| 1 | # Quick Start |
| 2 | |
| 3 | This guide gets you from install to a first useful chat. Keep it simple: start |
| 4 | Agent Zero, add a model or API key, open the Web UI, and give it a concrete job. |
| 5 | |
| 6 | ## Installation (recommended) |
| 7 | |
| 8 | Choose the path that matches your machine: |
| 9 | |
| 10 | - Use [A0 Launcher](guides/launcher.md) if you want a desktop app on a fresh |
| 11 | machine. It can set up the local runtime, download Agent Zero, open |
| 12 | Instances, or save a remote Instance URL. |
| 13 | - Use A0 Install if you want the terminal path. The script handles Docker |
| 14 | detection, image pull, and container setup. |
| 15 | |
| 16 | **macOS / Linux:** |
| 17 | ```bash |
| 18 | curl -fsSL https://bash.agent-zero.ai | bash |
| 19 | ``` |
| 20 | |
| 21 | **Windows (PowerShell):** |
| 22 | ```powershell |
| 23 | irm https://ps.agent-zero.ai | iex |
| 24 | ``` |
| 25 | |
| 26 | Follow the CLI prompts for port and authentication, complete onboarding, then open the Web UI URL from the terminal. |
| 27 | |
| 28 | > [!TIP] |
| 29 | > To update later, open **Settings UI -> Update tab -> Open Self Update** (see [How to Update](setup/installation.md#how-to-update-agent-zero)). Backups are automatically managed internally. |
| 30 | |
| 31 | > [!NOTE] |
| 32 | > For Launcher downloads, headless installer flags, direct Docker, manual Docker Desktop setup, volume mapping, and platform-specific detail, see the [Installation Guide](setup/installation.md). |
| 33 | |
| 34 | ## Use Agent Zero on your real local files |
| 35 | |
| 36 | If you want Agent Zero to work on the actual files on your computer, this is the important part. |
| 37 | |
| 38 | Agent Zero stays in Docker for safety. The A0 CLI installs and runs on your host machine. It is not another CLI agent; it is the connector that lets your running Agent Zero instance work on the real files on your real computer. |
| 39 | |
| 40 | **macOS / Linux:** |
| 41 | ```bash |
| 42 | curl -LsSf https://cli.agent-zero.ai/install.sh | sh |
| 43 | ``` |
| 44 | |
| 45 | **Windows (PowerShell):** |
| 46 | ```powershell |
| 47 | irm https://cli.agent-zero.ai/install.ps1 | iex |
| 48 | ``` |
| 49 | |
| 50 | Run those on the host machine, not inside the Agent Zero container. |
| 51 | |
| 52 | Then launch: |
| 53 | |
| 54 | ```bash |
| 55 | a0 |
| 56 | ``` |
| 57 | |
| 58 | Once `a0` connects, open or create a chat there. The reasoning still belongs to Agent Zero; the CLI is the host bridge that lets it work on real local files on your machine. |
| 59 | |
| 60 | For the full setup flow, host picker screenshots, command palette guidance, Browser mode commands, manual fallback install paths, remote-host tips, and a copy-ready brief for another agent, see the [A0 CLI Connector guide](guides/a0-cli-connector.md). |
| 61 | |
| 62 | ### Open the Web UI and complete onboarding |
| 63 | |
| 64 | Open your browser and navigate to `http://localhost:<PORT>`. The Web UI will |
| 65 | open on the welcome screen. If models still need setup, send a message or use |
| 66 | the setup shortcuts to choose Cloud, AI account, or Local access, then select |
| 67 | your main and utility models. |
| 68 | |
| 69 |  |
| 70 | |
| 71 | For a screenshot walkthrough using OpenRouter, see the |
| 72 | [First-Run Onboarding guide](guides/onboarding.md). |
| 73 | |
| 74 | > [!NOTE] |
| 75 | > Agent Zero supports hosted providers, account-backed providers, and local |
| 76 | > models. Choose a strong main model for chat and a fast utility model for |
| 77 | > internal tasks. |
| 78 | |
| 79 | ### Start your first chat |
| 80 | |
| 81 | Once configured, you will see the Agent Zero dashboard. |
| 82 | |
| 83 |  |
| 84 | |
| 85 | Click **New Chat** and start with a specific request. |
| 86 | |
| 87 | Good first prompts: |
| 88 | |
| 89 | ```text |
| 90 | Create a short plan for organizing my project notes. |
| 91 | ``` |
| 92 | |
| 93 | ```text |
| 94 | Use the Browser to research three options for this tool and summarize the tradeoffs. |
| 95 | ``` |
| 96 | |
| 97 | ```text |
| 98 | Help me create a project for this repository and write good instructions for it. |
| 99 | ``` |
| 100 | |
| 101 | > [!TIP] |
| 102 | > The Web UI provides a comprehensive chat actions dropdown with options for managing conversations, including creating new chats, resetting, saving/loading, and many more advanced features. Chats are saved in JSON format in the `/usr/chats` directory. |
| 103 | > |
| 104 | >  |
| 105 | |
| 106 | --- |
| 107 | |
| 108 | ## Example Interaction |
| 109 | |
| 110 | Try a small request first so you can see how Agent Zero thinks, uses tools, and |
| 111 | reports progress. |
| 112 | |
| 113 | 1. Type a concrete request in the chat input and press Enter. |
| 114 | 2. Watch the streamed response and any tool calls. |
| 115 | 3. Redirect the agent if it starts moving in the wrong direction. |
| 116 | 4. Ask for the final result in the format you want. |
| 117 | |
| 118 | Here's an example of what you might see in the Web UI at step 3: |
| 119 | |
| 120 |  |
| 121 | |
| 122 | ## Next Steps |
| 123 | Now that you've run a simple task, you can experiment with more complex requests. Try asking Agent Zero to: |
| 124 | |
| 125 | - Create a project for a focused workspace. |
| 126 | - Use the built-in Browser to research, screenshot, or annotate a page. |
| 127 | - Open the Desktop when you want Linux GUI apps or LibreOffice Cowork. |
| 128 | - Review Memory when Agent Zero seems to keep the wrong assumption. |
| 129 | - Connect A0 CLI when Agent Zero should work on host-machine files. |
| 130 | - Use **+ -> Skills** when you want to pin or remove a skill in the current chat. |
| 131 | - Switch Agent Profiles from the menu near the chat input when you want a different working style. |
| 132 | - Use the first model dropdown when you want to choose or edit Model Presets. |
| 133 | - Attach files and ask for a summary, edit, or conversion. |
| 134 | - Create a scheduled task for recurring work. |
| 135 | - Explore plugins when you need installed integrations or custom UI features. |
| 136 | |
| 137 | ### [Open A0 Browser Guide](guides/browser.md) |
| 138 | |
| 139 | Explains the built-in Browser, live Browser Canvas, screenshots, annotations, host-browser mode through A0 CLI, and Chrome extensions. |
| 140 | |
| 141 | ### [Open A0 Desktop Guide](guides/desktop.md) |
| 142 | |
| 143 | Shows the right-side Canvas Linux desktop, the New menu for Markdown/Writer/Spreadsheet/Presentation files, and LibreOffice Cowork. |
| 144 | |
| 145 | ### [Open A0 Memory Guide](guides/memory.md) |
| 146 | |
| 147 | Explains how to search, edit, delete, export, and curate memories before stale context starts steering the agent. |
| 148 | |
| 149 | ### [Open A0 Skills Guide](guides/skills.md) |
| 150 | |
| 151 | Shows the chat input **+** menu, the Skills selector, and how active skills are added to prompt protocol. |
| 152 | |
| 153 | ### [Open A0 Agent Profiles Guide](guides/agent-profiles.md) |
| 154 | |
| 155 | Shows how to switch profiles, create one in Easy mode, edit prompts in Advanced |
| 156 | mode, and set Tool, MCP, Skill, and project-availability policies. |
| 157 | |
| 158 | ### [Open A0 Model Presets Guide](guides/model-presets.md) |
| 159 | |
| 160 | Explains presets as simple named shortcuts for model setups. |
| 161 | |
| 162 | ### [Open A0 Usage Guide](guides/usage.md) |
| 163 | |
| 164 | Provides more in-depth information on chat controls, tools, projects, tasks, and backup/restore. |
| 165 | |
| 166 | ## Video Tutorials |
| 167 | - [MCP Server Setup](https://youtu.be/pM5f4Vz3_IQ) |
| 168 | - [Projects & Workspaces](https://youtu.be/RrTDp_v9V1c) |
| 169 | - [Memory Management](https://youtu.be/sizjAq2-d9s) |