Create your first squad member
Create an AI squad member in Desktop, step by step.
This guide tells you how to create a squad member in Desktop and open its first chat.
Before you start
Install Desktop and connect an AI provider to your HQ.
Create a squad member
Open the form
In the sidebar, click + next to Agents.
The form shows the target HQ. Make sure that it is the HQ you want.
Enter a name
Type a name, for example code-reviewer. The name shows in Squad and chat.
The form shows a model from a provider that has a key. This does not prove that the provider can answer.
To select another model, click Change. Search by model or provider name.
A deprecated model shows its end date and a replacement in the model list. Select a supported replacement before that date. Models that have reached their end date are not shown for new selections. Your saved chats and model settings do not change automatically.
For a new Google setup, use Gemini 3.8 Flash or Gemini 3.5 Flash-Lite. Gemini 2.5 is limited to existing Google users with access. It is not shown for new selections through the direct Google connection. Other providers can have different access rules.
Set optional details
You can leave Instructions (optional) empty. Give the squad member its task in chat.
Open Advanced to change tools, fallback models, or the workspace folder.
By default, the form selects all optional tools. It shows the number of the selected tools and Change tools in Advanced. Clear the groups that you do not want. The squad member can also use the tools and plugins set up in this HQ.
The default workspace is a separate folder for the new squad member. The Web group includes the browser tool. If your Mac has no Chrome or Edge, Advanced shows the card Your agent needs a browser. dashsquad downloads a browser only if you click Download browser. See Browser.
Open the first chat
Click Create and open chat. Desktop creates the squad member and opens an empty chat.
Creation does not send a message or start paid model work. Type a task when you are ready.
Connect a provider
If no eligible model is available, click Add provider. Connect the provider, then return to the form.
Desktop keeps your draft for the same account and HQ. It does not submit the draft after setup.
If the provider check fails, use Retry. Do not treat Unknown as a connected provider.
Recover from a failure
If the name is empty or already exists, correct it. Desktop keeps the other values.
If Desktop cannot confirm creation, click Check squad. The first request can have succeeded.
When you return, you can select Start a new draft. Desktop keeps the previous draft for inspection. It does not send another request until you select Create and open chat.
If you see Agent created, the squad member exists. Click Open chat to retry chat only. Click View agent to inspect its configuration.
If Desktop says Chat is ready, click Open chat to continue.