Optional Desktop Companion

Use AgentVault with local AI coding tools.

AgentVault's vault and skills library work without installing anything else. The Agent Session feature is different: it requires the local companion to be installed and running so desktop AI tools can request secrets during a temporary session.

Recommended

AI-Assisted Setup

Tell your local AI agent to set up AgentVault Agentic Access using the hosted setup skill. The agent checks Node.js, downloads the companion, configures startup, adds MCP where possible, and tests localhost.

Open SKILL.md

Prompt: Set up AgentVault Agentic Access using https://getagentvault.app/SKILL.md

Manual Fallback

Manual Setup

If you prefer to do it yourself, follow the plain-language setup guide. Vault and skills still work normally if you skip this; Agent Session stays disabled until the companion is running.

Read the guide

What the companion does

It runs a small local server on your own computer:

http://127.0.0.1:3747

That address means "this computer only." It is used by local desktop AI tools to ask AgentVault for a named secret after you grant access in the Chrome extension.

Current companion builds pair with the AgentVault extension before accepting grants, and session payloads are kept encrypted until a local tool asks for one named secret.

Windows Setup

  1. Install AgentVault from the Chrome Web Store.
  2. Install Node.js 18+ from nodejs.org.
  3. Tell your local AI agent: Set up AgentVault Agentic Access using https://getagentvault.app/SKILL.md
  4. Open AgentVault in Chrome, unlock Secrets, choose an access duration, and click Agent.
  5. Click Copy Agent Instructions and paste them into your local AI tool.

Manual Start Commands

If the Agent button is disabled after setup, start or update the companion manually from the folder used by the hosted setup skill.

Windows:
cd "$env:LOCALAPPDATA\AgentVaultCompanion\companion"
node server.js

Mac:
cd "$HOME/Library/Application Support/AgentVaultCompanion/companion"
node server.js

Linux:
cd "$HOME/.local/share/agentvault-companion/companion"
node server.js

Supported and not supported

Works with the companion

  • Windows desktop AI tools
  • Codex Desktop and local IDE agents
  • Cursor, VS Code, Claude Desktop, Windsurf
  • CLI scripts running on your computer

Not part of the MVP

  • iPhone and iPad
  • Cloud-only agents that cannot reach your localhost
  • Locked-down work machines that block local scripts or startup services
  • Native packaged desktop apps
The companion is optional for vault and skill management, but required for Agent Session and MCP access.