> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://agent.minimax.io/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Computer Use

> Let MiniMax Code operate apps on your macOS or Windows computer from the interactive TUI.

Computer Use lets MiniMax Code operate apps on your computer from the interactive TUI: moving the mouse, clicking, typing, and reading the screen when needed. It works on macOS and Windows, and the TUI must run in a graphical login session. For the desktop app, see [Computer Use](https://agent.minimax.io/docs/code/desktop/computer-use.md).

## Before You Start

1. Install and enable the official Computer Use plugin:

```bash theme={null}
mcode plugin add computer-use@official
mcode plugin enable computer-use@official
```

2. In an idle interactive TUI, check the component and permission status:

```text theme={null}
/computer-use status
```

3. On macOS, if system permissions are missing, request them for `MiniMax Computer Use` and follow the system prompts:

```text theme={null}
/computer-use permissions
```

Enabling the plugin does not request system permissions on its own; run the permissions command separately.

## Turn It On in a Session

### Select it with @

Type `@` in the TUI input box, pick the official Computer Use plugin, and send your message. The session keeps Computer Use for every following message, so you only need to `@` it once.

The TUI does not follow the desktop setting **Enable Computer Use in conversations by default**. Select it in each session where you need it.

### Start a task at launch

Launch the interactive TUI with `--computer-use` to select Computer Use for the session and submit the first task right away:

```bash theme={null}
mcode --computer-use "Open the browser and look up today's weather"
mcode --computer-use --session <session-id> "Continue the previous task"
mcode --computer-use --continue "Check the result of the last action"
```

* A non-empty task is required, and you can combine it with `--model`
* Before starting, the TUI checks that the plugin is installed and enabled and that the component and system permissions are ready. If anything is missing, it exits with an error and does not submit the task
* The flag does not install the plugin, request system permissions, or change global defaults
* It needs an interactive terminal and cannot be combined with `--session` without an ID (the session picker)

If you see an error that the plugin is not installed or enabled, run the `mcode plugin add` and `mcode plugin enable` commands above first.

### Turn it off

Disabling or uninstalling the Computer Use plugin clears the selection in your sessions. After you enable it again, select it with `@` again.

## Stop Computer Use

Cancelling the current action or exiting the TUI releases control of the computer.

## Not Supported

* Linux
* Headless runs such as `mcode exec`, ACP, scheduled tasks, and subtasks
* Controlling the same computer from the desktop app and the TUI at once. Only one of them can use Computer Use at a time; the other reports that the computer is busy until the current action ends

> [!WARNING]
>
> Computer Use clicks and types on your behalf. Keep an eye on the screen while it runs, and state the expected result in your instructions for actions that submit, send, or delete something.