The install script is the fastest way to get Agent Zero running. It handles Docker, image pulling, and container setup automatically.
macOS / Linux:
curl -fsSL https://bash.agent-zero.ai | bashWindows (PowerShell):
irm https://ps.agent-zero.ai | iexDocker (run directly):
docker run -p 80:80 agent0ai/agent-zeroOnce the install completes, open the URL shown in your terminal to access the Web UI. Follow the prompts in the CLI to set your port and authentication, complete onboarding, add your API key, then continue to Step 3: Configure Agent Zero.
Use the built-in updater in the Web UI:
- Open Settings UI → Update tab
- Open Self Update
- Wait for the update checker to see if you have the latest version or if there's an available update.
You'll also be prompted through the UI when a new A0 version is released. Backups are automatically managed internally during this process.
For technical details of the updater, see Self Update.
If you are upgrading from an older version of Agent Zero (v0.9.8 or earlier) to v1.1 or newer, the architecture has fundamentally changed. You cannot use the in-app Self Update. Instead, follow these steps to migrate your data:
- Backup your existing
usr/directory (which contains your settings, projects, memory, and custom plugins). - Run the new install script to set up the new Docker-based architecture:
- macOS / Linux:
curl -fsSL https://bash.agent-zero.ai | bash - Windows (PowerShell):
irm https://ps.agent-zero.ai | iex
- macOS / Linux:
- Migrate your data: After the new installation completes, copy the contents of your backed-up
usr/directory into the new/a0/usr/directory created by the script. - Restart the container for the changes to take effect.
Use this only if Self Update is unavailable or you must manage containers yourself (for example, some custom Docker setups).
- Keep the current container running
docker pull agent0ai/agent-zero:latest- Start a new container on a different host port, for example:
docker run -d -p 50081:80 --name agent-zero-new agent0ai/agent-zero - On the old instance: Settings → Backup & Restore → Create Backup
- On the new instance: Restore the backup
- Verify chats and data, then remove the old container
Caution
Do not delete the old container until the new one has your data.
Tip
If the new instance fails to load settings, remove /a0/usr/settings.json and restart to regenerate default settings.
Users should use Quick Start (Recommended) above. The steps below are for custom Docker setups, air-gapped installs, or when you cannot use the install scripts.
Follow the steps below to install Docker and run the image by hand.
Docker Desktop provides the runtime environment for Agent Zero, ensuring consistent behavior and security across platforms. The entire framework runs within a Docker container, providing isolation and easy deployment.
Choose your operating system:
 Windows |
 macOS |
 Linux |
1.1. Download Docker Desktop
Go to the Docker Desktop download page and download the Windows version (Intel/AMD is the main download button).
1.2. Run the Installer
Run the installer with default settings.
1.3. Launch Docker Desktop
Once installed, launch Docker Desktop from your Start menu or desktop shortcut.
✅ Docker is now installed!
Continue to Step 2: Run Agent Zero
1.1. Download Docker Desktop
Go to the Docker Desktop download page and download the macOS version (choose Apple Silicon or Intel based on your Mac).
1.2. Install Docker Desktop
Drag and drop the Docker application to your Applications folder.
1.3. Launch Docker Desktop
Open Docker Desktop from your Applications folder.
1.4. Configure Docker Socket
Note
Important macOS Configuration: In Docker Desktop's preferences (Docker menu) → Settings → Advanced, enable "Allow the default Docker socket to be used (requires password)."
✅ Docker is now installed!
Continue to Step 2: Run Agent Zero
1.1. Choose Installation Method
You can install either Docker Desktop or docker-ce (Community Edition).
Option A: Docker Desktop (Recommended for beginners)
Follow the instructions for your specific Linux distribution here.
Option B: docker-ce (Lightweight alternative)
Follow the installation instructions here.
1.2. Post-Installation Steps (docker-ce only)
If you installed docker-ce, add your user to the docker group:
sudo usermod -aG docker $USERLog out and back in, then authenticate:
docker login1.3. Launch Docker
If you installed Docker Desktop, launch it from your applications menu.
✅ Docker is now installed!
Tip
Deploying on a VPS/Server? For production deployments with reverse proxy, SSL, and domain configuration, see the VPS Deployment Guide.
Using Docker Desktop GUI:
- Search for
agent0ai/agent-zeroin Docker Desktop - Click the
Pullbutton - The image will be downloaded to your machine in a few minutes
Using Terminal:
docker pull agent0ai/agent-zeroChoose or create a folder on your computer where Agent Zero will save its data.
Setting up persistence is needed only if you want your data and files to remain available even after you delete the container.
You can pick any location you find convenient:
- Windows:
C:\agent-zero-data - macOS/Linux:
/home/user/agent-zero-data
You can map just the /a0/usr directory (recommended) or individual subfolders of /a0 to a local directory.
Caution
Do not map the entire /a0 directory: it contains the application code and can break upgrades.
Tip
Choose a location that's easy to access and backup. All your Agent Zero data will be directly accessible in this directory.
Using Docker Desktop GUI:
- In Docker Desktop, go to the "Images" tab
- Click the
Runbutton next to theagent0ai/agent-zeroimage - Open the "Optional settings" menu
- Ensure at least one host port is mapped to container port
80(set host port to0for automatic assignment) - Click the
Runbutton
The container will start and show in the "Containers" tab:
The framework will take a few seconds to initialize. Find the mapped port in Docker Desktop (shown as <PORT>:80) or click the port right under the container ID:
Open http://localhost:<PORT> in your browser. The Web UI will open - Agent Zero is ready for configuration!
Tip
You can also access the Web UI by clicking the port link directly under the container ID in Docker Desktop.
Note
After starting the container, you'll find all Agent Zero files in your chosen directory. You can access and edit these files directly on your machine, and the changes will be immediately reflected in the running container.
Running A0 using Terminal?
docker run -p 0:80 -v /path/to/your/work_dir:/a0/usr agent0ai/agent-zero- Replace
0with a fixed port if you prefer (e.g.,50080:80)
The UI will show a warning banner "Missing LLM API Key for current settings". Click on Add your API key to enter Settings and start configuring A0.
Agent Zero provides a comprehensive settings interface to customize various aspects of its functionality. Access the settings by clicking the "Settings" button with a gear icon in the sidebar.
- Agent Profile: Select the agent profile (e.g.,
agent0,hacker,researcher). Profiles can override prompts, tools, and extensions. - Memory Subdirectory: Select the subdirectory for agent memory storage, allowing separation between different instances.
- Knowledge Subdirectory: Specify the location of custom knowledge files to enhance the agent's understanding.
Note
Since v0.9.7, custom prompts belong in /a0/agents/<agent_name>/prompts/ rather than a shared /prompts folder. See the Extensions guide for details.
Note
The Hacker profile is included in the main image. After launch, choose the hacker agent profile in Settings if you want the security-focused prompts and tooling. The "hacker" branch is deprecated.
- Provider: Select the chat model provider (e.g., Anthropic)
- Model Name: Choose the specific model (e.g., claude-sonnet-4-5)
- Context Length: Set the maximum token limit for context window
- Context Window Space: Configure how much of the context window is dedicated to chat history
Model naming is provider-specific.
Use claude-sonnet-4-5 for Anthropic, but use anthropic/claude-sonnet-4-5 for OpenRouter. If you see "Invalid model ID," verify the provider and naming format on the provider website, or search the web for " model naming".
Tip
Context window tuning: Set the total context window size first (for example, 100k), then adjust the chat history portion as a fraction of that total. A large fraction on a very large context window can still be enormous.
Tip
API URL: URL of the API endpoint for the chat model - only needed for some providers like Ollama, LM Studio, Azure, etc.
- Provider & Model: Select a model for utility tasks like memory organization and summarization
- Temperature: Adjust the determinism of utility responses
Note
Utility models need to be strong enough to extract and consolidate memory reliably. Very small models (e.g., 4B) often fail at this; 70B-class models or high-quality cloud "flash/mini" models work best.
- Provider: Choose the embedding model provider (e.g., OpenAI)
- Model Name: Select the specific embedding model (e.g., text-embedding-3-small)
Note
Agent Zero uses a local embedding model by default (runs on CPU), but you can switch to OpenAI embeddings like text-embedding-3-small or text-embedding-3-large if preferred.
- Model Size: Choose the speech recognition model size
- Language Code: Set the primary language for voice recognition
- Silence Settings: Configure silence threshold, duration, and timeout parameters for voice input
Configure API keys for various service providers directly within the Web UI. Click Save to confirm your settings.
Note
OpenAI API vs Plus subscription: A ChatGPT Plus subscription does not include API credits. You must provide a separate API key for OpenAI usage in Agent Zero.
Tip
For OpenAI-compatible providers (e.g., custom gateways or Z.AI/GLM), add the API key under External Services → Other OpenAI-compatible API keys, then select OpenAI Compatible as the provider in model settings.
Caution
GitHub Copilot Provider: When using the GitHub Copilot provider, after selecting the model and entering your first prompt, the OAuth login procedure will begin. You'll find the authentication code and link in the output logs. Complete the authentication process by following the provided link and entering the code, then you may continue using Agent Zero.
- UI Login: Set username for web interface access
- UI Password: Configure password for web interface security
- Root Password: Manage Docker container root password for SSH access
- RFC Parameters (local instances only): Configure URLs and ports for remote function calls between instances
- RFC Password: Configure password for remote function calls
Learn more about Remote Function Calls in the Development Setup guide.
Important
Always keep your API keys and passwords secure.
Note
On Windows host installs (non-Docker), you must use RFC to run shell code on the host system. The Docker runtime handles this automatically.
The Settings page is the control center for selecting the Large Language Models (LLMs) that power Agent Zero. You can choose different LLMs for different roles:
| LLM Role | Description |
|---|---|
chat_llm |
This is the primary LLM used for conversations, agent reasoning, tool use, and the built-in browser agent. Vision support controls browser vision and image understanding. |
utility_llm |
This LLM handles internal tasks like summarizing messages, managing memory, and processing internal prompts. Using a smaller, less expensive model here can improve efficiency. |
embedding_llm |
The embedding model shipped with A0 runs on CPU and is responsible for generating embeddings used for memory retrieval and knowledge base lookups. Changing the embedding_llm will re-index all of A0's memory. |
How to Change:
- Open Settings page in the Web UI.
- Choose the provider for the LLM for each role (Main Model, Utility Model, Embedding Model) and write the model name.
- Click "Save" to apply the changes.
Note
The Browser Agent does not have a separate model slot. It uses the effective Main Model resolved by _model_config, including per-chat overrides and the Main Model vision flag.
Use the naming format required by your selected provider:
| Provider | Model Name Format | Example |
|---|---|---|
| OpenAI | Model name only | claude-sonnet-4-5 |
| OpenRouter | Provider prefix mostly required | anthropic/claude-sonnet-4-5 |
| Ollama | Model name only | gpt-oss:20b |
Tip
If you see "Invalid model ID," verify the provider and naming format on the provider website, or search the web for " model naming".
- Set the total context window (e.g., 100k) first.
- Then tune the chat history portion as a fraction of that total.
- Extremely large totals can make even small fractions very large; adjust thoughtfully.
- Utility models handle summarization and memory extraction.
- Very small models (≈4B) usually fail at reliable context extraction.
- Aim for ~70B class models or strong cloud "flash/mini" models for better results.
- Reasoning can increase cost and latency. Some models perform better without reasoning.
- If a model supports it, disable reasoning via provider-specific parameters (e.g., Venice
disable_thinking=true).
Ollama is a powerful tool that allows you to run various large language models locally.
Download and install Ollama from the official website:
Once installed, continue to Pulling Models.
Using Homebrew:
brew install ollamaUsing Installer:
Download from the official website.
Once installed, continue to Pulling Models.
Run the installation script:
curl -fsSL https://ollama.com/install.sh | shOnce installed, continue to Pulling Models.
Finding Model Names:
Visit the Ollama model library for a list of available models and their corresponding names. Ollama models are referenced by model name only (for example, llama3.2).
Pull a model:
ollama pull <model-name>Replace <model-name> with the name of the model you want to use. For example: ollama pull mistral-large
- Once you've downloaded your model(s), select it in the Settings page of the GUI.
- Within the Chat model, Utility model, or Embedding model section, choose Ollama as provider.
- Write your model code as expected by Ollama, in the format
llama3.2orqwen2.5:7b - Provide your API base URL to your Ollama API endpoint, usually
http://host.docker.internal:11434 - Click
Saveto confirm your settings.
Note
If Agent Zero runs in Docker and Ollama runs on the host, ensure port 11434 is reachable from the container. If both services are in the same Docker network, you can use http://<container_name>:11434 instead of host.docker.internal.
Listing downloaded models:
ollama listRemoving a model:
ollama rm <model-name>Tip
Experiment with different model combinations to find the balance of performance and cost that best suits your needs. E.g., faster and lower latency LLMs will help, and you can also use faiss_gpu instead of faiss_cpu for the memory.
Agent Zero can be accessed from mobile devices and other computers using the built-in Tunnel feature.
The Tunnel feature allows secure access to your Agent Zero instance from anywhere:
- Open Settings in the Web UI
- Navigate to the External Services tab
- Click on Flare Tunnel in the navigation menu
- Click Create Tunnel to generate a secure HTTPS URL
- Share this URL to access Agent Zero from any device
Important
Security: Always set a username and password in Settings → Authentication before creating a tunnel to secure your instance on the internet.
For complete details on tunnel configuration and security considerations, see the Remote Access via Tunneling section in the Usage Guide.
If you prefer to keep access limited to your local network:
- Find the mapped port in Docker Desktop (format:
<PORT>:80, e.g.,32771:80) - Access from the same computer:
http://localhost:<PORT> - Access from other devices on the network:
http://<YOUR_COMPUTER_IP>:<PORT>
Tip
Find your computer's IP address with ipconfig (Windows) or ifconfig/ip addr (macOS/Linux). It's usually in the format 192.168.x.x or 10.0.x.x.
For developers or users who need to run Agent Zero directly on their system, see the In-Depth Guide for Full Binaries Installation.
Agent Zero settings can be automatically configured using environment variables with the A0_SET_ prefix in your .env file. This enables automated deployments without manual configuration.
Usage:
Add variables to your .env file in the format:
A0_SET_{setting_name}={value}Examples:
# Model configuration
A0_SET_chat_model_provider=anthropic
A0_SET_chat_model_name=claude-3-5-sonnet-20241022
A0_SET_chat_model_ctx_length=200000
# Memory settings
A0_SET_memory_recall_enabled=true
A0_SET_memory_recall_interval=5
# Agent configuration
A0_SET_agent_profile=custom
A0_SET_agent_memory_subdir=productionDocker usage:
When running Docker, you can pass these as environment variables:
docker run -p 50080:80 \
-e A0_SET_chat_model_provider=anthropic \
-e A0_SET_chat_model_name=claude-3-5-sonnet-20241022 \
agent0ai/agent-zeroNotes:
- These provide initial default values when settings.json doesn't exist or when new settings are added to the application. Once a value is saved in settings.json, it takes precedence over these environment variables.
- Sensitive settings (API keys, passwords) use their existing environment variables
- Container/process restart required for changes to take effect
If you are migrating from older, non-Docker setups, A0 handles the migration of legacy folders and files automatically at runtime. The right place to save your files and directories is a0/usr.
After following the instructions for your specific operating system, you should have Agent Zero successfully installed and running. You can now start exploring the framework's capabilities and experimenting with creating your own intelligent agents.
Next Steps:
- For production server deployments, see the VPS Deployment Guide
- For development setup and extensions, see the Development Setup Guide
- For remote access via tunnel, see Remote Access via Tunneling
If you encounter any issues during the installation process, please consult the Troubleshooting section of this documentation or refer to the Agent Zero Skool or Discord community for assistance.