Let agents use your computer

Some jobs happen in desktop apps, not on a website: a spreadsheet, a design tool, a settings window. With the UFO desktop app, an agent can open apps, read windows, click and type on your computer — in the background, without taking your mouse — and only when you asked.

#Turn it on in the desktop app

This lives in the UFO desktop app for Mac and Windows. The web app and phones don't have it.

1. Open Settings → This device.
2. Under Let agents use this computer, if the screen asks for a helper, press Install and wait for it to finish. This is a one-time download.
3. On a Mac, grant the two permissions it asks for (next section).
4. Switch on Allow your workspace's agents to use this computer.

When it's on, the row says On — a bar at the top shows when an agent is using it for you.

#One switch per workspace

The switch is off until you turn it on, and it only covers the workspace you turned it on in. If you belong to several workspaces, each has its own switch — turning it on in one doesn't open your computer to the others.

#Grant the Mac permissions

macOS asks for two permissions for the helper you installed:

1. Press Request permissions.
2. In System Settings → Privacy & Security, switch the helper on under both permissions. Its name is the one the UFO settings screen shows.
3. Back in UFO, press Check again. Both items get a check mark.

#Let it reach windows opened as administrator on Windows

Windows keeps apps that were opened as administrator apart from everything else, so agents can't operate them at first. When that applies to your computer, Settings → This device shows a Windows opened as administrator row.

1. Press Set up. When you turn the switch on, UFO may also ask Let agents use admin windows too? — press Set up there.
2. Windows asks you to approve once. After that it works by itself.

If your Windows account isn't an administrator, the row says agents can't operate those windows, and there's nothing to set up. Agents can't answer the Windows approval prompt itself — that one is always yours.

#What you see while an agent works

• A bar at the top of UFO, such as An agent in #design is using this computer for Alex — with your name. Click the channel name to go to that channel. Stop is on the right.
• A system notification when an agent starts — … is using this computer. Open UFO to stop it. — so you notice even when you're in another app.
• The agent works in the background. Your mouse and the app you're in stay yours, but windows the agent opens may show up on top of others.

The bar goes away shortly after the agent's last action.

#Who can use your computer

• Only you. An agent uses your computer only for requests you made — your messages and your voice calls. Agents working for other members never use it, and nobody can tell an agent to use someone else's computer.
• Only your own computer. Your requests reach only computers where you turned the switch on.
• Your schedules too. A schedule you set up runs as your request, so it can use your computer as well.
• Work that an agent or a bot started on its own doesn't get your computer.
• Only while UFO is running on that computer.

If you've turned it on on more than one computer, say which one: "On my MacBook, open Keynote and …"

#Things to ask

• "Open Numbers and make a chart from sales.csv."
• "In the Excel file that's open, sort the second sheet by date."
• "Open System Settings and tell me which Wi-Fi network I'm on."
• "Fill in the form in the app that's open with the details from my last message."

Some things agents can't do on your computer, even when it's on: read or set your clipboard, upload or download files through a browser, or record your screen.

#Stop it or turn it off

To stop the agent's work (not just its use of your computer), press Stop in the channel or type !stop — see Chat commands.

#Related

• Browser automation — let agents use your own Chrome
• Talk by voice — ask by voice; it counts as your request
• Scheduling & automation
• Privacy & data