WorkBuddy Usage: A Desktop AI Workbench from Tencent
The first three lessons — Claude Code, Codex, and OpenCode — all require typing commands in a terminal. This lesson takes a different form: WorkBuddy, an AI workbench from Tencent, a desktop app installed on Windows / Mac. You never touch the command line: after logging in with a WeChat QR code, describe the task in one sentence, and it plans and executes on its own, finally delivering documents, spreadsheets, PPTs, web pages, and other ready-to-use results.
This WorkBuddy tutorial takes 12 minutes, going from download and install to independently completing your first task. (Fact-checked 2026-11-05; the interface and credit rules may change with version updates — refer to the official WorkBuddy documentation.)
What You'll Be Able to Do After This Lesson
- Install the WorkBuddy desktop app on Windows / Mac and log in with a WeChat QR code
- Create a task with one sentence, let WorkBuddy plan and execute autonomously, and deliver ready-to-use results such as documents, spreadsheets, and PPTs
- Know how to add context (@ references, pasting screenshots, uploading files) and choose a workspace for more accurate task results
- Find the deliverable files in the results panel on the right, and know you can follow up and run multiple tasks in parallel
- Be able to explain how credits are consumed, how they reset at month's end, and where to check your balance
Your Current Struggles
- You want to try having AI do work for you, but the terminal and command line from the first three lessons are overwhelming at a glance
- Web-based AI chat only "gives suggestions," and you still have to copy and paste the report back yourself for formatting
- You heard Tencent released a WorkBuddy, but after installing it you don't know how to use it: where do tasks come from? What are credits?
When to Use This Approach
When you need:
- A desktop AI workbench with no command line: click the mouse, say a sentence, and the work is done
- Ready-to-use deliverables: Word, Excel, PPT, web pages — not just a chat reply
- WeChat QR code login and WeChat Pay, working directly in a mainland China environment (made by Tencent)
And you don't want to:
- Learn the terminal first just to use an AI coding tool
- Shuttle content back and forth between a chat box and your folders
- Prepare an overseas payment method just to get a subscription
🎒 Preparation Before Starting
- Have read the Daily Use Overview, and know that this page covers the most "desktop-oriented" of the four tools, WorkBuddy
- A computer that meets the requirements (see system requirements below) + a WeChat account that can scan QR codes
- Have in mind the first task to assign to the AI (e.g., "turn this sales data into an analysis report with charts")
- 12 minutes of uninterrupted time
System Requirements
| System | Requirements |
|---|---|
| Windows | Windows 10 or above (x64); Win7/8/8.1 not supported; Win11 ARM64 is not supported in the current version |
| macOS | macOS 12 (Monterey) or above; choose the ARM64 package for M-series chips and the X64 package for Intel chips |
| Domestic systems | The official site also has installation guides for domestic systems such as UOS and Kylin |
💡 The first three lessons are not prerequisites
This lesson only requires having read the Daily Use Overview. The three lessons Claude Code, Codex, and OpenCode are independent of this one — WorkBuddy is precisely the one made for people who "don't want to touch the terminal."
Core Idea
WorkBuddy's official positioning in one sentence: an all-scenario AI workbench from Tencent. You describe your needs in natural language, and it autonomously breaks down the steps, plans the workflow, and executes the task, finally delivering complete, ready-to-use results — documents, spreadsheets, PPTs, as well as writing code, reading projects, and developing websites and apps. How it differs from web-based AI chat (official comparison table):
| Traditional AI Chat | WorkBuddy |
|---|---|
| Can only chat and offer suggestions | Can actually execute tasks |
| Requires manual file operations | Operates on local files automatically |
| Single-step simple tasks | Multi-step complex tasks |
| Outputs text replies | Delivers acceptable results |
Six core capabilities: natural language interaction, autonomous planning and execution, multimodal task handling (documents/spreadsheets/PPTs/data analysis), local file operations (read and write after authorization), multiple tasks in parallel, and result delivery and acceptance.
Viewed alongside the first three lessons of this course:
| Claude Code / Codex / OpenCode | WorkBuddy | |
|---|---|---|
| Form | Primarily a terminal CLI (with IDE/desktop/web forms also available) | Desktop application with a graphical interface |
| Login | Anthropic / ChatGPT subscription or API key | WeChat QR code scan (phone number/email/SSO also supported) |
| Billing | Subscription or pay-as-you-go API | Credit-based (the trial edition is free with 500 credits/month) |
| Strengths | A coding agent for writing code and modifying projects | Office deliverables, and it can also write code and develop websites and apps |
Usage in one sentence: install it → log in by scanning a WeChat QR code → create a new task → describe what you want in one sentence → wait for delivery. Get to know the four sections of the interface and you can get started: the top toolbar, the left task list (grouped by folder), the center conversation area, and the right results area (with two types of content—overview and deliverables—that you can switch between).
Where it fits in this course: for the full comparison of how to choose among the four tools, see tool comparison; WorkBuddy's most impressive hands-on scenario is "publish a mini-program with zero command line," see making a mini-program with WorkBuddy; it also appeared in the installation lesson as an alternative for those who "absolutely don't want to touch the command line" (alternative installation methods).
Follow Along
Step 1: Download and install WorkBuddy
Why: WorkBuddy is a desktop application installed on your computer (not a web page, not a command line), so install it first—everything else depends on it.
Windows users
- Open the WorkBuddy official website, hover over "Download WorkBuddy", and select the version matching your current device
- Once the download finishes, double-click to run the installer
- Follow the installation wizard: check "I agree to this agreement" → choose the installation location (the default path is fine, just click Next) → it is recommended to check "Create desktop shortcut" → Install → Finish
In the "Select installation user" step of the wizard, the official recommendation is to choose "Install for me only".
macOS users
- Open the WorkBuddy official website, click "Download Now", and select the Mac version:
- M-series chip → Mac ARM64 version
- Intel chip → Mac X64 version
- If the website doesn't detect your device → the X64 version is offered by default (it can run on M-series via Rosetta, with broader compatibility)
- Not sure which chip you have: click the Apple icon in the top-left corner of the screen → About This Mac
- Double-click the downloaded .dmg file and drag the WorkBuddy icon into the Applications folder
- Wait for the copy to finish, then eject the disk image; the .dmg in your Downloads folder is no longer needed and can be deleted
⚠️ On Mac, don't launch directly from the dmg
Be sure to drag WorkBuddy into the "Applications" folder before launching it. If you run it directly from the disk image, it runs on a read-only image and will be unable to auto-update afterward.
You should see: a login screen appears after launching WorkBuddy.
- Quick check: WorkBuddy launches and you can see the login button
Step 2: Log in to WorkBuddy by scanning a WeChat QR code
Why: WorkBuddy uses an account to manage your tasks and credits, and scanning a WeChat QR code is the easiest route—no need to register a new account, and it works directly on networks in China.
- Launch WorkBuddy and click the login button
- The browser automatically opens the official login page; check the User Service Agreement and Privacy Policy
- Scan the WeChat QR code to complete login; phone number, email, SSO, and other methods are also supported (individual users choose personal login; users who purchased the enterprise edition choose enterprise login)
- Once the page shows that login succeeded, return to the client
You should see: the client enters the main interface—top toolbar, left task list, center conversation area, right results area.
💡 Interface language not right?
Click the avatar in the bottom-left corner → Settings → General → Language to switch the interface language.
- Quick check: WeChat QR code login succeeded, and I can see my avatar in the bottom-left corner of the interface
Step 3: The core of the WorkBuddy tutorial—create a new task and assign work in one sentence
Why: WorkBuddy's core strength is understanding natural language—no need to break things into steps or learn prompt engineering; state what you want in one sentence and it plans and executes on its own. This step is worth practicing several times—it's the most fundamental usage in the entire WorkBuddy tutorial.
- Click "New Task" (on PC, tasks are created from here)
- Describe the task in one sentence in the input box; copy the official examples directly:
- "Help me generate an analysis report from this sales data, including charts"
- "Organize the images in the Downloads folder and categorize them by date"
- "Generate a PPT from these meeting minutes"
- Click send
You should see: the task appears in the left task list; the conversation area starts scrolling to show WorkBuddy's execution process; content gradually appears in the right results area.
Two shortcuts for lazy input:
Voice input: click the voice button in the input box and dictate your request; speech is transcribed to text and filled in in real time
Prompt templates: the task creation page offers ready-made templates by scenario (daily office work, code development, design creativity)—hover to preview the gray placeholder text first, click to fill it in if it fits, or move away and it clears automatically if it doesn't
Quick check: I sent my first task and saw it start executing automatically
Step 4: Add context and choose a workspace to make the task more accurate
Why: one sentence is enough to get started, but whether the result is "accurate" depends on how much you specify. The official docs give four ways to add context:
| Method | How to do it |
|---|---|
| Reference context | Type @ to reference files, documents, rules, and other information |
| Paste a screenshot | Ctrl/Cmd + V to paste an image straight from the clipboard |
| Upload a file | Click the upload button, or drag a file into the input box |
| Additional notes | Spell out the goal, scope, constraints, and expected output in the task description |
The official recommendation is to specify four things first:
- Goal: what content to generate, or which files to process
- Input: the data to analyze, the documents to reference
- Output format: whether you want Word, Excel, PPT, or another format
- Constraints: style requirements, word count limits, deadlines, and so on
Choose a workspace: click "Choose a workspace" at the bottom left of the input box to assign a working directory to the task. This is optional—if you don't choose one, it will generate results in the default directory.
You should see: once selected, WorkBuddy reads and processes files based on that directory—you can watch the execution process in the conversation area.
- Quick check: you have used at least one way to add context (@ references / pasting screenshots / uploading files all count)
Step 5: View results and keep asking follow-up questions
Why: what WorkBuddy delivers is an "acceptable deliverable," and the acceptance happens in the results area on the right.
- The results area on the right contains two kinds of content, "Overview" and "Artifacts," which you can switch between in the same area
- Look for the generated target files under Artifacts
- Other files produced by the task can be viewed under Overview → Workspace files
- If you're not satisfied, keep adding messages in the conversation area and have it revise
- Have several things on your plate? Run tasks in parallel—create multiple tasks at the same time and push them forward separately
You should see: once the task is complete, files that can be opened and used directly appear in the artifacts area (documents, spreadsheets, PPTs...).
- Quick check: I found and opened a file generated by WorkBuddy in "Artifacts"
Step 6: Manage credits, plans, and updates
Why: WorkBuddy uses credits to manage AI resource quotas—every conversation-related request consumes credits. Understanding the rules means you won't "inexplicably go over."
How credits are consumed (official rules, two factors):
- Model token pricing: advanced models reason better, but their per-unit processing price for input and output is higher, so the same volume consumes more credits
- Task complexity: simple tasks like short Q&A consume little; complex tasks like long code analysis, multi-turn conversations, and knowledge base retrieval consume more
There is no official fixed conversion table of "doing one thing = X credits"—actual consumption varies with task complexity and the model used, and the actual deduction is what counts.
Credit validity period:
- Credits are issued monthly and are valid for the current month only, with no accumulation or carryover; bonus credits are valid for 1 month(s) from the date they arrive
- The system deducts the credits that expire first; when expiration times are the same, base credits are deducted first, then bonus credits
- If your membership expires without renewal: you are downgraded to the trial edition, content already generated is unaffected, but advanced features are restricted
Loop execution confirmation: when WorkBuddy detects that a task may be executing in a loop, it pauses before the tool call and pops up a confirmation—the paused call does not consume credits, and the loop detection itself does not either. After the confirmation pops up, there are two choices:
- Continue execution: this call executes as usual, and subsequent billing follows the normal rules
- Terminate the request: consumption already incurred in this request but without a final answer generated enters refund evaluation (whether a refund is granted depends on the system's processing result)
Manually canceling a request as usual does not enter refund evaluation.
Where to check your balance and details:
| What you want to see | Where to look |
|---|---|
| Current plan, credit balance, expiration time | Client avatar → Settings → Plan & credits |
| Consumption details per task/model | Avatar at the top right of the official website workbuddy.cn → Personal center → Plan & usage |
You should see: the "Plan & credits" page shows your current plan, subscription status, expiration time, and other information, along with your credit balance.
The trial edition is free, and the 500 credits per month are enough to run through everything in this lesson; see the next lesson price comparison for the full table of paid tiers and add-on pack prices. Also, WorkBuddy shares credits with Tencent's coding tool CodeBuddy under the same account, so there's no need to subscribe separately.
Version updates: click the avatar at the bottom left → Check for updates; if there's a new version, it will download automatically and complete the upgrade.
- Quick check: I saw my credit balance in "Settings → Plan & credits"
Checkpoint ✅
- WorkBuddy installed and able to launch (Windows 10+ x64 / macOS 12+)
- Logged in successfully by scanning the WeChat QR code, and familiar with the four interface sections (toolbar / task list / conversation area / results area)
- Created a task with a single sentence and watched it plan and execute autonomously
- Found a generated file in "Artifacts" and asked a follow-up to have it revised once
- Can explain the credit rules clearly: consumption depends on the model and complexity, credits reset monthly, and where to check the balance
Pitfall reminders
❌ Windows 7/8/8.1 or Win11 ARM64 won't install
Official statement: Windows only supports 10 and above (x64); Win7/8/8.1 are not supported, and Win11 ARM64 is not supported in the current version for now. Systems that don't meet the requirements cannot launch WorkBuddy—switch to a supported device instead of struggling with an old system.
❌ After installing on Mac, it says "unable to update automatically"
Cause: after double-clicking the .dmg, you ran WorkBuddy directly from the disk image, so it's running on a read-only image. The right way: drag the icon into the "Applications" folder first, then launch it. Even if you've already hit this issue, don't worry—the failed update check prompt includes a "Move to Applications" button; move it over with one click and relaunch from "Applications."
❌ Clicking login does nothing, or login fails
Two common causes (from the official FAQ):
- No default browser set: on Windows, set Chrome as the default in system settings → Default apps; on Mac, set the default browser to Chrome or Safari, then restart the app and log in again. You can also copy the login link and paste it into a browser manually to open it
- Blocked by security software: Huorong, 360 Security Guard, PC Manager, and Windows Security Center may all block it by mistake—temporarily exit them and try again
Still not working? "Help → Diagnostics" at the top of the client runs a one-click self-check of the network, system resources, and security software, and automatically generates a diagnostic report.
❌ Assuming credits stay valid forever like a balance
Credits are issued monthly, valid for the current month, with no accumulation or carryover; bonus credits are valid for 1 month(s) from when they arrive. If you have tasks you want to do at the end of the month, don't save them up—unused credits are not retained into the next month. The same goes for add-on packs: the validity period runs from the day of purchase to the same day of the next month, and unused credits expire automatically at that point.
Advanced tips (optional)
Three ways to save credits. ① Choose the "Balanced" mode for the model—WorkBuddy models are split into three tiers: Fast/Balanced/Ultimate. Balanced suits the vast majority of tasks; if unsure, use it. Reserve Fast mode for simple, well-defined work (everyday Q&A, format conversion, copy polishing)—it responds fastest and consumes the least. ② Don't be greedy with the context window—every turn of the conversation sends the current context to the model in full, so the larger the window, the higher the per-turn consumption; keeping the default tier is enough. ③ Keep Economy mode on—Settings → Agents → Economy mode (on by default in the personal edition) automatically compresses the context at appropriate moments, reducing credit consumption in long conversations; only turn it off when you need the model to fully remember every detail.
Check a model's "busyness". Hover over a model in the model selector, and the info card will show its busyness: green means idle, orange means slightly congested, red means extremely congested (switching to another one is recommended).
You can assign tasks from your phone too. WorkBuddy supports connecting to the WorkBuddy mini program and WorkBuddy App, and can also integrate with mobile integrations such as the WeChat assistant, WeChat service account, WeCom assistant, QQ bot, Feishu, and DingTalk bot. Tasks sent from mobile can be reviewed on the PC side under "Assistant".
Publish what it builds directly. WorkBuddy can develop websites and apps: just say "publish/go live" to it to publish the web app——the official docs say there's no need to buy your own server, and no deployment setup or day-to-day ops required; for mini programs it can even host and publish as a WeChat third-party service provider——the trial version requires no prior mini program account registration and is valid for 14 days, ideal for quick validation. See Building a Mini Program with WorkBuddy: From Idea to Trial Version in 14 Days for the full workflow.
Connect your own models. In Settings you can add third-party models (including local Ollama); the configuration parameters and API Key are stored only in the local workbuddy/models.json and never uploaded to the cloud; fees are paid directly to the model provider and don't consume WorkBuddy credits.
Lesson Recap
✅ The WorkBuddy tutorial's daily workflow = install the desktop app → log in by scanning the WeChat QR code → create a task and assign work in one sentence → add context/pick a workspace → review deliverables in the results panel on the right → manage your credits.
✅ It is an all-scenario AI workbench from Tencent: no command line, assign work in natural language, and deliver ready-to-use outputs like documents, spreadsheets, and slides; coding scenarios include writing code, reading projects, and developing websites and apps.
✅ The difference from web-based AI chat: it can actually execute tasks, operate local files automatically, handle multi-step complex tasks, and deliver verifiable results.
✅ Credit rules: consumption depends on the model's unit price and task complexity (there is no fixed conversion table); credits are issued monthly and reset to zero each month; loop execution pauses for confirmation, and terminated requests can enter a refund evaluation; the balance is under Settings → Plan & Credits, and details are in the personal center on the official website.
✅ The free trial edition (500 credits/month) is enough to run through everything in this lesson; for paid tiers, see the price comparison in the next lesson.
Key operations recap:
| Operation | How to do it | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Download | workbuddy.cn → hover over "Download WorkBuddy" | Win 10+ x64; macOS 12+, M-chip machines pick ARM64 |
| Install (Mac) | Double-click the .dmg → drag into Applications | Running directly from the dmg breaks auto-update |
| Log in | Click Log in → scan the WeChat QR code in the browser | Phone number/email/SSO also supported |
| Create a task | "New Task" → one sentence → send | Voice input and prompt templates supported |
| Add context | @ reference / Ctrl(Cmd)+V paste image / upload or drag & drop / supplementary notes | Spell out the goal, inputs, output format, and constraints |
| Pick a workspace | Bottom-left corner of the input box | If not selected, the default directory is used |
| View results | Results panel on the right (Overview/Deliverables) | Target files are under "Deliverables" |
| Check credits | Avatar → Settings → Plan & Credits | Details: personal center on the official website → Plan & Usage |
| Update | Avatar → Check for Updates | New versions download and upgrade automatically |
Next Lesson Preview
With this, the usage lessons for all four tools are complete. The next lesson settles the accounts: Price Comparison: How Much Do the Four Tools Cost.
You will learn:
- How each of the four tools charges: Claude subscription, Codex plans, OpenCode free + pay-as-you-go, WorkBuddy credit system
- WorkBuddy Trial edition with 500 free credits, and how to choose among the Standard/Advanced/Flagship tiers
- Trial and error from zero: which path costs the least