# Let your ChatGPT dot use your own computer Connect your computer to your dot in the ChatGPT desktop app: click Allow, confirm, and it can work with your local files and apps while the computer is awake. *From How to Use Dots, an independent guide (not affiliated with OpenAI). Web version: https://howtousedots.com/connect-your-computer Last verified: 2026-10-06.* *Step 8 of 10 on the path "Learn Dots, step by step". Before it: [Cloud computer](https://howtousedots.com/cloud-computer.md). After it: [Voice calls](https://howtousedots.com/voice-calls.md).* To let your dot work on your own computer, open its profile in the ChatGPT desktop app on that computer, click **Allow** next to the computer's name, and confirm. From then on your dot can use the files and apps there whenever the computer is awake. **In short** - It's optional. Your dot already has [a computer of its own](https://howtousedots.com/cloud-computer), and most jobs run there. - You connect in the desktop app. A browser can't do it. - One computer at a time. Connecting a second one disconnects the first. - It works only while that computer is on, awake and online. Tick these off before you start. **Before you connect** - [ ] The ChatGPT desktop app, installed and up to date - [ ] You're sitting at the computer you want to connect - [ ] At work: your admin has turned on **Allow local computer access** ## Cloud or my computer? First decide whether the job needs your computer at all. Pick a job and see where it belongs. **Interactive: Cloud or my computer?** Open it: https://howtousedots.com/widgets/cloud-or-local-chooser.html What it does: Pick one of seven kinds of job and see whether it belongs on the dot's cloud computer, your own connected computer or a Codex cloud environment, with the reason, what has to be true first, which usage it counts toward and what to watch for. Its content as text: ### Cloud or my computer? Pick the job. You'll see where your dot should do it, what has to be true first, and what to watch for. Diagram: Three places your dot can work: its own cloud computer, a Codex cloud environment, and your computer, which it reaches only if you allow it. Its cloud computer Codex cloudenvironment Your computer only if you allow it #### Research, documents or data analysis Use · **Your dot's cloud computer** - **Why:** It has its own browser, files and software, and none of this needs anything from your machine. - **You need:** Nothing extra. Every dot has a cloud computer. - **Watch for:** Its browser has its own logins. Being signed in on your computer doesn't sign your dot in. #### Work that has to keep going while your laptop is shut Use · **Your dot's cloud computer** - **Why:** Cloud work carries on while your devices are off. Anything on your computer stops when your computer does. - **You need:** Nothing extra. - **Watch for:** Ask your dot to put finished work somewhere you can reach, such as its Outputs or a connected Drive, so the result is waiting when you're back. #### Files, apps or code that exist only on your computer Use · **Your computer** - **Why:** Your dot can't reach a local file or app from the cloud. It needs the machine they're on. - **You need:** Access allowed, and the computer on, awake and online with the ChatGPT app open. - **Counts toward:** Your plan's Work and Codex usage. Local jobs run as Work or Codex tasks. - **Watch for:** Only one of your computers can be connected at a time. #### A website that blocks the cloud browser Use · **Your computer** - **Why:** The site refuses the cloud browser, and taking over the cloud browser yourself doesn't change that. The browser on your own computer is a different browser. - **You need:** Access allowed, the computer on and awake, and you signed in to the site in that browser. Then ask: "Try it from my computer." - **Counts toward:** Your plan's Work and Codex usage if it starts a local task. - **Watch for:** Nothing carries over from the cloud browser. The job starts fresh on your machine. #### Carrying on a Codex task that already runs on your computer Use · **Your computer** - **Why:** That task lives on your computer. Your dot can pick it up there once the computer is connected. - **You need:** Access allowed, and a clear pointer: name the task and say what you want changed. - **Counts toward:** Your plan's Codex usage. - **Watch for:** Connecting a computer doesn't hand your dot every ChatGPT or Codex conversation on it. It works on the tasks you point it to and the ones it started. #### A job that uses a local skill Use · **Your computer** - **Why:** Local skills only run on a connected computer. - **You need:** Access allowed, and the computer on, awake and online with the ChatGPT app open. - **Counts toward:** Your plan's Work and Codex usage when it runs as a local task. #### Coding on a repository while your computer is off Use · **A Codex cloud environment** - **Why:** Your dot can start a coding task in a Codex cloud environment that already has your repository. Your computer can stay off. - **You need:** To set up the environment in Codex first, with the repository and its configuration. - **Counts toward:** Your plan's Codex usage. - **Watch for:** Open the task and review what it produced before you rely on it. If your jobs all landed in the cloud, you can stop here. Otherwise, connect in one of two ways. ## Connect during setup If you're creating your dot in the desktop app, the last setup screen does it for you. The switch beside **Your local computer** is already on, so leave it and click **Continue**. ![Choose where your dot can work. Your dot's computer is ticked. Your local computer has a switch, turned on, and the text: Access files and work on this computer wherever you message your dot. This disconnects any other connected desktop](https://howtousedots.com/assets/shots/connect-computer-setup-switch.jpg) Image: Leon van Zyl (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=niv2BEcOkR8) A green notice at the top of the conversation confirms it: "This computer is connected to your dot". Turn the switch off first if you'd rather connect later. ## Connect later, from your dot's profile If your dot already exists, connect from its profile, in the desktop app on the computer you want it to use. **Walkthrough: Allow access to this computer** ### Step 1: Open your dot's profile and click Allow Click your dot's name or picture at the top of the conversation. Under **Computers**, find the row labeled **Your computer** and click **Allow**. ![A dot's profile. Under Computers there are two rows: the dot's own computer, Connected, and a second row labeled Your computer with an Allow button](https://howtousedots.com/assets/shots/connect-computer-allow-button.jpg) Image: Eric Michaud (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zmd1KckTE3o) ### Step 2: Read the dialog, then click Allow access The dialog tells you three things: your dot can open and change files here, any other computer you connected is disconnected, and the access holds wherever you message your dot. Click **Allow access**. ![A dialog: Allow access to this computer? Allow your dot to access files and work on Mac. Any other desktop connected to your dot will be disconnected. This access applies anywhere you can message your dot. Buttons: Cancel and Allow access](https://howtousedots.com/assets/shots/connect-computer-dialog.jpg) Image: Futurepedia (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_1Vn2WfpEY) ### Step 3: Wait a few seconds The dialog changes to **Connecting** and closes by itself after three or four seconds. ![The dialog now reads Connecting Mac. This may take a few seconds](https://howtousedots.com/assets/shots/connect-computer-connecting.jpg) 1. Nothing to click. Image: Futurepedia (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_1Vn2WfpEY) ### Step 4: Check the row Where **Allow** was, there's now a small crossed-out laptop. That icon means connected. If you don't see it, point at the row. ![The Computers list after connecting. The second row, Your computer, now ends in a small icon of a laptop with a line through it](https://howtousedots.com/assets/shots/connect-computer-connected.jpg) Image: Nate Herk (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvvfZKKz4Yo) ## Check it worked With the computer connected, ask for something small that only it can answer. ```prompt List the files in my Downloads folder. Don't change anything. ``` Your dot starts a separate task for the job, which shows as a chip in the conversation, and comes back with the names of files that are really in that folder. ## When your computer is asleep The connection only works while the computer does. When it's off, asleep or off the network, its row in the profile says so. ![A dot's profile. Under Computers, the dot's own computer reads Connected. The second row reads Offline and its Allow button is greyed out](https://howtousedots.com/assets/shots/connect-computer-offline.jpg) 1. Offline: your dot can't reach this computer right now. 2. The cloud computer stays Connected whatever yours is doing. Image: Zinho Automates (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGGHiJF6g0c) - **Offline** doesn't disconnect anything. Wake the computer and the connection is back. - A job that needs your computer waits for it. It doesn't move to the cloud by itself. - Meanwhile your dot can still chat, use your connected apps and work in the cloud. ## Common mistakes If **Allow** isn't in your dot's profile, you're probably in a browser. > **Common mistake: Trying to connect from a browser** > > On the web, your dot's profile lists only its cloud computer, and setup shows an **Open app** button where the switch should be. > > **The fix:** Open the same conversation in the ChatGPT desktop app on that computer and click **Allow** there. A computer linked to Codex still needs connecting to your dot. > **Common mistake: Thinking Codex or Work Sync already connected it** > > Your computer is linked to Codex, so you assumed your dot could use it. > > **The fix:** Your dot needs its own **Allow**. Connecting a computer to Codex or turning on Work Sync doesn't give your dot access. ## Check yourself One question before you move on. **Predict: Your work laptop is connected. At home you open the desktop app on your own Mac and click Allow there. What happens to the laptop?** - Nothing. Your dot now has both - It's disconnected. Your dot has the Mac - The Mac is refused until you disconnect the laptop Answer: It's disconnected. Your dot has the Mac The dialog says so before you confirm: "Any other desktop connected to your dot will be disconnected." To switch back, click **Allow** on the laptop again. ## Next step Your dot can reach your computer. Now try talking to it out loud. **Next:** [Voice calls](https://howtousedots.com/voice-calls) Call your dot from the phone button in its conversation, on a computer or a phone. What a call can do, what hanging up stops, and fixes when it won't connect. ### Does local work use my Work or Codex usage? Yes. Jobs on your computer run as Work or Codex tasks, and they count toward your plan's Work and Codex usage. Talking to your dot doesn't count toward your ChatGPT usage limits. [Usage limits](https://howtousedots.com/limits) has the rest. ### Can I send a job to my computer from my phone? Yes. Once the computer is connected, it's available wherever you message your dot. The computer still has to be on and awake. ### What does my workspace need? An owner turns on **Allow local computer access**, which is off by default in Enterprise, and members need desktop app version 26.929 or higher. Each member still clicks **Allow** on their own computer. [Dots for workspace admins](https://howtousedots.com/admin) covers the settings. ### Can my dot see all my ChatGPT and Codex chats on that computer? No. Your dot can carry on a local Codex task you point it to, and follow up on tasks it started. - 2026-10-06: Rebuilt as a lesson with the real Allow access screens and the cloud-or-computer chooser. - 2026-10-05: First published. ## Sources - [OpenAI docs: Connect computers and apps to your dot](https://learn.chatgpt.com/docs/dots/computers-and-apps) - [OpenAI Help Center: Getting started with your dot](https://help.openai.com/en/articles/20001530-getting-started-with-your-dot) - [OpenAI docs: Local computer access for Work Cloud and dots](https://learn.chatgpt.com/docs/enterprise/cloud-local-access) - [OpenAI docs: Tasks and memory](https://learn.chatgpt.com/docs/dots/tasks-and-memory) - [OpenAI Help Center: Manage dots in ChatGPT workspaces](https://help.openai.com/en/articles/20001554-manage-dots-in-chatgpt-workspaces) - [OpenAI: Introducing dots](https://openai.com/index/introducing-dots/) - [Leon van Zyl on YouTube: screenshots of the setup switch and the connected notice](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=niv2BEcOkR8) - [Eric Michaud on YouTube: screenshot of the Allow button](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zmd1KckTE3o) - [Futurepedia on YouTube: screenshots of the Allow access dialog](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_1Vn2WfpEY) - [Nate Herk on YouTube: screenshot of a connected computer](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvvfZKKz4Yo) - [Zinho Automates on YouTube: screenshot of an offline computer](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGGHiJF6g0c)