Computer control: let agents use your computer
Turn on computer control in Nebula desktop so agents can run commands on your computer. Choose what they reach, add it to a channel, and share it.
Let agents work on your own computer. Turn on computer control, choose what they can reach, and add this computer to a channel.
With computer control on, agents can use your files, the tools you've installed, and anything only your computer can reach. It stays yours: you decide which workspaces and channels can use it, and you can take it back at any time.
Turn it on
Open Settings → Preferences → Computer control and pick one:
| Option | What it means |
|---|---|
| Allow using my computer | Runs in your folder, even when Nebula is closed |
| Allow only while Nebula is open | Same access, but the background helper stops when you quit Nebula |
| Don't allow | Chat and cloud tools only. Agents can't run commands on this computer |
You can also turn it on while adding a device. In the add-device dialog, choose This computer. Under Keep it reachable, pick Only while Nebula is open or Even when Nebula is closed, the latter keeping the helper running until you log out. Then click Enable this computer.
Choose what agents can reach
Once computer control is on, the same settings page decides how far it goes.
Primary folder is where agents' commands run from. Click Change… to pick another. Access sets how far those commands reach: Working folder only, or Whole system. Switching to Whole system takes a second click, so access never widens by accident.
Each workspace you're in has its own switch. Turn one on and agents in that workspace can run work on this computer. Leave it off and your computer isn't available to that workspace.
What your operating system lets Nebula see and do. On a Mac: Screen Recording, Accessibility, Microphone and Camera. On Windows: Screen capture, Microphone and Camera. Linux has nothing to grant. Allow… opens the exact system settings pane.
Status shows whether the background helper is running. Device ID is how this computer identifies itself to Nebula, which is useful when you contact support. View logs and Open logs folder are the first things to check if an agent can't reach your computer.
Add this computer to a channel
A channel's agents work on the channel's devices. When you create a channel on desktop, choose Use this computer in the Computer row. See Devices for managing a channel's devices after that.
If the channel is visible to the whole workspace, Nebula checks with you first, because everyone who can use the channel will be able to start work on your computer. Agents in the channel can run commands on it, and read and change files in your working folder and anywhere else your Access setting allows. Click Share this computer to go ahead. A private channel doesn't ask, because you chose who's in it.
You can take the computer out of the channel, or turn computer control off, at any time.
Share it with teammates
Your computer stays private to you unless you add it to a shared channel or name people who can use it. To name people, open Settings → Workspace → Devices and find your computer's card. Under People with access, "Your computer stays private to you. Anyone you name here can run work on it." Add teammates and click Save access.
Only you decide who's on that list. Workspace admins can't grant access to your computer for you.
Agents that live on your computer
An agent set up to run on your own computer is yours alone, and it answers only in your Nebula DM. To use that agent in a channel, move it to a cloud device.
Always-allowed device actions
To review the device actions you've told Nebula to always allow, open Settings → Account → Profile and scroll to Device access. Each row names the device and the kind of action: Read, Act or Computer control. Click Remove to take one back. With nothing allowed, the section reads No device actions always allowed.
From the terminal
The nebula-ai CLI can run the same helper, which suits a server or a computer without a screen. See Computer control from the CLI.
Common questions
Not sure an agent can reach your computer? Ask Nebula. It can check which devices a channel uses. For anything else, email support@nebula.gg with your Device ID.
Related
Capsule, Quick Chat and shortcuts
Keep Nebula a keystroke away on desktop with the floating Capsule, Quick Chat, QuickLive calls, the tray menu and global keyboard shortcuts.
Nebula CLI
Run Nebula from your terminal. Install the nebula-ai CLI, sign in once, and use the full-screen app to chat, join calls, and drive your workspace.