---
title: "Connect an Assistant"
description: "Understand Agent and Chat Assistants, connection checks, and defaults."
locale: "en"
canonical: "https://orylo.io/en/docs/assistants"
product_status: "in-development"
last_reviewed: "2026-10-12"
---

# Connect an Assistant

Understand Agent and Chat Assistants, connection checks, and defaults.

<a id="model"></a>

## Choose an Assistant type

| Type | Use it for | Keep in mind |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Agent Assistant | Project work with a local Agent such as Codex or Claude Code | Tools, files, and session capabilities depend on the Agent. |
| Chat Assistant | Conversations through a local or cloud model API | No Agent tools or workspace semantics. The provider defines model capabilities. |

<a id="connect"></a>

## Connect and check

1. **Prepare the source** — Install and authenticate a local Agent using its publisher’s instructions, or configure a model provider. Orylo does not include a general third-party Agent installer.
2. **Create the Assistant** — Choose the source in Settings, give the Assistant a clear name, and set its instructions. You can also ask an already configured Agent Assistant to help with setup; inspect the proposed settings before saving.
3. **Verify availability** — Run the check. A successful check enables a newly created Assistant; a failed check keeps its configuration for troubleshooting. Recheck after fixing the source.

> **Connected does not mean unlimited access**
> An Agent connection does not prove that its provider sign-in, subscription, quota, or next request will succeed. Test provider access in the Agent itself if requests fail.

<a id="defaults"></a>

## Set reusable defaults

Save instructions, a default workspace where supported, and assigned Skills or MCP tools on the Assistant. Model and reasoning options appear only when supported by the source.

Defaults apply to new conversations. A conversation can keep its own model options; its workspace is fixed after the first message. A Chat Assistant can switch among enabled models from its provider within a conversation.

## Continue exploring

- [Use Skills](https://orylo.io/en/docs/skills)
- [Connect MCP tools](https://orylo.io/en/docs/mcp)
- [Troubleshooting](https://orylo.io/en/docs/troubleshooting)
- [Create with Chat](https://orylo.io/en/docs/create-with-chat)
- [Orylo Intelligence](https://orylo.io/en/docs/orylo-intelligence)