# The bot's computer

Every thread runs on its own computer in the cloud. What that means, how to open the computer panel, what its tabs do, and how to unstick a bot.

Canonical page: https://themachine.myapps.ai/docs/desktop/cloud-computer/overview

## What it is

Every thread with a bot runs on **its own computer in the cloud**: a real
computer that Machine runs for you, with files, programs, and an internet
connection. When you ask a bot to do something, it does the work there.

Think of it as the bot's desk. Everything it makes for that thread, like
reports, spreadsheets, code, images, and websites, is on that computer.

| Fact | Means for you |
|---|---|
| **Each thread gets its own computer.** | Work for one task never gets mixed up with another. |
| **It sleeps when idle, and wakes when needed.** | Waking usually takes a few seconds. |
| **Files are kept while it sleeps.** | Nothing is lost when you come back later. |
| **It costs money only while awake.** | See [Cost and sleep](/docs/desktop/cloud-computer/cost-and-sleep). |
| **Deleting the thread deletes the computer.** | Download what you want to keep first. |
| **It's separate from your own computer.** | A bot can't see your files unless you attach them or use [This PC](/docs/desktop/this-pc/overview). |

The bot's main folder is called the **workspace**. Files you attach are copied
into a folder called `uploads` inside it.

## Open the computer panel

Click the **monitor** icon in the chat header (**Bot's computer**). A panel
opens on the right.

- **Resize it:** drag its left edge. It can be quite wide, which helps when
  previewing websites.
- **Bot settings:** the gear icon opens the bot's settings.
- **On a phone:** open the chat's **…** menu and choose **Bot's computer**.

The sidebar collapses to avatars while the panel is open, to make room.

## The tabs

![The bot's computer panel](/images/docs/desktop/computer-files.webp)

| Tab | Use it to | More |
|---|---|---|
| **Live** | Watch the bot work on its computer as a desktop, with windows, a dock and its mascot. | [The Live view](/docs/desktop/live/live-view) |
| **Computer** | See the computer's status, start and stop it, and browse, view, and download files. | [Files](/docs/desktop/cloud-computer/files) |
| **Routines** | See and create this bot's scheduled jobs. | [Automations](/docs/desktop/automations/overview) |
| **Terminal** | Type commands on the computer yourself. | [Preview and terminal](/docs/desktop/cloud-computer/preview-and-terminal) |

To preview a website the bot is running, use the **Browser** window in the
Live view. On Machine Desktop, a separate **Browser** tab appears only while
it's open (choose **Go → Real Browser** in the Live view's menu bar). On
phones it's always there. See [Preview and terminal](/docs/desktop/cloud-computer/preview-and-terminal).

## Status and power

At the top of the **Computer** tab:

| Status | Meaning |
|---|---|
| **Running** | Awake and ready. |
| **Waking up** | Starting. Give it a few seconds. |
| **Asleep** | Stopped to save money. Files are kept. |
| **Connecting** | Machine Desktop is reaching the computer. |

| Button | What it does |
|---|---|
| **Wake** | Starts a sleeping computer. |
| **Stop** | Puts it to sleep now. Stops billing for it. |
| **Restart** | Turns it off and on again. Files are kept. Use it if things seem broken. |
| **Refresh** | Reloads the file list. |

Opening the **Computer** or **Terminal** tab wakes a sleeping computer
automatically. So does sending a message.

## When a bot is stuck

![The Kick button in the chat header](/images/docs/desktop/kick.webp)

Sometimes a bot seems frozen: the timer keeps counting but nothing happens.

### Try Stop

Click **Stop** in the chat header, or send **stop**.
### Use Kick

If a turn has been running for a while, a **Kick** button appears in the chat
header. Kick is also always in two other places:

- click the bot's face in the chat header to open its profile card, and
choose **Kick** (*"Unstick a turn that seems frozen"*),
- right-click the bot in the sidebar and choose **Kick**.

![The bot's profile card, with New thread, Responsibilities, Kick and All settings](/images/docs/desktop/bot-profile-card.webp)

Kick stops the turn, reconnects to the bot's computer, and reloads the
thread. If reconnecting fails, it restarts the computer. The button shows
**Kicking…**, then **Reconnected** or **Computer restarting**. Files are
kept.
### Restart the computer

Still stuck? Open the computer panel and click **Restart** on the **Computer**
tab.

More in [Troubleshooting](/docs/desktop/troubleshooting).

## Common questions

**Can I install software on it?**
Yes. Ask the bot, for example *"install ffmpeg"*, or use the
[Terminal](/docs/desktop/cloud-computer/preview-and-terminal). It's only
installed on that thread's computer.

**Is the computer still there next week?**
Yes, as long as the thread exists. It sleeps in between, with files kept.

**Can two threads share files?**
No. Each thread's computer is separate. Download from one and attach to the
other.