Connect a computer

Pairing a computer lets Run now work: when you answer one of an agent's asks, the Assent helper on that computer restarts the agent with your answer straight away, instead of waiting for its next scheduled run. Agents do not need a paired computer to ask you; they only need an agent key. See Connect an agent.

The commands are the same on macOS and Windows. Use Terminal on a Mac, and PowerShell or Command Prompt on Windows.

What you needCopy Anchor Link

• An Assent account, signed in on the web or in the iPhone app. Assent is invite only: see Build with AI agents.
• macOS, or Windows 10 version 1809 or later. Linux can pair and run the helper, but install does not add a background service there.
• Node.js 20 or later. Check with node --version.
• Your phone or a browser within reach: you confirm the pairing yourself.

If Node.js is missing or older than 20, install the current LTS release from nodejs.org. On a Mac with Homebrew, brew install node works too, and on Windows, winget install OpenJS.NodeJS.LTS. Open a new terminal afterwards so it finds node and npm.

1. Install the helperCopy Anchor Link

npm install -g assent-helper

Check it worked:

assent-helper --version

It prints the version number. npm view assent-helper version shows the latest release; if yours is older, run the install again.

2. Start pairingCopy Anchor Link

assent-helper pair

Add --name "Work laptop" to choose the name you see in Assent; it defaults to the computer's host name. The helper shows a QR code and a line like this, then waits:

Open Assent on your phone, go to Connect, Pair a computer, and scan this, or type the code K7QM2XWA. Waiting...

The code has 8 letters and numbers and lasts 10 minutes. Leave the command running. The message names Connect, Pair a computer: on the web that is the page below, in the Assent app it is Connect a computer under Connect, and on an iPhone the camera opens the same step.

If an AI agent runs this step for you, it should tell you the code and wait for the command to finish. It cannot confirm the pairing itself.

3. Confirm it in AssentCopy Anchor Link

Do one of these:

• iPhone: point the Camera at the QR code and tap the banner to open it in Assent. Assent opens its pairing screen and asks "Pair with code K7QM 2XWA?". Choose Pair this computer.
• Web: sign in and open assent.specvista.com/connect/pair. Type the code under Enter the code and choose Pair this computer.

Only pair a computer you own: it can run your agents with your answers.

Assent shows that the computer is paired, and the helper finishes with one line of JSON:

{"paired":true,"computerUuid":"...","name":"Work laptop"}

4. Check the pairingCopy Anchor Link

assent-helper status

You should see "paired":true and the computer's name. Pairing is needed once on each computer.

5. Let an agent run hereCopy Anchor Link

1. In Assent on the web, open Agents, open the agent and go to its settings.
2. Under When you answer one of its asks, choose Run now.
3. Choose this computer as its Linked computer, and enter its Resume command: the command that restarts the agent, for example /Users/you/jobs/scan.sh --resume or C:/jobs/scan.cmd. The command reads your answer from ASSENT_ANSWER_JSON and carries on. On Windows it runs in Git Bash when Git for Windows is installed, otherwise in cmd.exe. Write Windows paths with forward slashes, because Git Bash drops unquoted backslashes; to run a PowerShell script, use powershell -NoProfile -File C:/jobs/scan.ps1.
4. On the computer, list the agents linked to it and allow the one you set up:

assent-helper agents
assent-helper allow <agent-uuid>

allow shows the exact command and asks "Allow it?". Nothing runs until you say yes. If the command later changes in Assent, it stops running until you allow it again.

5. Start the background service:

assent-helper install

On macOS it adds the launchd agent com.ordia.helper. On Windows it adds the scheduled task AssentHelper for your user, without needing an administrator; it starts when you sign in and is checked every minute. The output names the log file. On Linux, install exits with code 2: keep assent-helper run going with your own service manager, such as a systemd user service; its log is ~/Library/Logs/ordia/helper.log, the same path as on macOS, even on Linux.

6. Confirm it worksCopy Anchor Link

Answer one of the agent's asks. Within about 30 seconds the helper claims the answer and runs the resume command with your answer in ASSENT_ANSWER_JSON (see Helper). assent-helper queue lists answers waiting to run, and the log shows each run:

• macOS: ~/Library/Logs/ordia/helper.log
• Windows: %LOCALAPPDATA%\Assent\Logs\helper.log

Common problemsCopy Anchor Link

Remove a computerCopy Anchor Link

assent-helper uninstall
assent-helper unpair

uninstall stops the background service (on Linux, stop your own service instead) and unpair removes the computer from Assent and forgets its key. You can also unpair it from Connect in Assent.

Helper lists every command, setting and exit code, and how Run now stays safe.