Frequently Asked Questions

MicClaw is an open-source desktop AI assistant that helps you work smarter. It features voice input that works anywhere, screen understanding capabilities, multi-agent workflows, and an extensible skills system. You can bring your own API keys (BYOK) or use our managed cloud service.

Yes! MicClaw is completely free and open source under the MIT license. You can download it and use it with your own API keys at no cost. We also offer a managed cloud option with included API credits for those who prefer a simpler setup.

MicClaw is currently available for Windows, macOS, and Linux. We support both Intel and Apple Silicon Macs. Mobile apps are on our roadmap for future development.

No account is required if you use your own API keys. Simply download MicClaw, add your API keys in settings, and start using it. If you choose our managed cloud service, you'll need to create an account for billing purposes.

The Free plan lets you use MicClaw with your own API keys at no cost. The Pro plan ($20/month) includes $30 worth of API credits, priority support, early access to new features, and cloud sync for your settings and conversations.

Yes, you can upgrade, downgrade, or cancel anytime. Changes take effect at the start of your next billing cycle. Your data and settings remain accessible regardless of your plan.

MicClaw supports OpenAI (GPT-4, GPT-4o, GPT-3.5), Anthropic (Claude 3.5 Sonnet, Claude 3 Opus), and local models via Ollama. You can configure multiple providers and switch between them easily.

With BYOK (Bring Your Own Keys), limits depend on your API provider. Pro plan users get $30/month in included credits, with additional usage billed at cost. Enterprise plans have custom limits.

MicClaw's voice input uses your system microphone to transcribe speech to text. Press the voice shortcut (customizable), speak naturally, and your words appear wherever your cursor is. It works in any application - IDEs, browsers, documents, you name it.

Canvas is MicClaw's visual workspace where you can collaborate with AI on documents, code, and diagrams. It supports real-time editing, markdown rendering, code syntax highlighting, and can export to various formats.

You can create workflows where multiple AI agents work together - one might research while another writes code and a third reviews it. Agents can pass information to each other and work in parallel for complex tasks.

Absolutely! MicClaw has an extensible skills system. You can install skills from our marketplace or create your own using TypeScript. Skills can add new capabilities, integrate with external services, or automate workflows.

Yes. When using BYOK, your conversations and API keys never pass through our servers - they go directly to your chosen AI provider. Your data stays on your device. We don't store, read, or have access to your conversations.

API keys are encrypted and stored locally on your device using your operating system's secure credential storage (Keychain on macOS, Credential Manager on Windows, Secret Service on Linux).

No. We never use your conversations for training. When you use BYOK, your data goes directly to your AI provider. Check your provider's privacy policy for their data practices.

Yes! MicClaw is fully open source under the MIT license. You can review, modify, and contribute to the code on GitHub. This transparency ensures you can verify our privacy claims.

Windows 10/11 (64-bit), macOS 11+ (Intel or Apple Silicon), or Linux with glibc 2.28+. Minimum 4GB RAM, 500MB disk space. A stable internet connection is required for AI features.

Basic features work offline, but AI capabilities require an internet connection to reach API providers. If you use Ollama with local models, those work entirely offline.

MicClaw checks for updates automatically and notifies you when a new version is available. You can also manually check in the Settings menu, or download the latest version from our website.

Yes, you can run multiple MicClaw windows. Each window maintains its own conversation context, allowing you to work on different tasks simultaneously.