agent-zero/docs/quickstart.md

Quick Start

This guide gets you from install to a first useful chat. Keep it simple: start Agent Zero, add a model or API key, open the Web UI, and give it a concrete job.

Installation (recommended)

Run one command; the script handles Docker, image pull, and container setup.

macOS / Linux:

curl -fsSL https://bash.agent-zero.ai | bash

Windows (PowerShell):

irm https://ps.agent-zero.ai | iex

Follow the CLI prompts for port and authentication, complete onboarding, then open the Web UI URL from the terminal.

Tip

To update later, open Settings UI -> Update tab -> Open Self Update (see How to Update). Backups are automatically managed internally.

Note

For manual Docker Desktop setup, volume mapping, and platform-specific detail, see the Installation Guide.

Use Agent Zero on your real local files

If you want Agent Zero to work on the actual files on your computer, this is the important part.

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.

macOS / Linux:

curl -LsSf https://cli.agent-zero.ai/install.sh | sh

Windows (PowerShell):

irm https://cli.agent-zero.ai/install.ps1 | iex

Run those on the host machine, not inside the Agent Zero container.

Then launch:

a0

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.

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.

Open the Web UI and complete onboarding

Open your browser and navigate to http://localhost:<PORT>. The Web UI will show the onboarding banner. Click Start Onboarding to choose Cloud or Local, add a provider key or account connection, and select your main and utility models.

For a screenshot walkthrough using Agent Zero API with claude-opus-4-6, see the First-Run Onboarding guide.

Note

Agent Zero supports hosted providers and local models. You can use the same provider for main and utility work, or choose separate providers for each.

Start your first chat

Once configured, you will see the Agent Zero dashboard.

Click New Chat and start with a specific request.

Good first prompts:

Create a short plan for organizing my project notes.

Use the Browser to research three options for this tool and summarize the tradeoffs.

Help me create a project for this repository and write good instructions for it.

Tip

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.

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Example Interaction

Try a small request first so you can see how Agent Zero thinks, uses tools, and reports progress.

1. Type a concrete request in the chat input and press Enter.
2. Watch the streamed response and any tool calls.
3. Redirect the agent if it starts moving in the wrong direction.
4. Ask for the final result in the format you want.

Here's an example of what you might see in the Web UI at step 3:

Next Steps

Now that you've run a simple task, you can experiment with more complex requests. Try asking Agent Zero to:

• Create a project for a focused workspace.
• Use the built-in Browser to research, screenshot, or annotate a page.
• Open the Desktop when you want Linux GUI apps or LibreOffice Cowork.
• Review Memory when Agent Zero seems to keep the wrong assumption.
• Connect A0 CLI when Agent Zero should work on host-machine files.
• Use + -> Skills when you want to pin or remove a skill in the current chat.
• Switch Agent Profiles from the menu near the chat input when you want a different working style.
• Use the first model dropdown when you want to choose or edit Model Presets.
• Attach files and ask for a summary, edit, or conversion.
• Create a scheduled task for recurring work.
• Explore plugins when you need installed integrations or custom UI features.

Open A0 Browser Guide

Explains the built-in Browser, live Browser Canvas, screenshots, annotations, host-browser mode through A0 CLI, and Chrome extensions.

Open A0 Desktop Guide

Shows the right-side Canvas Linux desktop, the New menu for Markdown/Writer/Spreadsheet/Presentation files, and LibreOffice Cowork.

Open A0 Memory Guide

Explains how to search, edit, delete, export, and curate memories before stale context starts steering the agent.

Open A0 Skills Guide

Shows the chat input + menu, the Skills selector, and how active skills are added to prompt extras.

Open A0 Agent Profiles Guide

Shows how to switch profiles in a chat and start the guided profile-creation flow.

Open A0 Model Presets Guide

Explains presets as simple named shortcuts for model setups.

Open A0 Usage Guide

Provides more in-depth information on chat controls, tools, projects, tasks, and backup/restore.

Video Tutorials

• MCP Server Setup
• Projects & Workspaces
• Memory Management