Work with local files

View as markdown

Work locally lets Bearly work with files and commands on your computer while you remain in control of each kind of access. It is available in the Bearly desktop app for macOS, Windows, and Linux.

On the web, Work locally opens the desktop-app handoff. The control is not shown on mobile. Chats that used local files remain readable on other devices, but Bearly cannot inspect, refresh, or change those files until you return to the same chat in the desktop app.

Complete a task in a local folder

Open the chat in Bearly desktop

Start a new chat or return to the chat that owns the work. The Work locally control appears in the context strip attached to the chat input after the chat finishes loading.
Choose where Bearly should work

Select Work locally, then choose Choose folder… and select the folder for the task. Bearly shows the folder name on the control. Previously selected folders may appear in the same menu, with their full paths, so you can return to one without opening the system picker.

If you do not choose a folder, Auto can use a private work area for this chat. Choose a folder when the task should read or change an existing local project, or when you want the finished files placed somewhere specific.
Describe the result and boundaries

Name the relevant files, the desired result, and anything Bearly must not change. Relative filenames refer to the current working folder.
```
Read the CSV files in this folder, create a monthly summary workbook, and add the finished workbook to this chat. Do not change the source files.
```
Review each permission request

Bearly pauses before reading, writing, editing, saving a chat file locally, or running a local command unless an applicable permission is already active. Adding a local file from outside the working folder also requires review. The card names the action and explains why it is needed. Select Details to inspect the file, command, working folder, overwrite choice, or other relevant information.
- Allow approves only the action in front of you.
- Deny blocks that action and lets Bearly continue without it when possible.
- Allow for… lets you choose This reply, This session, or This chat. Read the expanded warning, then use the confirmation button to grant that duration.
Read-only grants use labels such as Allow reads this reply. A broader local-tools grant can also cover writes, edits, file transfers, and commands. Auto makes local work available to Bearly; it does not approve these requests for you.
Inspect the result

Bearly reports what it read, changed, created, or ran. Ask it to verify important output—for example, reopen a generated file, summarize changes, or run a relevant check.

For a finished file you want to keep with the conversation, ask Bearly to “add it to this chat.” The file then appears as a normal chat file you can open or download later.
Stop or revoke access

Select the chat’s Stop control to stop the current response. If a local command is running, Bearly also stops that command.

When a session- or chat-length grant is active, the context strip shows Local reads allowed or Local tools allowed. Select its Revoke control to remove the active session and chat permissions. Bearly will ask again before another protected action.

Change folders or turn local work off

Select the current folder name or Work locally to reopen its menu.

Choose another recent folder to make it the working folder for this chat.
Select Choose folder… to browse somewhere else.
Select Clear folder to return to the chat’s private work area.
Select Off for this chat to remove local file and command access from Bearly’s available tools.
When it is off, select Turn on for this chat to restore Auto mode.

The selected folder and chat-length permissions belong to this chat on this device. Opening a different chat does not silently give it the same working folder or permissions.

Move files between the computer and chat

Work locally can bridge the two places when you ask clearly:

“Add final-report.pdf to this chat” publishes a local result as a chat file. A file outside the working folder requires review before its contents are uploaded.
“Save the attached workbook as inputs/source.xlsx in this folder” copies a chat file into the working folder after you approve the write.
“Update the local draft, then add the revised copy to the chat” changes the local file first and publishes the result separately.

Local file contents you approve for reading may be sent to the AI model working on the reply. A local file you add to the chat is stored with that conversation like other chat files.

Work safely

Use a narrowly scoped folder that contains only what the task needs.
Ask Bearly to stop before overwriting, deleting, installing, sending, or publishing anything consequential.
Check Overwrite in permission details. A write can replace an existing file.
Prefer Allow for one action until you understand the flow. Use This reply, This session, or This chat only when repeated prompts would obstruct work you have already reviewed.
Revoke a broad grant as soon as the task is finished.

For work in visible applications rather than files and commands, see Use your computer with Bearly.

If local work is unavailable or fails

What you see	What to do
Work locally opens Get the app	Install or open the Bearly desktop app, then return to the same chat.
The control does not appear in Bearly desktop	Update Bearly, reopen the app, and let the chat finish loading. Older desktop builds may not support all local actions.
A recent folder no longer works	The folder may have moved, been renamed, or been removed. Select Choose folder… and choose its current location.
Bearly cannot read or write a protected folder	Choose a folder your account can access, or grant Bearly the relevant operating-system file permission and retry.
You selected Deny by mistake	Ask Bearly to try the action again, review the new card, and select Allow.
A command fails or times out	Open Details, check the command and working folder, then ask Bearly to retry with a narrower step. Confirm that any program the task needs is available on your computer.
A file is too large to read directly	Ask Bearly to inspect only the relevant rows, pages, or text range, or work from a smaller copy.
Local work is blocked for your team	Ask an administrator to review Teams → team name → Policies → policy name → Code & Automation → Disable Local Exec.