to a new computer, contact support to reset your key, then click Try again. To enter a different key, click Change license key.
Something is blocking SunGuard’s internet connection. Common causes are a VPN, a school or office network, or antivirus web protection.Go to Settings → Advanced → Test connection to see which connection is blocked, fix it, then click Try again.
Go to Settings → Advanced → Save diagnostics. The app saves a SunGuard-diagnostics-….zip file to your Desktop with logs and system details. Your license key is hidden in this file. Attach it to your support ticket.
  • macOS: ~/Library/SunGuard
  • Windows: %LOCALAPPDATA%\SunGuard
Click Settings → Data folder → Show to open it. Don’t move or edit these files while SunGuard is running.

Moving from the old launcher

If you used the old launcher (SGL.exe), you can bring over your server file, license key, and SunGuard data (login and history):
  1. Install and open the new app.
  2. On the welcome screen, click I used the old launcher, import my setup.
  3. Choose the folder that contains SGL.exe and server.jar.
  4. Check your license key and click Continue.
After SunGuard runs in the new app, you can delete the old folder.

Uninstalling

  • Windows: Settings → Apps → Installed apps → SunGuard → Uninstall.
  • macOS: quit SunGuard, then drag it from Applications to the Trash.
This removes the app but keeps your SunGuard data. To remove everything, also delete the data folder listed under Where does SunGuard keep its files?.