CONNECTED TOOLS · DESKTOP

Let a persona use your computer

Desktop Control connects a computer to your workspace. Assign that computer to a persona when its task needs desktop apps or command-line tools.

Use the desktop app

Open PersonaStack Desktop on the computer you want to connect. Sign in and select the intended workspace. Adding a computer requires the desktop app. A normal browser can show the integration but cannot complete its local setup.

On macOS, Desktop Control uses CUA. PersonaStack can help install it. CUA asks for its own system permissions. Choose a computer and account that are appropriate for the work you want the persona to perform.

Connect this computer

1. Open Integrations and choose Desktop Control.
2. Choose Add this Computer.
3. Check the workspace and enter a name you will recognize, such as Design Mac.
4. Choose Set Up CUA on macOS and follow the local setup prompts.
5. Return to the integration and check its status. Use Refresh status if needed.

If setup says the result could not be confirmed, use Check Again to recover that attempt. Read the status before starting setup again. Reconnecting the desktop can replace its previous Desktop Control integration and persona access, as explained by the setup confirmation.

Choose the computer for a persona

1. Open the intended persona’s settings.
2. Find Desktop Control.
3. Select the connected computer.
4. Wait for the setting to save, then open chat.

Start with a small task where you can see the result. Name the app and the intended action. Keep the computer available while the persona works.

Use the connected Design Mac to look at the document I have open. Summarize its section headings here. Do not edit the document or send anything.

Run commands on the computer

An assigned persona can run CLI commands through the PersonaStack desktop app. Commands run on the selected computer with its signed-in account's access. They can use that account's files and installed tools. Selecting Desktop Control includes this access.

Tell the persona which directory to use and what result you need. The persona can read output while a command runs, send requested input, check the exit status, and cancel the command. Interactive terminal mode supports programs that need a terminal. That mode combines standard output and error output.

On the connected Design Mac, run git status --short in /Users/alex/projects/website. Show me the result. Do not change files.

These commands use the connected computer. A hosted persona's ordinary shell uses its worker environment. Use with CLI connects a separate client to PersonaStack tools. See CLI and MCP setup for that connection.

Keep the computer awake and the PersonaStack app running. The app's window can be closed while its relay remains active. Pausing or disconnecting Desktop Control stops its managed command sessions. Output is bounded. Long results may show a shortened text preview. The exact output bytes for that page remain available to the persona in the tool result. If a result reports missing output, ask the persona to narrow the command or save its result on the computer. An uncertain result is not a reason to run a command again.

Understand the status

Connected, Offline, Limited readiness, and Waiting for heartbeat describe connection readiness. Access enabled or Access disabled is a separate access setting. Check both when the persona cannot use the computer.

On macOS, keep the Mac awake with your login session active. CUA checks whether desktop operations are available. If control remains unavailable after you wake or unlock the Mac, choose Refresh status. Use Check CUA Connection in the desktop app to inspect CUA readiness.

The desktop app retries a lost connection automatically while access remains enabled. Reconnecting does not repeat the persona’s last action. If an action’s result is uncertain, inspect the computer before trying that action again. If CUA itself stopped, use Set Up CUA in the desktop app to start it.

If a tool reports that its CUA session is unavailable, ask the persona to release Desktop Control and acquire it again. Read fresh desktop state before retrying the task. This does not require reinstalling CUA or changing its permissions.

A connected desktop and an AI Agent Location serve different purposes. Selecting a desktop does not move a cloud model onto that computer.

Stop or repair access

Clear the persona’s desktop selection when it no longer needs the computer. Review the integration’s removal confirmation before removing the connection. Removing PersonaStack does not also uninstall CUA.

For a connection problem, check the desktop app, local permissions, and displayed status. See integration troubleshooting for the next checks.

Need a hand? Contact the PersonaStack team.