What is KolHive

One desktop across your devices

KolHive gives you your own desktop, where your apps and files stay together. You sign in with one account, and the same workspace opens on your computer, your phone or a web browser.

KolHive runs as a normal app inside your device or browser window. It has its own windows, dock or taskbar, start menu, search across your files and undo for file changes. It runs alongside Windows, macOS or Linux and does not replace your operating system.

What comes inside

Your desktop starts with fourteen apps already installed. You can open them from the dock, taskbar or start menu as soon as you sign in:

• KolWrite for recording and transcription.
• KolChat for end-to-end encrypted messages, files, voice notes and calls.
• KolDoc for writing and editing documents.
• Files for managing folders and undoing file changes.
• Video Editor for cutting clips on a timeline.
• Calendar and Quick Notes for daily planning.
• Browser for opening web pages inside your workspace, and the KOL Store for adding more apps.

Every app shares one built-in AI assistant, the Hive Kernel. By default, the assistant can open files, edit the document on your screen or cut on the video timeline without asking first. It always asks for your permission before sending data to a cloud AI, deleting files, sharing items, sending messages to other people or spending credits. It uses typed tools with permission checks and keeps a record of every action it takes.

How it works on your computer and phone

Each device keeps its own local copy of your workspace and syncs changes in the background. When Maya Chen opens KolHive on her laptop in Chicago, the desktop opens straight from her device without waiting on a server. Her workspace files, installed apps and the data inside those apps stay in sync across her devices.

The KolHive desktop uses separate layouts for computers and phones. On a computer, you work with windows, a dock or taskbar and a start menu. On a phone, you see a home screen of icons with a dock, a swipe-up task view, a search sheet and a notification center.

You can also open a drive or folder connected to your desktop computer from your phone, tablet or browser. The files open over a direct encrypted link between your devices while the host computer is turned on and running KolHive.

Apps you build with the assistant

When you need a custom tool, you can describe an app in plain language and the assistant builds it for you. The new app installs on your KolHive desktop right away and keeps its own data after the conversation ends. It runs inside an isolated frame in KolHive and syncs to your other devices.

With your permission, apps you build can reach hardware through KolHive over your local network, Bluetooth, device sensors or infrared. For example, Daniel Wright in Manchester can ask for a dashboard that reads a Bluetooth thermometer in his greenhouse. He can also build a remote control for a television on his home network.

An app must declare each hardware connection, its purpose and its data use in the app manifest. KolHive checks this declaration at install, inside the page and at the host, and refuses any undeclared call at all three stages.

Where to start

You can download and install KolHive today for Mac (notarized DMG), Windows (signed EXE installer) and Linux (.deb package) from the download page. You can also open the workspace in your browser at web.kolhive.com. The iPhone, iPad and Android apps are not in the App Store or on Google Play yet.

To try KolHive before creating an account, open the web demo at demo.kolhive.com. It loads the whole desktop with sample data in your browser.

To save your own work, create one free KOL account with your email and password, or with Google. On iPhone, iPad and Mac, you can also use Sign in with Apple. Your account signs in to KolHive, KolChat and KolWrite. The free plan includes a monthly allowance of AI credits and some cloud storage; the Plans page lists the current amounts and what more costs.