Local agents vs cloud agents
MultiClaw supports two kinds of agents: local agents that live on your machine, and cloud agents that live in MultiClaw Cloud and run on a cloud desktop. Which kind you see depends on how your app is connected.
Local agents vs cloud agents
| Local agents | Cloud agents | |
|---|---|---|
| Where stored | Your machine (~/.openclaw/) | MultiClaw Cloud |
| Who can access them | Only you, on the machine where they were created | Any workspace member with permission |
| When they run | Only while your machine is on | Continuously on a cloud desktop (subject to platform availability) |
| Best for | Personal use, privacy-sensitive work, testing | Teams, automation that runs continuously |
Why your agent list may look different
The desktop app shows a different list depending on your connection state.
When you're connected to a cloud desktop, you see your cloud agents. When you're running in local mode — no cloud desktop connected — you see your local agents. Switching modes changes the list entirely.
If your agent list suddenly looks empty or unfamiliar, check the status bar at the bottom of the app. It shows whether you're connected to a cloud desktop or running locally.
Local and cloud agents don't automatically sync. An agent you created locally won't appear in the cloud until you export and import it.
Moving agents between local and cloud
To use a local agent on a cloud desktop — or bring a cloud agent to your local machine — export it from the source and import it at the destination.
See Export and import agents for step-by-step instructions.
Related articles
What are agents?
Agents are AI assistants that plan, act, and complete tasks on your behalf — here's what they can do and how they work.
Create an agent
Build a new agent in minutes using the creation wizard — choose a name, model, personality, and tools.
Export and import agents
Save an agent to a file and load it on another machine or share it with a teammate — takes about a minute.