> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.bead.run/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Cloud desktop for computer use

> Start a cloud desktop to observe an agent, operate Linux applications, or use the installed computer tools.

Open a computer-capable machine's cloud desktop to look at a Linux app, use Chromium, or watch an agent work. The dashboard's **Desktop** view uses authenticated WebSocket streaming.

## Choose a template

Use a published `computer` or `devbox-computer` template for visible human watch and takeover. Coding templates include browser and desktop testing tools; `agents` and `devbox` start their testing display lazily on the first actual tool call.

```bash theme={null}
bead create --template computer --size small --kind persistent --idle-timeout 900
bead desktop start ID
```

`desktop start` explicitly starts the same lazy guest session. Tool discovery alone does not start it.

## Open the desktop

Open the machine's **Desktop** view in the [dashboard](https://app.bead.run), or mint a view-only link:

```bash theme={null}
bead desktop watch ID
```

Watching disables keyboard, pointer, and clipboard input at the guest server. The viewer scales the screen, supports fullscreen, and reconnects when the connection drops. Watching follows the machine's idle policy.

## Computer use

With a credential profile configured:

```bash theme={null}
bead prompt ID 'Open example.com in Chromium and report the page title' \
  --profile PROFILE_UUID
```

Inside the machine, discover installed driver guidance before using its tools:

```bash theme={null}
bead exec ID 'agent-browser skills get core'
bead exec ID 'agent-desktop skills get platform'
```

Use Chromium as a browser for AI agents. Use browser tools for web content and desktop tools for native apps, browser chrome, and dialogs. Observe the current screen or tree, act on current references, then verify the effect. Refresh references after navigation or UI changes. Check installed help for supported options and error dispositions.

Use task-owned browser sessions. For direct Chrome CDP sessions in the guest, keep the persistent profile at `/root/.soml-chrome-stealth`.

## Ask for human help

Use [watch and takeover](https://docs.bead.run/agents/watch-takeover.md) when a human needs to interact. During private human control, managed observation returns `human_private_control`. Poll the control state before resuming agent actions.


This documentation is built and hosted on [Mintlify](https://mintlify.com), a developer documentation platform.