Proviso

Install Proviso in 60 seconds

AI contract review inside Microsoft Word — no separate app, no copy-paste, no data leaving your machine without your key.

Requires Microsoft Word 2019 or Microsoft 365. Works on Mac and Windows.
Manifest URL — you'll paste this into Word
https://proviso.legal/manifest.xml
Step-by-step instructions
  1. 1
    Open Microsoft Word
    Open any document — a blank one is fine.
  2. 2
    Go to Insert → Add-ins
    In the ribbon at the top, click through:
    Insert Add-ins Upload My Add-in
  3. 3
    Choose "From URL"
    In the dialog that opens, select From URL (not "From File").
    Don't see "From URL"? One-time fix: Word → Preferences → Ribbon & Toolbar → check "Developer". Takes 10 seconds, only needed once.
  4. 4
    Paste the manifest URL
    Paste the manifest URL from above and click Install.
    https://proviso.legal/manifest.xml
  5. 5
    Add your API key in Settings
    The Proviso taskpane will open on the right side of Word. Go to the Settings tab and paste your LLM API key.
    You're ready. Open any contract and click Review.
  1. 1
    Open Microsoft Word
    Open any document — a blank one is fine.
  2. 2
    Go to Insert → Add-ins → My Add-ins
    In the ribbon at the top, click through:
    Insert Add-ins My Add-ins
  3. 3
    Upload My Add-in
    In the My Add-ins dialog, click Upload My Add-in in the top-right corner.
  4. 4
    Paste the manifest URL
    Paste the manifest URL from above and click Upload.
    https://proviso.legal/manifest.xml
  5. 5
    Add your API key in Settings
    The Proviso taskpane will open on the right side of Word. Go to the Settings tab and paste your LLM API key.
    You're ready. Open any contract and click Review.
Need an API key? Get one from Anthropic, OpenAI, or any major LLM provider. Proviso is provider-agnostic — your key, your model, your data.

Verify your install

Run through this checklist after installation to confirm everything is working.

What to expect from your first review

1
Proviso scans the full document. It reads every clause and classifies the contract type automatically — NDA, MSA, SOW, employment agreement, and more.
2
Issues are ranked by severity. HIGH issues are red flags (missing indemnity caps, one-sided terms). MEDIUM issues are negotiating points. LOW items are clean-up notes.
3
Each issue includes a suggested redline. Click any issue to see the specific clause, the risk, and what to ask for instead.
4
Ask follow-up questions. Switch to the Ask tab and ask anything about the contract — "What's the governing law?" or "Does this auto-renew?"

Common problems

Most install issues have a quick fix. Click a problem to expand the solution.

Proviso doesn't appear in Word after install
Usually a stale Word session. Try this:
  1. Quit Word completely (Cmd+Q on Mac, close all windows on Windows)
  2. Reopen Word and any document
  3. Check Insert > Add-ins > My Add-ins — Proviso should appear there
  4. If it's still missing, repeat the install steps and make sure you see a confirmation message after pasting the manifest URL
On Mac, if "From URL" isn't visible: Word > Preferences > Ribbon & Toolbar > check "Developer" — one-time, takes 10 seconds.
"API key invalid" or authentication error
Almost always a copy/paste issue:
  1. Go back to console.anthropic.com and copy the key fresh
  2. In Proviso Settings, clear the key field completely, then paste
  3. Make sure there are no leading or trailing spaces — the key should start with sk-ant-
  4. Click Save and try reviewing again
OpenAI keys start with sk-. If you're on a Managed plan, you don't need to add a key at all.
Review is taking more than 60 seconds
This is normal for long or complex contracts. A few things to know:
  1. Most reviews complete in 20-45 seconds for typical NDAs and MSAs
  2. Longer contracts (50+ pages) can take up to 90 seconds — this is expected
  3. If it's been over 2 minutes with no response, check your internet connection and try again
  4. If reviews consistently time out, email us — it may be a connectivity issue on your network
"Document not loading" or blank taskpane
A few things can cause this:
  1. Save the document first. Proviso can't read unsaved or temp files — use File > Save (Cmd+S) before reviewing
  2. Exit Reading Mode. If the document is in Read Mode, switch to Edit Mode (click "Edit Document" in the toolbar)
  3. Try a fresh document. Create a new Word doc, paste some contract text, save it, and run Review
If the taskpane itself is blank (white screen), close and reopen Proviso from the ribbon.
License key not activating
License activation issues are always resolved quickly:
  1. Make sure you're entering the key exactly as received — copy/paste from your order email
  2. Check that the key hasn't expired (trial keys have a 14-day window)
  3. If the key still won't activate, email [email protected] with your order confirmation
We'll get you sorted within a few hours.

Still stuck? We'll fix it.

Installation problems are usually solved in one email. Reach out and we'll walk you through it — most issues resolve in under an hour.

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Proviso Assistant
Installation & setup help
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