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Guide · Open source

How to use DSH Desktop: install and run DeepSeek Harness

Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data

DSH Desktop is a desktop application that packages the DeepSeek Harness agent runtime as an installed program, so you do not need a separate command line or browser tab to start it. This guide is for people who want to run the agent as a regular app on macOS or Windows x64. After reading it, you will know how to download the app, where your data lives, how to connect a phone, and how to recover if a plugin breaks startup.

DSH Desktopdataelement/dsh-desktop · ★ 17.1k · MIT

Quick start

  1. 1Check your platform. Confirm you are on macOS (Apple Silicon or Intel) or Windows x64. Linux and Windows ARM64 are not currently supported.
  2. 2Download the stable release. Get the stable build from the official website at dshdesktop.com under the download section.
  3. 3Install and launch. Install the app and open it. DSH Desktop starts Harness automatically and opens the Harness interface when ready.
  4. 4Add a project workspace. Use the native system directory picker to add and manage the folders you want the agent to work in.
  5. 5Choose a model. Pick an official DeepSeek model or a supported third-party provider in the model settings.
  6. 6Connect a phone (optional). From the Harness menu choose Connect Phone and scan the pairing code shown on screen.

What DSH Desktop is and who it suits

DSH Desktop is built by the Dataelem team on the DeepSeek Harness framework. It starts Harness automatically and opens the full Harness interface once the local runtime is ready.

It suits people who want the agent as a normal desktop app, people who switch between official DeepSeek models and third-party providers, and people who need editable PPTX decks. The README calls it an early preview, so it is not a fit if you need a stable production tool.

  • Supported: macOS (Apple Silicon or Intel) and Windows x64
  • Not supported yet: Linux and Windows ARM64, according to the README

Download and install DSH Desktop

Download the stable release, which the README recommends for everyday use, from the official website. The README lists no separate prerequisites.

Preview releases are also available on GitHub Releases, marked Pre-release. The README says they may be incompatible with community plugins and are not recommended for general users.

  • Stable release: https://www.dshdesktop.com/#download
  • Preview releases: choose a version marked Pre-release on GitHub Releases
Download the stable release from the official website: https://www.dshdesktop.com/#download

Understand updates and where your data is stored

Installed builds check for updates shortly after startup and every six hours. DSH Desktop asks before downloading an update, and installation starts only after you choose Restart and install. You can also check manually from the application menu.

Profiles, plugins, workspaces, model settings and sessions are kept outside the app. The README says they live under Electron's per-user application data directory, not inside the installed app.

  • Skip one version without hiding future releases
  • Profiles and sessions survive app upgrades, according to the README

Connect a phone to continue sessions

Choose Connect Phone from the Harness menu and scan the pairing code. On Wi-Fi, scanning connects immediately. Over the internet tunnel, the phone asks for a 6-digit pairing password shown only on the computer.

Cloudflare Quick Tunnel is the usual remote path. Free Pinggy is the fallback when Cloudflare is unavailable, and it expires after about 60 minutes. Disconnecting the phone from the desktop invalidates the mobile session.

  • Harness itself stays on a random 127.0.0.1 port; phone access uses a separate paired bridge
  • By default the internet pairing password is temporary (5 minutes, memory only)

Use Safe Mode when a plugin breaks startup

If a third-party plugin interferes with startup or rendering, choose Restart as Safe Mode from the Harness menu. This starts an isolated profile with only official core bundles. The Agent, sessions, model settings and workspaces stay available, and third-party plugins are blocked.

If the normal interface cannot be reached, start the app with the --safe-mode flag. The README gives this macOS command.

  • Diagnostics are kept in harness.log
  • Recovery screens can offer compatible plugin updates
open -a "DSH Desktop" --args --safe-mode

Generate editable PPT decks

Enable the PPT button, choose a template and describe the deck you need. The built-in catalog includes 16 templates and 192 layouts, with editable PPTX output. Decks can be in English or Chinese, and the preview language does not decide the output language.

PPT is preinstalled and its automatic instructions apply only to sessions where the PPT button is enabled.

  • Use the PPT runtime guide in the repository for templates and validation

What people use it for

  • Running the DeepSeek Harness agent as a regular desktop app without a terminal
  • Switching between official DeepSeek models and third-party model providers
  • Continuing an agent session from a paired phone
  • Generating editable PPTX slide decks from source material using PPT mode
  • Recovering from a broken third-party plugin with Safe Mode

Frequently asked questions

Is DSH Desktop free?

The README says DSH Desktop is released under the MIT licence and is offered in open-source and enterprise editions. The README does not list prices, so check the official website for any commercial terms.

Does DSH Desktop run on Linux?

No. The README lists Linux as not currently supported. Supported platforms are macOS (Apple Silicon and Intel) and Windows x64.

Do I need to install anything else first?

The README lists no prerequisites. You download the app from the official website and install it.

Is DSH Desktop stable enough for daily work?

The README calls it an early preview built on a rapidly evolving framework version. It recommends the stable release for everyday use and says it is not a production-grade tool.

What should I do if a plugin stops the app from starting?

Choose Restart as Safe Mode from the Harness menu. This blocks third-party plugins while keeping the Agent, sessions and workspaces available. If the interface cannot be reached, start the app with --safe-mode.

Are there alternatives or comparable projects?

The source does not list any comparable projects, so this guide does not name alternatives. If you need a stable production tool, the README suggests waiting for a later release rather than relying on the preview.

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Our verdict

DSH Desktop suits people on macOS or Windows x64 who want the DeepSeek Harness agent as a normal installed app, switch between model providers, or make editable PPTX decks. It is not a good choice on Linux or Windows ARM64, or if you need a stable, production-grade tool, since the README describes it as an early preview.

Install options & downloads