[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":609},["ShallowReactive",2],{"help-category-\u002Fagents\u002Flocal-agents-vs-cloud-agents":3,"help-article-\u002Fagents\u002Flocal-agents-vs-cloud-agents":4,"related-articles-\u002Fagents\u002Flocal-agents-vs-cloud-agents":172},[],{"id":5,"title":6,"body":7,"category":155,"description":156,"draft":157,"extension":158,"meta":159,"navigation":160,"order":161,"path":162,"relatedArticles":163,"seo":167,"slug":26,"stem":168,"updatedAt":169,"__hash__":170,"excerpt":156,"searchText":171},"help\u002Fhelp\u002Fagents\u002F04.local-agents-vs-cloud-agents.md","Local agents vs cloud agents",{"type":8,"value":9,"toc":148},"minimark",[10,23,27,106,110,113,122,125,132,136,139],[11,12,13,14,18,19,22],"p",{},"MultiClaw supports two kinds of agents: ",[15,16,17],"strong",{},"local agents"," that live on your machine, and ",[15,20,21],{},"cloud agents"," that live in MultiClaw Cloud and run on a cloud desktop. Which kind you see depends on how your app is connected.",[24,25,6],"h2",{"id":26},"local-agents-vs-cloud-agents",[28,29,30,45],"table",{},[31,32,33],"thead",{},[34,35,36,39,42],"tr",{},[37,38],"th",{},[37,40,41],{},"Local agents",[37,43,44],{},"Cloud agents",[46,47,48,67,80,93],"tbody",{},[34,49,50,56,64],{},[51,52,53],"td",{},[15,54,55],{},"Where stored",[51,57,58,59,63],{},"Your machine (",[60,61,62],"code",{},"~\u002F.openclaw\u002F",")",[51,65,66],{},"MultiClaw Cloud",[34,68,69,74,77],{},[51,70,71],{},[15,72,73],{},"Who can access them",[51,75,76],{},"Only you, on the machine where they were created",[51,78,79],{},"Any workspace member with permission",[34,81,82,87,90],{},[51,83,84],{},[15,85,86],{},"When they run",[51,88,89],{},"Only while your machine is on",[51,91,92],{},"Continuously on a cloud desktop (subject to platform availability)",[34,94,95,100,103],{},[51,96,97],{},[15,98,99],{},"Best for",[51,101,102],{},"Personal use, privacy-sensitive work, testing",[51,104,105],{},"Teams, automation that runs continuously",[24,107,109],{"id":108},"why-your-agent-list-may-look-different","Why your agent list may look different",[11,111,112],{},"The desktop app shows a different list depending on your connection state.",[11,114,115,116,118,119,121],{},"When you're connected to a cloud desktop, you see your ",[15,117,21],{},". When you're running in local mode — no cloud desktop connected — you see your ",[15,120,17],{},". Switching modes changes the list entirely.",[11,123,124],{},"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.",[126,127,129],"callout",{"type":128},"note",[11,130,131],{},"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.",[24,133,135],{"id":134},"moving-agents-between-local-and-cloud","Moving agents between local and cloud",[11,137,138],{},"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.",[11,140,141,142,147],{},"See ",[143,144,146],"a",{"href":145},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fagents\u002Fexport-and-import-agents","Export and import agents"," for step-by-step instructions.",{"title":149,"searchDepth":150,"depth":150,"links":151},"",2,[152,153,154],{"id":26,"depth":150,"text":6},{"id":108,"depth":150,"text":109},{"id":134,"depth":150,"text":135},"agents","Understand the difference between local and cloud agents, when to use each, and why your agent list sometimes looks different.",false,"md",{},true,4,"\u002Fagents\u002Flocal-agents-vs-cloud-agents",[164,165,166],"agents\u002Fwhat-are-agents","agents\u002Fcreate-an-agent","agents\u002Fexport-and-import-agents",{"title":6,"description":156},"help\u002Fagents\u002F04.local-agents-vs-cloud-agents",null,"Be-4vHk5EfqKg7bbsFgtIXKdQQP5r0K2nE2eMkpGgNs","Local agents vs cloud agents Understand the difference between local and cloud agents, when to use each, and why your agent list sometimes looks different.",[173,320,430],{"id":174,"title":175,"body":176,"category":155,"description":308,"draft":157,"extension":158,"meta":309,"navigation":160,"order":310,"path":311,"relatedArticles":312,"seo":315,"slug":316,"stem":317,"updatedAt":169,"__hash__":318,"excerpt":308,"searchText":319},"help\u002Fhelp\u002Fagents\u002F01.what-are-agents.md","What are agents?",{"type":8,"value":177,"toc":303},[178,181,184,188,214,219,221,286,289,293,300],[11,179,180],{},"An agent is an AI assistant you configure to work for you. You give it a name, a personality, an AI model, and tools — then it can chat with you, draft plans, execute tasks, and repeat workflows automatically.",[11,182,183],{},"Before executing a task, an agent proposes a step-by-step plan for your review. You approve or reject the plan before any action is taken.",[24,185,187],{"id":186},"what-agents-can-do","What agents can do",[189,190,191,195,198,201,204,207],"ul",{},[192,193,194],"li",{},"Answer questions and hold conversations",[192,196,197],{},"Draft step-by-step plans for tasks and wait for your approval",[192,199,200],{},"Execute tasks on a cloud desktop — browsing the web, filling forms, editing files",[192,202,203],{},"Use MCP tools to connect to apps like GitHub, Slack, Google Drive, and others",[192,205,206],{},"Run recorded browser workflows and reusable skills — each run is subject to your approval before execution",[192,208,209,210,213],{},"Delegate subtasks to other agents (",[15,211,212],{},"subagents",") — delegation is included in the plan you approve before execution begins",[126,215,216],{"type":128},[11,217,218],{},"If you configure agents to communicate with third parties — for example, sending emails or submitting forms on your behalf — you are responsible for ensuring those parties are informed they may be interacting with an automated AI system, as required by applicable law in your jurisdiction.",[24,220,6],{"id":26},[28,222,223,235],{},[31,224,225],{},[34,226,227,229,232],{},[37,228],{},[37,230,231],{},"Local agent",[37,233,234],{},"Cloud agent",[46,236,237,249,261,274],{},[34,238,239,243,247],{},[51,240,241],{},[15,242,55],{},[51,244,58,245,63],{},[60,246,62],{},[51,248,66],{},[34,250,251,256,259],{},[51,252,253],{},[15,254,255],{},"Who can access it",[51,257,258],{},"Only you, on that device",[51,260,79],{},[34,262,263,268,271],{},[51,264,265],{},[15,266,267],{},"Syncs across devices",[51,269,270],{},"No",[51,272,273],{},"Yes",[34,275,276,281,283],{},[51,277,278],{},[15,279,280],{},"Runs 24\u002F7",[51,282,89],{},[51,284,285],{},"Yes, on a cloud desktop",[11,287,288],{},"Use local agents for personal work you want to keep private. Use cloud agents when your team needs shared access or you want agents running continuously.",[24,290,292],{"id":291},"agent-personalities","Agent personalities",[11,294,295,296,299],{},"Every agent has a ",[15,297,298],{},"personality"," — a system prompt that controls how it thinks, responds, and behaves. A personality might say: \"You are a senior software engineer who reviews pull requests with a focus on security and clarity.\"",[11,301,302],{},"The personality is optional, but it makes a significant difference. An agent without a personality will be generic. One with a well-written personality will feel purpose-built for your workflow.",{"title":149,"searchDepth":150,"depth":150,"links":304},[305,306,307],{"id":186,"depth":150,"text":187},{"id":26,"depth":150,"text":6},{"id":291,"depth":150,"text":292},"Agents are AI assistants that plan, act, and complete tasks on your behalf — here's what they can do and how they work.",{},1,"\u002Fagents\u002Fwhat-are-agents",[165,313,314],"agents\u002Fset-up-an-agent-profile","conversations\u002Freview-plans-and-approvals",{"title":175,"description":308},"what-are-agents","help\u002Fagents\u002F01.what-are-agents","fQhtPN58rCzs7yUj7Wctzo3MqDyxvNS6F340jCdn6C8","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.",{"id":321,"title":322,"body":323,"category":155,"description":422,"draft":157,"extension":158,"meta":423,"navigation":160,"order":150,"path":424,"relatedArticles":425,"seo":426,"slug":338,"stem":427,"updatedAt":169,"__hash__":428,"excerpt":422,"searchText":429},"help\u002Fhelp\u002Fagents\u002F02.create-an-agent.md","Create an agent",{"type":8,"value":324,"toc":418},[325,336,339,379,382,386,389],[11,326,327,328,331,332,335],{},"Creating an agent takes about two minutes. Open ",[15,329,330],{},"My Agents",", click ",[15,333,334],{},"Create Agent",", and the wizard walks you through four steps. Your agent is available to chat the moment you finish.",[24,337,322],{"id":338},"create-an-agent",[340,341,342,348,354,365,371],"ol",{},[192,343,344,345,347],{},"Open ",[15,346,330],{}," from the left navigation.",[192,349,350,351,353],{},"Click ",[15,352,334],{},".",[192,355,356,359,360,364],{},[15,357,358],{},"Name & model"," — enter a name that describes what the agent does and choose an AI model. The model list shows only providers you've already configured. If you don't see any, ",[143,361,363],{"href":362},"\u002Fhelp\u002Ftools-integrations\u002Fset-up-your-ai-model","add an LLM provider"," first.",[192,366,367,370],{},[15,368,369],{},"Personality"," — type a system prompt that describes how the agent should behave. This step is optional but recommended.",[192,372,373,376,377,353],{},[15,374,375],{},"Review"," — confirm your settings, then click ",[15,378,334],{},[11,380,381],{},"Your new agent appears in the list immediately.",[24,383,385],{"id":384},"write-an-effective-personality","Write an effective personality",[11,387,388],{},"The personality is a free-text system prompt — plain English instructions that shape how the agent thinks and responds.",[189,390,391,397,402,407,413],{},[192,392,393,396],{},[15,394,395],{},"Do"," be specific about role and expertise: \"You are a senior financial analyst who writes concise reports.\"",[192,398,399,401],{},[15,400,395],{}," include output preferences: \"Always structure answers with a summary first, then detail.\"",[192,403,404,406],{},[15,405,395],{}," set constraints: \"Never make assumptions about deadlines — always ask if the timeline isn't clear.\"",[192,408,409,412],{},[15,410,411],{},"Don't"," write a wall of instructions. Three to six focused sentences outperform twenty vague ones.",[192,414,415,417],{},[15,416,411],{}," include task-specific content — personalities set behavior, not individual job instructions.",{"title":149,"searchDepth":150,"depth":150,"links":419},[420,421],{"id":338,"depth":150,"text":322},{"id":384,"depth":150,"text":385},"Build a new agent in minutes using the creation wizard — choose a name, model, personality, and tools.",{},"\u002Fagents\u002Fcreate-an-agent",[164,313,166],{"title":322,"description":422},"help\u002Fagents\u002F02.create-an-agent","y9_RcQyVan-LGI2yPSffMeOc9M7VTtdOd_mPw9YF_pU","Create an agent Build a new agent in minutes using the creation wizard — choose a name, model, personality, and tools.",{"id":431,"title":146,"body":432,"category":155,"description":598,"draft":157,"extension":158,"meta":599,"navigation":160,"order":600,"path":601,"relatedArticles":602,"seo":604,"slug":605,"stem":606,"updatedAt":169,"__hash__":607,"excerpt":598,"searchText":608},"help\u002Fhelp\u002Fagents\u002F05.export-and-import-agents.md",{"type":8,"value":433,"toc":591},[434,437,441,457,461,493,497,543,548,552,566,570,579],[11,435,436],{},"You can export any agent as a file and import it on another machine or share it with a teammate. The exported file captures the agent's configuration — not its conversation history.",[24,438,440],{"id":439},"export-an-agent","Export an agent",[340,442,443,448,454],{},[192,444,344,445,447],{},[15,446,330],{}," and select the agent you want to export.",[192,449,350,450,453],{},[15,451,452],{},"Export"," in the agent detail view.",[192,455,456],{},"Choose a location to save the file.",[24,458,460],{"id":459},"import-an-agent","Import an agent",[340,462,463,467,473,476,487],{},[192,464,344,465,353],{},[15,466,330],{},[192,468,350,469,472],{},[15,470,471],{},"Import Agent"," at the top of the screen.",[192,474,475],{},"Select the exported file using the file picker.",[192,477,478,479,482,483,486],{},"If an agent with the same name already exists, a dialog appears. Either edit the pre-filled name in the ",[15,480,481],{},"New name"," field to keep both agents, or check ",[15,484,485],{},"Overwrite existing agent"," to replace it.",[192,488,350,489,492],{},[15,490,491],{},"Import"," to confirm. The agent appears in your list immediately.",[24,494,496],{"id":495},"what-the-file-contains","What the file contains",[28,498,499,509],{},[31,500,501],{},[34,502,503,506],{},[37,504,505],{},"Included",[37,507,508],{},"Not included",[46,510,511,519,527,535],{},[34,512,513,516],{},[51,514,515],{},"Agent name",[51,517,518],{},"Conversation history",[34,520,521,524],{},[51,522,523],{},"Description",[51,525,526],{},"Approval records",[34,528,529,532],{},[51,530,531],{},"Personality (system prompt)",[51,533,534],{},"Audit trail",[34,536,537,540],{},[51,538,539],{},"AI model selection",[51,541,542],{},"Usage statistics",[126,544,545],{"type":128},[11,546,547],{},"Approval records and audit logs are stored in MultiClaw Cloud and are not included in the exported file. They remain accessible in your workspace regardless of agent exports.",[24,549,551],{"id":550},"common-use-cases","Common use cases",[189,553,554,557,560,563],{},[192,555,556],{},"Moving an agent from your work machine to another device",[192,558,559],{},"Sharing a well-configured agent with a teammate",[192,561,562],{},"Backing up an agent before making significant changes to its personality or tools",[192,564,565],{},"Exporting as a starting point — import, then modify for a different use case",[24,567,569],{"id":568},"known-limitations","Known limitations",[126,571,573],{"type":572},"warning",[11,574,575,578],{},[15,576,577],{},"Subagent references may break."," If the agent delegates to subagents, those references use agent IDs. If those agents don't exist on the target machine, the subagent links will not work. Re-link them after importing.",[126,580,581],{"type":128},[11,582,583,586,587,590],{},[15,584,585],{},"Model may fall back to default."," If the AI model used by the exported agent isn't configured on the target machine, MultiClaw falls back to the default model. Check the ",[15,588,589],{},"Profile"," tab after importing.",{"title":149,"searchDepth":150,"depth":150,"links":592},[593,594,595,596,597],{"id":439,"depth":150,"text":440},{"id":459,"depth":150,"text":460},{"id":495,"depth":150,"text":496},{"id":550,"depth":150,"text":551},{"id":568,"depth":150,"text":569},"Save an agent to a file and load it on another machine or share it with a teammate — takes about a minute.",{},5,"\u002Fagents\u002Fexport-and-import-agents",[165,313,603],"agents\u002Flocal-agents-vs-cloud-agents",{"title":146,"description":598},"export-and-import-agents","help\u002Fagents\u002F05.export-and-import-agents","lmGRhTMB2C3q3aIuw0yLuhKWaApryrf-zoeKaR2KKuk","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.",1778463885920]