FAQ
Short answers to common questions about DeskWink, your files and your AI apps.
What does DeskWink do?
DeskWink lets the AI you already use, such as Claude or ChatGPT, work with folders on your own Windows PC or Mac. You install a small command-line program, pair it with your account, choose the folders to share, and add one connector address in your AI app.
Can my AI change my files without asking me?
No. Reading and searching the folders you chose does not need approval. Every change to a file is shown to you as a preview first, and nothing is written until you approve it. DeskWink also saves a local backup of the original before it applies a change.
Does DeskWink store my files?
No. File contents pass through DeskWink on their way between your computer and your AI app, but they are not written to our database, logs or backups. We keep account details, computer names and folder paths, and a short activity record (which tool, which path, when, and the result).
Which AI apps does it work with?
DeskWink works with remote MCP clients such as Claude and ChatGPT where your plan allows custom connectors. Whether you can add a custom connector depends on your AI provider and your plan with them. DeskWink does not change those plans or their limits.
Do I need to be a developer?
You need to be comfortable opening a terminal and running two commands. If you already use a coding agent such as Claude Code or Codex, you can give it a short instruction and let it do the installation for you. You still confirm the pairing yourself in your browser.
Does it work when my computer is off?
No. DeskWink runs on your computer only after you start it with deskwink launch. If the computer is off, asleep or the program is stopped, requests fail straight away. DeskWink does not queue requests and does not run old ones later.
Does DeskWink start by itself?
No. There is no automatic start at login by default. After a restart you run deskwink launch again. You do not need to pair again.
Can my AI run commands on my computer?
Not by default. Running commands is off until you turn it on in your own terminal, and it is planned for the Pro plan. Each command is approved by you, in a terminal on that computer, before it runs. The web console can reject a command but cannot approve one.
How do I stop everything?
Run deskwink stop on the computer: it stops DeskWink there at once. In the console you can also disconnect all your computers with one action, and revoke an AI app’s access at any time.
Does DeskWink raise my AI plan limits?
No. DeskWink does not provide AI models and does not bypass any AI platform’s plan limits. You use your own AI subscription, and DeskWink adds access to your folders.
Is DeskWink available now?
DeskWink is in closed beta. The Free plan is available while the beta runs. Pro and Team are announced but cannot be bought yet.
Which operating systems are supported?
Windows 10 and 11, and macOS 13 or later, with Node.js 22 or newer. Linux is not supported at the moment.
How do I get help or report a security problem?
Write to [email protected] for help. For a security issue, write to [email protected] and read the security page first. We cannot promise a response time.
Something unclear or out of date? Write to [email protected].