# Chat, Work and Code in ZeroTwo

> ZeroTwo has Chat for conversation, Work for multi-step tasks and Code for software projects. See how to switch, where each one runs and what it needs.

Source: https://help.zerotwo.ai/en/articles/20001275-chat-work-and-code-in-zerotwo
Section: ZeroTwo
Last updated: 2026-10-05

ZeroTwo is organized into modes. **Chat** is for conversation, **Work** is for tasks that take several steps, and **Code** is for working on a software project. You pick the mode before you send the first message of a new chat.

## The three modes

| Mode | Use it for | Where it runs | Apps |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| **Chat** | Questions, writing, and quick tools such as Web Search and Create image. | In your conversation. | Web, desktop, iPhone, iPad, Android |
| **Work** | Multi-step tasks that use files, connected apps and tools. | On the web, in a cloud sandbox. On desktop, on your computer by default, or in the cloud if you choose. | Web, desktop, iPhone, iPad, Android |
| **Code** | Changing code in a repository. | On the web, in the cloud only. On desktop, locally, in a worktree, or in the cloud. | Web, desktop |

## Switch modes

Start a new chat. The **Mode** tabs at the top show **Chat**, **Work** and **Code**. Select the one you want before you send your first message. The iPhone, iPad and Android apps have a two-tab control, Chat and Work. In a narrow browser window, such as a phone, the tabs that are not selected show only their icons.

When you choose Work or Code, ZeroTwo keeps the model you picked unless that model cannot use these tools, in which case it switches to a default that can.

## Work

Work is ZeroTwo's agent. It plans, runs tools, and reports back as it goes. The side panel for a Work chat can show **Plan**, **Outputs** and **Sources**. See [Handing multi-step tasks to ZeroTwo with Work](https://help.zerotwo.ai/en/articles/11752874-handing-multi-step-tasks-to-zerotwo-with-work) for the full walkthrough, and [Making Word, Excel, PowerPoint and PDF files with Work](https://help.zerotwo.ai/en/articles/20001278-making-word-excel-powerpoint-and-pdf-files-with-work) for documents, spreadsheets and decks.

- **On the web**, choose a cloud project with the project picker in the setup strip under the message box, or create one with **New project**. The strip appears on a new, empty chat.
- **On desktop**, the same picker also lists projects on your computer. Choosing one gives Work access to that folder. New desktop sessions start locally, and before you pick a project you can switch a single task to the cloud with the **Work locally** menu and its **Cloud** option.

## Code

Code is a coding agent for a repository.

- **On the web** Code always runs in the cloud. The setup strip under the message box shows a locked **Cloud** pill and an environment chooser that reads **Choose environment** until you pick one. A cloud environment holds the repositories, installation commands, startup instructions, environment variables, secrets and internet access rules a task needs. Pick **Create environment** to make one or **Manage environments** to edit them. They are also listed under Settings > **Code Cloud**, which has an Environments tab and a Personal vault tab for your own variables and secrets.
- **On desktop** the environment menu offers **Local**, **New local worktree** and **Cloud**. Local runs choose a repository and a branch, and a **Worktree** checkbox starts the new chat in its own worktree. Desktop also has **Code Review** in the **More** ("…") menu of the left rail.

## Permissions on desktop

In the desktop app, when you start a new Work or Code chat, a permissions button sits beside **+**. Its menu has these presets:

- **Ask for approval**: always ask to edit external files and use the internet.
- **Approve for me**: only ask for actions detected as potentially unsafe.
- **Full access**: unrestricted access to the internet and any file on your computer.

Work and Code also have **Plan mode** and **Goal** in the **+** menu. Plan mode turns the next turn into a read-only planning turn, and Goal sets an objective for ZeroTwo to keep pursuing.

## Plans and credits

Work and Code runs are metered in credits. The Plus card lists "Access to Work agent" and "Access to code agent". The Pro and Ultra cards list "Access to Work agent" and "Access to ZeroCode", which is the card's name for Code. See [What does the ZeroTwo Free plan include?](https://help.zerotwo.ai/en/articles/9275245-what-does-the-zerotwo-free-plan-include) for how Free accounts use credits.