Assistant Overview: Six Remote Channels and Security Boundaries
Prerequisite: Advanced Handbook: Assistants, Connectors, Skills, and Security
One-sentence goal: Figure out how to choose among the six remote channels of the WorkBuddy Assistant, use the lowest-threshold WeChat Assistant to run a "send a command from your phone, the computer does the work" flow once, and hold the security boundaries that should be held.
What you'll be able to do after this lesson
- Name the six remote channels of the WorkBuddy Assistant and pick the one that suits you based on binding thresholds
- Open the unified Assistant settings entry and find the integration card for your target channel
- Complete WeChat Assistant binding by scanning a QR code with WeChat on your phone, without filling in any developer credentials
- Dispatch a task to your computer from WeChat and approve a high-risk operation on your phone
- Explain clearly the consequences of unbinding: the integration configuration is deleted, history records are kept
Your current predicament
- "All my files and projects are on my work computer, but I'm not at my desk, so urgent tasks can only wait."
- "I've heard you can control a computer via WeChat or Feishu, but I have no idea which channels WorkBuddy actually supports or where to start configuring."
- "If I let AI remotely touch files on my computer, could someone else command it just by sending a message?"
When to use this technique
When you need to: while away from your desk, in a meeting, or commuting, use your phone to have WorkBuddy on your computer process files, generate meeting minutes, or prepare work materials.
And you don't want to: sit at your computer waiting for a task to finish, or apply for developer credentials like an App ID or App Secret just to hook up a bot.
🎒 Preparation before you start
- Have finished the prerequisite course Advanced Handbook: Assistants, Connectors, Skills, and Security
- Computer has WorkBuddy ≥ 4.6.4 installed (macOS / Windows) and is kept running
- WeChat on your phone ≥ 8.0.70, logged into the same account as WorkBuddy (or already linked)
- Both your computer and phone have a working internet connection
- Decide which computer to use: your daily work machine, or a dedicated always-on host running long-term tasks such as scheduled inspections
Core idea
The WorkBuddy Assistant works like a remote control: send a message from your phone → WorkBuddy on your computer executes it automatically → the result is sent back to your phone. Remote tasks use your computer's local projects, files, credentials, and tools throughout.
How to choose among the six channels: the difference lies mainly in binding thresholds.
| Channel | Binding threshold | Who it's for |
|---|---|---|
| WeChat Assistant (officially recommended) | Lowest: scan to bind, no developer credentials needed | Control your own computer with your personal WeChat |
| WeChat Service Account | Low: supports direct QR-code binding | Already have a WeChat service account |
| WeCom Assistant | Medium: usually requires completing app or bot configuration on the corresponding platform first | Company uses WeCom (WeChat Work) uniformly |
| QQ Bot | Medium: usually requires completing app or bot configuration on the corresponding platform first | Prefer communicating via QQ |
| Feishu | Medium: usually requires completing app or bot configuration on the corresponding platform first | Company uses Feishu uniformly |
| DingTalk Bot | Medium: usually requires completing app or bot configuration on the corresponding platform first | Company uses DingTalk uniformly |
For the complete WeCom configuration process, see WeCom Remote: Connecting WorkBuddy to a WeCom Bot.
Assistants differ from regular tasks:
| Comparison item | Regular tasks | Assistant (remote tasks) |
|---|---|---|
| Working directory | Freely specified | Fixed to the assistant's dedicated folder |
| New conversation | Supports multiple parallel tasks | Only one session; all remote commands are handled centrally |
| Context management | History can be cleared to start over | Full conversation history is kept and cannot be cleared |
💡 Official recommendation
For local operations, prefer regular tasks in the main interface; use the Assistant when you need remote triggering or a unified view of execution records.
The three-part security boundary—anyone can message your computer and command it? Not happening:
- Bound identity: configure linked accounts in Assistant settings, with flexible rebinding across different mobile platforms
- Source verification: the WorkBuddy Assistant performs multi-layer source verification on every remote command
- High-risk confirmation: operations such as file deletion, system configuration changes, and approving command execution run only after confirmation
For a deeper discussion of data security, see Data Security and Privacy: Can company files be entrusted to it.
Follow along
Step 1: Open WorkBuddy Assistant settings and get to know all six channels
Why: all six channels share a single configuration entry. Get to know the full list first, then pick by threshold so you don't waste effort.
How: open WorkBuddy, click the avatar in the lower-left corner → Settings → Assistant Settings. You can also click the gear icon in the "Assistant" section on the left to go there directly.
You should see: in the integrations list, six cards in order—WeChat Assistant, WeChat Service Account, WeCom Assistant, QQ Bot, Feishu, and DingTalk Bot—each with a "Configure" button on the right.
- Quick check: referring to the comparison table above, decide which channel you'll bind first.
Step 2: Scan the QR code to bind the WeChat Assistant (the lowest-barrier channel)
Why: The WeChat Assistant requires no developer credentials such as App ID or App Secret—just scan a QR code to bind, making it best suited for running the full workflow end to end for the first time.
How: Find the "WeChat Assistant Integration" card and click "Configure" on the right. The button briefly shows "Binding...", then the QR code appears below the card. Open WeChat on your phone and scan this QR code.
You should see: after the scan completes, the card status changes to "Bound".
💡 The QR code has an expiry time
If it expires or the scan fails, just click "Configure" again to generate a new QR code.
- Quick check: the WeChat Assistant card shows "Bound".
Step 3: Send a remote task from WeChat
Why: A binding only truly works once you've run a task through it successfully.
How: In WeChat, send WorkBuddy a text instruction, such as "Archive today's files in the Downloads folder by type".
You should see: WorkBuddy on your computer starts executing; if follow-up questions are needed, you'll receive them in WeChat, and you'll get a notification when the task is done or needs your attention. When you return to your computer, the session initiated in WeChat appears in the "Assistant" section—no manual searching required.
Step 4: Approve high-risk operations and receive results in WeChat
Why: Operations like file deletion, system configuration changes, and approving command execution are never performed silently—that's the security boundary at work.
How: When a confirmation request pops up in WeChat, read carefully what operation is about to run, then tap approve.
You should see: after approval, the task continues, and the task output and diff comparison are sent back to the WeChat chat window.
- Quick check: in WeChat you can see both the confirmation request and the final result.
Step 5: Unbind or rebind when needed
Why: When switching accounts, switching computers, or no longer using a channel, unbinding immediately cuts off that platform's command channel.
How: Settings → Assistant Settings, find the target platform's card, and click "Unbind" on the right. To use it again later, simply redo the integration setup.
You should see: that platform account can no longer send remote commands to this WorkBuddy; the integration configuration is deleted locally; the history of executed tasks is retained; other bound platforms are unaffected.
Checkpoint ✅
- Can say which of the six channels suits you based on their binding requirements
- The WeChat Assistant card status is "Bound"
- Sending a simple message in WeChat gets a reply—the link is working
- Sending a small task that modifies files triggers a confirmation request in WeChat, and the task continues after approval
- Can describe the effects of unbinding: configuration deleted, history retained, other platforms unaffected
Pitfall warnings
❌ Symptom: you send commands while away from the computer, and the computer doesn't respond at all
Cause: Local tasks require the computer to stay on, stay connected to the internet, and keep WorkBuddy running; sleep, loss of network, or quitting WorkBuddy all interrupt remote access.
Correct approach: Keep your Mac laptop open and plugged in; if using it with the lid closed, an external monitor is recommended to prevent sleep; enable "Remote While Locked" in WorkBuddy settings; assign long-running tasks like scheduled inspections to a dedicated always-on machine.
❌ Wrong approach: rushing to scan the QR code before meeting the version requirements
Cause: The WeChat Assistant requires WorkBuddy ≥ 4.6.4 on macOS / Windows and mobile WeChat ≥ 8.0.70, with the same account (or linked accounts) on both ends.
Correct approach: Upgrade both ends first, confirm the accounts match, then click "Configure".
❌ Wrong approach: approving confirmation requests without reading the content
Cause: High-risk operations such as file deletion, system configuration changes, and approving command execution are blocked precisely at this step.
Correct approach: Read the operation content before approving; if unsure, ask a follow-up question in WeChat first.
Advanced tips
- Cross-device continuation: After initiating a task in WeChat, you can continue asking follow-up questions and refining the task back on your computer, with progress viewable on both sides at any time.
- Sending images works too: Besides text, you can send screenshots or photos of documents in WeChat, and WorkBuddy can recognize the content in the images.
- Don't want to set up a bot? The WorkBuddy mobile app supports a "Connect to Computer" mode for remotely controlling the desktop app—just sign in with the same account, no need to create a bot or configure app credentials. See Mobile Remote Control: Let Your Office Computer Work While You Commute for details.
Lesson summary
✅ What you accomplished in this lesson:
- WorkBuddy Assistant = controlling your computer from your phone: send one message, the computer executes, and the result comes back to your phone.
- Choose among six channels by barrier: The WeChat Assistant (officially recommended, bind by scanning a QR code) and the WeChat Service Account (supports direct QR-code binding) have the lowest barriers; the WeCom Assistant, QQ Bot, Feishu, and DingTalk Bot usually require completing app or bot configuration on the corresponding platform first.
- One entry point manages all channels: Avatar in the lower-left corner → Settings → Assistant Settings.
- Security boundary: bound identity + multi-layer source verification + confirmation for high-risk operations; after unbinding, configuration is deleted and history is retained.
Key configuration fields recap:
| Field | Recommended value | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Configuration entry | Settings → Assistant Settings | Shared by all six channels; you can also click the gear icon in the "Assistant" section on the left to go directly there |
| WorkBuddy Version | ≥ 4.6.4 | Hard requirement for the WeChat Assistant (macOS / Windows) |
| WeChat version | ≥ 8.0.70 | Hard requirement on the phone side, and must use the same account as WorkBuddy or a linked account |
| Remote While Locked | Enabled | Enable it in WorkBuddy settings to prevent long tasks from being interrupted by the lock screen |
| Binding status | Bound | Shown on the card after scanning; when switching accounts, "Unbind" first and then bind again |
Next lesson preview
Channels are just entry points—what truly lets the assistant reach your email, documents, and meetings are connectors. Next lesson: Connectors and MCP: Integrating Email, Documents, Meetings, and Custom Services.
You will learn:
- What connectors and the assistant each manage
- Integrating official connectors such as QQ Mail, Tencent Docs, and Tencent Meeting
- Using MCP to connect custom services into WorkBuddy
- How to click "Reconnect" after authorization expires
Want to dig into the full configuration of a specific channel first? You can detour to WeCom Remote: Connecting WorkBuddy to a WeCom Bot, then come back to learn about connectors.