---
title: "Mac Projects and Agent"
description: "Use Noema 4.0 projects, working folders, Agent, Plan, Review, approval policies, file review, and the direct Mac workbench."
version: "Noema 4.0+"
platforms: ["Mac"]
reviewed: "September 21, 2026"
canonical: "https://noemaai.com/docs/mac-projects-and-agent"
---

# Mac Projects and Agent

Keep project context together and choose exactly how Noema may inspect or change a workspace.

## Create a project or open a folder

A project can keep chats, shared instructions, sources, and an optional working folder together. Opening a folder can also start a task directly without requiring a separate project.

1. Choose **New Project** to create a named project, or choose **Open Folder** to begin with an existing directory.
2. Add project instructions and sources when every task should share the same context.
3. Start a new task, then choose **Chat Only**, **Agent**, **Plan**, or **Review** beside the composer.
4. Select a tool-capable GGUF model or a compatible remote endpoint when the task needs workspace tools.

![Noema 4.0 Agent mode on Mac with a local workspace and approval controls](https://noemaai.com/image-uploads/noema-mac-project-v4.webp)

**Agent workspace.** Task mode, workspace scope, and approval policy stay visible beside the composer.

![Noema project settings on Mac showing a working folder, instructions, sources, and scoped search](https://noemaai.com/image-uploads/noema-mac-project-settings-v4.webp)

**Project settings.** A project can carry its own folder, shared instructions, sources, and search boundary.

## Choose the task mode

| Mode | Workspace access | Best for |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Chat Only | No workspace tools | Ordinary conversation without project actions. |
| Agent | May read, edit, and request commands under the selected approval policy | Implementing, testing, and completing project work. |
| Plan | Read-only; cannot change files or run commands | Understanding a codebase and proposing an approach. |
| Review | Read-only; cannot change files or run commands | Inspecting code and reporting correctness or regression risks. |

## Control approvals

The approval menu is independent from the task mode. Plan and Review always remain read-only. Agent offers the policies available in the installed Mac edition.

| Policy | Behavior |
| --- | --- |
| Ask for approval | Ask before file changes and commands. Commands remain inside the workspace without network access. |
| Approve for me | Allow workspace edits and recognized read-only commands; ask before other commands. |
| Full access | Direct Mac edition only. Allow commands, network access, and files macOS permits without action prompts. |

> Full Access changes permission prompts, not task intent. Off-Grid Mode still blocks network access through Noema.

## Inspect the work

- Use Activity to follow file reads, searches, edits, commands, questions, plans, and decisions.
- Open Files to search the project and move among editor tabs.
- Open Review Changes for Git-aware comparisons before keeping the result.
- Completed runs keep checkpoints when the workspace can be captured safely; restoration refuses to overwrite files that changed afterward.

## App Store and direct Mac editions

| Capability | App Store | Direct from Noema |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Project files | User-selected folders inside App Store sandbox boundaries | Folders and files macOS permits |
| Terminal and Git commands | Unavailable | Available with the selected approval policy |
| MCP | Remote HTTPS servers | Remote HTTPS and local MCP server processes |
| Full Access | Unavailable | Optional |

> Both editions can run compatible local models. Download choices and current system requirements are listed on the Noema for Mac page.

## Related documentation
- [Installation](https://noemaai.com/docs/installation)
- [Model Settings](https://noemaai.com/docs/model-settings)
- [Chat Tools & Tool Store](https://noemaai.com/docs/tool-usage)
- [Privacy & Network Activity](https://noemaai.com/docs/privacy-and-network-activity)