Local device
Connect your own computer as a Nebula device. Install the desktop app and your agents can work with your files, your software, and your network.
A local device is your own computer, made available to Nebula agents through the desktop app. Use it when work has to happen on your machine — sensitive files, locally installed software, your own dev environment, a network only you can reach.
When to pick local
| Virtual device | Local device | |
|---|---|---|
| Where files live | Nebula's cloud | Your hard drive |
| Available | 24/7 | When your machine is on and the app is running |
| Sees your locally installed apps | No | Yes |
| Can reach your private network | No | Yes |
| Best for | Always-on automations, shared team work | Personal files, local development, private networks |
Setting up a local device
Download the desktop app
Get the Nebula desktop app from nebula.gg/download/desktop. Available for macOS, Windows, and Linux.
Install and sign in
Open the app, sign in with the same account you use on the web, and grant the permissions the installer asks for (file access, accessibility, network).
Add it as a device
In Nebula on the web, open the Devices section in the sidebar and click + → Local Device → Continue. Your machine pairs with the workspace automatically.
Stay online to use it
The local device is available to agents whenever the desktop app is running and you're signed in. Quit the app or put your machine to sleep, and the device goes offline.
Local devices show up in the sidebar with a status dot — green when reachable, grey when the desktop app isn't running.
What agents can do on your local device
Work with local files
Read and write files anywhere you grant access. Useful for documents, repos, and media you don't want in the cloud.
Use installed apps
Drive native apps you already have — IDEs, design tools, anything scriptable.
Reach private networks
Hit internal services, intranet dashboards, and APIs only reachable from your machine.
Run code in your environment
Use the versions and dependencies you already have set up locally — no fresh container.
Privacy & permissions
Local devices only see what you explicitly grant. The desktop app asks for access to specific folders, the network, and any system features it needs — you can revoke access at any time from system settings.
When you go offline, the device stops accepting work. Files and credentials stay on your machine; Nebula's cloud never has a copy.
Related
Virtual device
A virtual device is a cloud-hosted machine your workspace agents share — always on, with a pre-configured environment for code, browsing, and file work.
Settings & workspaces
Configure Nebula in Settings — your personal account and your shared workspace. Learn the Account vs Workspace split and how to switch workspaces.