Independent guide · Sources checked 25 October 2026
UI-TARS Desktop: download and get started
UI-TARS is ByteDance’s family of models for interacting with graphical interfaces. UI-TARS Desktop is the app that connects a compatible model to computer or browser controls. Start with the Desktop installer if you want to use the app; model weights are a separate download.
Sources: UI-TARS model repository and Desktop overview.
Downloads open on ByteDance’s GitHub. This site is not the official project and does not host installers.
Choose the right Desktop installer
The official v0.2.4 Desktop release has the files below. Check its release notes before installing. The repository also releases Agent TARS CLI: its “latest” label does not necessarily identify a Desktop installer.
| Your computer | File to select in Assets |
|---|---|
| Windows | UI-TARS-0.2.4-Setup.exe |
| Mac with Apple silicon | UI-TARS-0.2.4-arm64.dmg |
| Mac with Intel processor | UI-TARS-0.2.4-x64.dmg |
| Linux | No Linux installer is listed in this release. Do not download a Windows or Mac file for Linux. |
On a Mac, check Apple menu → About This Mac for your chip or processor. Pick the matching .dmg, rather than a source-code archive.
Why a specific release? The v0.3.1 release notes describe Agent TARS CLI changes. We keep the Desktop files separate to avoid sending you to the wrong package.
Desktop app, model or Agent TARS?
- UI-TARS Desktop — the application
- Choose this for a graphical app that takes natural-language instructions and operates a computer or browser. Desktop documentation.
- UI-TARS model — the inference component
- Choose the model deployment guide if you need to serve the model yourself. A folder of weights is not a running API endpoint.
- Agent TARS — a separate agent workflow
- It offers a CLI and Web UI with tool integration. Start with the Agent TARS overview if that is what you need. Official project distinction.
After installing: connect a model, then try one task
Follow the Mac setup guide with real screenshots and a short walkthrough. Tested on Apple silicon with Desktop 0.2.4; model validation is pending an endpoint.
- Finish the OS setup. On macOS, move the app to Applications and follow the official Accessibility and Screen Recording permission steps. The quick start documents a single-monitor setup and lists supported browsers for Browser Operator. Read the installation prerequisites.
- Configure a compatible model endpoint. Match the provider, Base URL, API key and model name to your provider’s instructions. Keep keys in the app settings, not in a prompt or public screenshot. Check the settings reference.
- Start a new chat and give one small instruction. Describe the task in plain language. See the official first-run flow.
A suggested first check
Open an empty text editor yourself, then ask: “Type UI-TARS setup check into the empty document. Do not save or open other files.” Watch the run and confirm the text appears. This is a suggested test, not a claim that we ran your installation.
If it fails, check the endpoint settings and OS permissions before trying a longer task. Keep private documents closed during the check.
Two things to know before you start
Downloading the app does not cover model hosting
The project is open source, but a hosted endpoint or your own inference hardware can carry costs. Check your provider’s pricing before provisioning a model. Review deployment options.
The old free Remote Operator service ended
The official quick start states that the service was discontinued on 20 August 2025. Do not follow older “free remote operator, no setup” instructions. Read the service notice.
Need task ideas after setup? Browse the existing UI-TARS examples. Treat them as ideas to verify on your own configuration.