# How a Mac agent picks its folder

> When an agent runs on your Mac, AgentSky picks its folder for you from your task — no folder dialog.

canonical: https://agentsky.dev/help/mac-local-agent-folder
source: https://agentsky.dev/help/mac-local-agent-folder.md
updated: 2026-10-22

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**When an agent runs on your Mac, AgentSky picks its folder for you from your task — no folder dialog.**

When you pick an agent under *Run on this Mac*, the composer's folder chip fills in the last folder you used, or `~/AgentSky` (created if it doesn't exist yet). The chip reads `<folder> · this Mac`. Sending a message never opens a folder dialog.

On a chat's first message, the folder comes from what your task says:

1. **A project on your Mac.** If the task names a git checkout on your Mac — by folder name, or by its GitHub `owner/name` or repository name — the agent runs there. AgentSky looks up to four levels under your home folder, skipping hidden and system folders. If several checkouts match, it picks one automatically. Check the folder shown on the chat, or choose a folder yourself when you need a specific checkout.
2. **A GitHub repository you have.** Otherwise, if the task names a GitHub repository of yours or of your organizations, it is cloned to `~/AgentSky/<name>` and the agent runs there.
3. **Otherwise**, the agent uses the folder shown on the chip.

For example, "tyny 发版" runs in your `tyny` checkout, while "写首诗" uses the folder on the chip.

Where: Mac app › composer folder chip.

Good to know: if you pick a folder yourself from the chip, it is used as is. The folder that was chosen is shown on the chat. Related: [Run agents locally on your Mac](https://agentsky.dev/help/mac-local-runs), [Connect GitHub to a chat](https://agentsky.dev/help/connect-github).