Start your first conversation
Open a project, connect an AI provider, pick a model and a run mode, then work with an agent.
An agent conversation is where you ask an AI agent to read, change or explain the code in a project. This page walks through the first one, from opening a folder to reviewing the result.
1. Open a project
A project is a folder on your computer. On the home screen, choose one of:
- Open a project to pick a local folder.
- Recent projects to reopen a folder you used before.
To work on a folder that lives on another computer, see Remote machines.
On Windows, Open folder… in the menu does the same thing.
2. Connect an AI provider
Vato does not sell AI usage: each agent runs on your own account with the provider. Open Settings → Providers to see which ones are ready. Each row shows Connected or Not connected.
| Provider | How to connect it |
|---|---|
| Claude | Add your Claude account in Settings → Providers → Add account, or sign in with claude auth login in a terminal. |
| Codex | Add your ChatGPT account with Add account, or sign in with codex login. |
| Gemini | Add account, sign in with Google, then paste the code into Authorization code and click Submit code. |
| Cursor | Paste your key into Cursor API key, or sign in with cursor-agent login. |
| OpenRouter | Paste your key into OpenRouter API key and click Save. |
| Antigravity | Paste a Gemini key into Gemini API key (Antigravity). |
| OpenCode | Install OpenCode. Free models work without an account. |
| Vato AI | Nothing to do: it is available as soon as you are signed in to Vato. |
Grok is also listed. For every provider in detail, see Connect your AI accounts.
When a provider needs a command-line tool that isn't installed, click Open terminal on its row: Vato opens a terminal with the right install or sign-in command.
3. Start the conversation
- Click New Agent at the top of the sidebar.
- In Choose a project, select your project.
- Type your request in the message field and press Enter.
Be specific: say what you want, where, and how you'll know it's done. For example: "Add a dark mode toggle to the settings page and keep the user's choice after a restart."
4. Choose a model
The model name under the message field opens the model picker. Search for a model, keep Automatic to let Vato choose, or star models to find them under Favorites.
If a model belongs to a provider that isn't connected, the picker says so and offers Sign in.
5. Choose a run mode
The + menu of the message field has a Run mode section. It decides what the agent may do without asking you.
| Mode | What the agent can do |
|---|---|
| Plan | Suggests a plan without changing any file. |
| Default permissions | Asks before editing files, running commands or going outside the project. |
| Approve for me | A reviewer allows safe actions automatically and asks you only for risky ones. |
| Full access | Never asks. Use it only on projects you are ready to let the agent change freely. |
A mode change during a running turn applies to your next message.
6. Add context
- Type
@to mention a file, a folder or another conversation. - Use Add image or file in the + menu, or paste or drag files onto the conversation.
- Type
/to open Commands and skills. - Use the microphone button to Record a voice note instead of typing.
7. Follow and steer the agent
While the agent works, you can:
- Click Stop turn to stop it.
- Send another message. Choose Add to queue to send it after the current turn, or Steer to send it right away without interrupting.
- Answer its questions and approval requests as they appear in the conversation.
Follow subagents
When the agent hands part of the work to a subagent, a Subagent card appears in the conversation, with a spinner while it runs. Click it to open that subagent's own conversation and follow it live. Click Main conversation to go back. The cards stay visible after the turn ends, and they also appear in Bot chats.
8. Go back in time
Hover one of your earlier messages and choose Edit and restore from this message. Vato asks Rewind to this message? and warns you if files created after that message will be deleted. See Checkpoints and rewind for details.
With Claude and Codex, the rewind also restores your files to how they were at that message. With other providers, only the conversation goes back; your files stay as they are.