Headmaster by GCAP Labs

This guide takes you from nothing to your first finished task. It takes a few minutes. You need an email address or a Google account, and a Windows PC if you want the desktop app.

Before you begin

There are two ways to use Headmaster. You can do either, or both.

	Desktop app	Web chat
Install needed	Yes, Windows	No, any browser
Cloud mode	Yes	Yes (always Cloud)
Work mode on your own files	Yes	No
Needs Cloud approval	Only for Cloud mode	Yes

If your account is not approved for Cloud yet, start with the desktop app in Work mode. You can use everything else while you wait.

1. Create an account

Go to the sign-up page.
Enter your first name, last name, email and a password, accept the terms and choose Create account. Or choose Continue with Google.
If you used email, open the confirmation message we send you and follow the link. Check your spam folder if it does not arrive.

One account works for the desktop app and web chat.

About Cloud approval

During the beta, Cloud access is approved account by account. Creating an account does not give you Cloud straight away. Until it is approved:

Cloud mode in the desktop app shows a short message saying your account is not approved yet.
Web chat cannot start Cloud chats.
Work mode on the desktop app works normally.

Right after approval, your Cloud workspace takes a minute or two to set up. If you send a message during that time, Headmaster tells you the workspace is still being set up. Wait a moment and send it again.

2. Install the desktop app

Open the download page and download the Windows installer.
Run the installer and follow the steps. Headmaster opens when it finishes.

If Windows SmartScreen shows a warning the first time, choose More info, then Run anyway.

Prefer not to install anything? Skip to web chat.

3. Walk through the setup guide

The first time Headmaster opens, a setup guide walks you through five short steps. A progress bar at the top shows where you are. You can go Back at any time, and you can change every choice later in Settings.

Step 1: Account

Sign in with your Headmaster account, using email and password or Continue with Google. Your account keeps your Cloud chats and memory with you.

If you do not want to sign in yet, choose Skip for now. You can sign in later from Settings → Account. Without signing in you can only use Work mode.

Step 2: Mode

Choose where Headmaster should work:

Cloud runs on a Headmaster-hosted workspace. Nothing to install. It needs you to be signed in on the Account step.
Work runs on this computer, using your own files and tools. The first time you pick it, Headmaster sets up its Work engine on your PC. This takes a short while and shows progress as it goes.

Not sure? Pick Cloud if you are approved, and try Work later. See Cloud and Work modes.

Step 3: Cloud models

Choose which model answers your Cloud chats. Headmaster Lite is used until you connect something else. You can also connect a ChatGPT subscription here. This step needs you to be signed in.

Step 4: Work models

Choose which model answers your Work mode chats. Work mode keeps its own sign-ins, separate from Cloud. You can connect ChatGPT here too, or pick a Headmaster tier:

Headmaster Lite: fast and light. The default for every account.
Headmaster Pro: more capable, for longer and harder tasks.

If you picked the other mode in step 2, this step is optional. Skip it and set it up later.

Step 5: Done

A summary shows your account, mode and models. Choose Open a chat to start, or Finish to close the guide.

To connect your own provider or API key later, open Settings → Providers. See Models and providers.

4. Send your first message

Open a new chat and describe a small, specific task. Good first tasks are clear about the input and the result you want.

Example 1: a quick writing task

Summarize these notes into decisions, open questions and next steps.

Paste your notes after the request. The agent will answer directly, usually without any tools.

Example 2: a research task

Find out what changed in the latest release of the tool I use for invoices, and list anything that could break my monthly export.

The agent searches the web and reads pages. You will see each step appear as a tool row.

Example 3: a Work mode file task

In my working folder, find every CSV file, tell me how many rows each one has, and flag any with empty columns.

In Work mode the agent can read files in your working folder. With the default Manual approval mode, it asks before running commands that need approval.

What you will see while it works

Tool steps. Each tool call shows as a row. Open a row to see what was sent and what came back.
Approval requests. If an action needs approval, the agent pauses and asks. Approve it to continue, or deny it and the agent tries another way or stops. See Approvals and safety.
Questions. Sometimes the agent needs more detail and asks you a question before it goes on.

5. Make it yours

A few things worth doing in your first session:

Pick a model. Use the model picker in the chat to switch between models.
Look at Memory. Open Memory from the sidebar to see what Headmaster has learned. It fills up as you work. See Memory.
Connect an app. Open Skills from the sidebar, then the Connectors tab, to link apps you use. See Connections and integrations.
Schedule something. Open Tasks from the sidebar to set up a recurring job. See Scheduled tasks.
Check approvals. Decide how often you want the agent to ask first. See Approvals and safety.

The desktop app also shows a Get started with Headmaster checklist with these steps, so you can tick them off as you go.

Tips for good results

Be specific about the result. "A table with name, date and amount" works better than "sort these out".
Give it the material. Paste text, attach files or, in Work mode, point it at a folder.
Say what not to touch. "Do not change any file, just report" keeps a task read only.
Break big jobs up. Ask for a plan first, check it, then ask the agent to carry it out.
Tell it what to remember. "Remember that our fiscal year starts in April" saves a fact to your memory for future chats.

If something goes wrong

Problem	What to do
The confirmation email did not arrive	Check spam. Then try signing in, or use Continue with Google instead.
Google sign-in says it expired or was cancelled	Start the sign-in again from the beginning, in one window.
Cloud says your account is not approved yet	Cloud access is approved account by account. Use Work mode while you wait.
"Your Cloud workspace is still being set up"	This happens right after approval. Wait a minute or two and send your message again.
Work mode setup failed	Close any other Headmaster window and choose to try again. Use Show details to see which step stopped.

For anything else, see Troubleshooting.

Getting started