Introduction
Tencent has updated the WorkBuddy mobile app with a feature users had been asking for since the mobile version first launched: more complete synchronization between phones and desktop computers.
The latest WorkBuddy 1.2.0 release adds the ability to view and start desktop-side tasks directly from a phone. It also lets users open common AI-generated office documents on mobile, including documents, spreadsheets, and presentations.
AIBase reported the update on August 10, 2026, citing a post from Tencent public-relations director Zhang Jun. He said the cloud synchronization capability that users had previously requested was now largely in place.
The practical change is straightforward: WorkBuddy is no longer limited to a workflow where a task begins and ends on one computer.
A user can now start work on a desktop, leave the desk, monitor the task from a phone, and in supported workflows continue managing the same task and generated output from another device.
For an AI agent designed to execute longer office tasks rather than simply answer questions, that cross-device continuity is an important part of making the product usable in everyday work.
WorkBuddy 1.2.0 Brings Desktop Tasks to the Phone
The current iOS App Store release notes for WorkBuddy 1.2.0 list three main changes:
- Support for viewing desktop-side tasks from the phone
- Support for starting desktop-side tasks from the phone
- Support for viewing office documents such as documents, spreadsheets, and presentations
Tencent also says it has improved task execution and conversation experience in the release.
The update builds on the mobile app Tencent introduced earlier in 2026.
WorkBuddy’s mobile app had already supported:
- Text input
- Voice input
- Image input
- File upload
- Cloud task execution
- Remote connection to a desktop computer
What was less complete was continuity between the different device surfaces.
Earlier user reviews on the App Store specifically complained that mobile and desktop task histories did not fully synchronize. The latest update directly addresses that gap.
Cloud Synchronization Is the Main Change
The most important part of the update is not simply that the mobile app can send a command to a computer.
It is that WorkBuddy is moving toward a shared task state across devices.
According to AIBase and Zhang Jun’s post, users can now keep tasks and generated outputs synchronized in real time.
That means the workflow can look more like this:
Office computer
↓
Start an AI task
↓
Leave the desk
↓
Open WorkBuddy on phone
↓
Check task progress
↓
Review generated output
↓
Continue managing the task
The same idea also works in the opposite direction.
A task can be initiated from the phone and later continued on a desktop when the user returns to a larger screen or needs access to local files.
Tencent’s earlier mobile documentation describes WorkBuddy as using the same account system across the mobile and desktop clients so that tasks, materials, and memory can continue across devices.
The 1.2.0 update makes that cross-device model more useful by adding direct access to desktop tasks from mobile.
One Phone Can Manage Multiple Computers
Zhang Jun also said he was able to use the updated mobile app to manage multiple computers at the same time.
This matters because many users no longer work from only one machine.
A typical setup may include:
- An office desktop
- A work laptop
- A home computer
- A dedicated machine running longer automated tasks
With multi-device management, the phone becomes a control surface for checking which computer is running which task.
A simplified example:
| Device | Example Task |
|---|---|
| Office desktop | Analyze a large local spreadsheet |
| Work laptop | Build a presentation from meeting notes |
| Home computer | Organize a folder of project files |
| Mobile app | View progress, start tasks, and check outputs |
The phone does not replace the computing resources or local files on those machines.
Instead, it becomes a portable interface for directing and monitoring the WorkBuddy agents running across them.
Users Can Start Desktop Tasks From Mobile
One of the clearest additions in version 1.2.0 is remote task initiation.
If a user needs WorkBuddy to work with files or applications located on a computer, the task can now be started from the phone rather than waiting until the user returns to the desk.
For example, a user could ask WorkBuddy from a phone to:
- Open a project folder on the connected computer.
- Read several local documents.
- Summarize the material.
- Build a first draft of a report.
- Notify the user when the result is ready.
This is different from a purely cloud-based AI chat request.
The phone acts as the instruction interface, while the desktop-side WorkBuddy instance can perform work that depends on the computer environment.
Tencent’s product page describes WorkBuddy as an AI office workspace that can understand natural-language instructions, break tasks into steps, call tools, and read or write local files within the directories authorized by the user.
Cloud Tasks Can Continue Without Keeping the Desktop Client Open
Not every task needs a computer.
Tencent’s official WorkBuddy product page distinguishes between local computer tasks and cloud assistants.
For recurring or lightweight office tasks such as:
- Meeting-summary processing
- Data handling
- Weekly-report drafting
- File batch processing
- General content generation
WorkBuddy can execute work in the cloud.
Tencent states that supported cloud tasks can continue running even if the client is closed.
This makes mobile usage more flexible.
A user can start a cloud task from the phone without maintaining a live connection to a desktop machine.
The difference is important:
| Execution Mode | Requires Desktop Computer? | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|
| Cloud execution | No | Writing, general analysis, cloud-side file processing |
| Connected-computer mode | Yes | Local files, desktop-side applications, computer-specific tasks |
For users, the most useful approach is to choose the execution mode based on where the required data and tools are located.
Generated Documents Can Be Viewed Directly on the Phone
WorkBuddy 1.2.0 also adds mobile viewing for several common office output types.
The App Store release notes specifically mention:
- Documents
- Spreadsheets
- Presentations
This turns the mobile app into more than a task-status screen.
A user can check the actual deliverable without returning to the computer.
For example:
- Start a presentation task from the office computer.
- Leave for a meeting.
- Open the generated presentation from the phone.
- Check whether the structure and key conclusions are correct.
- Return to the desktop later for detailed editing if necessary.
For AI-agent workflows, this reduces the delay between task completion and human review.
That review step still matters.
WorkBuddy can generate finished-looking material, but important business documents should be checked for:
- Factual accuracy
- Calculation errors
- Missing context
- Sensitive information
- Formatting problems
- Incorrect external claims
Mobile access makes review faster; it does not remove the need for review.
WorkBuddy Is Designed Around Task Execution, Not Just Chat
Tencent positions WorkBuddy as a full-scenario AI office workspace rather than a conventional chatbot.
Its official product page says users can describe a goal in natural language and let WorkBuddy:
- Understand the request
- Break the work into multiple steps
- Select and call tools
- Execute the task
- Check and revise intermediate results
- Deliver a finished work product
Supported content types include:
- Text
- Images
- Tables
- Code
- Documents
- Charts
- Generated images
- Generated video
For local workflows, WorkBuddy can read and write files inside directories explicitly authorized by the user.
For more complex projects, Tencent also supports multiple agents working in parallel inside project spaces.
The mobile update does not change this underlying agent architecture.
It changes where users can supervise and initiate the work.
Why Cross-Device Control Matters More for Agents Than for Chatbots
A chatbot usually waits for the user.
The interaction is synchronous:
Ask question
→
Receive answer
→
Conversation ends
An agent may keep working after the initial request.
A task can involve:
- Reading many files
- Searching multiple sources
- Generating a spreadsheet
- Building a slide deck
- Processing documents
- Running several tools
- Waiting for intermediate results
- Coordinating multiple agents
Those workflows can last longer than a normal chat response.
If task management only works from the computer where the job began, the user remains tied to that machine.
Cross-device synchronization changes the interaction model:
Assign work
→
Move to another device
→
Monitor progress
→
Review output
→
Give the next instruction
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That is closer to managing a remote worker than chatting with an answer engine.
The value of the mobile update is therefore less about “AI on a phone” and more about making long-running agent work portable.
How to Use WorkBuddy Across Phone and Desktop
The exact interface may change with future releases, but Tencent’s current documentation supports the following general workflow.
Step 1: Install WorkBuddy on Desktop
Install the WorkBuddy desktop client on the computer that contains the files or applications you want the agent to access.
WorkBuddy supports desktop-side workflows that can interact with user-authorized local files.
Step 2: Install the WorkBuddy Mobile App
On iPhone or iPad, WorkBuddy is available through Apple’s App Store.
Tencent also provides Android distribution through major Chinese app stores.
Use the same WorkBuddy account as the desktop client.
Step 3: Choose Cloud or Connected-Computer Mode
Use cloud execution when the task does not require the local computer.
Use connected-computer mode when WorkBuddy needs:
- Local files
- Desktop applications
- A machine-specific working environment
Step 4: Start or Open a Task
From the phone, open an existing desktop task or create a new task.
Describe the goal in natural language.
For example:
Use the sales files in the Q3 folder on my office computer.
Summarize revenue by region, identify the three largest changes,
and create a short presentation with the findings.
Step 5: Monitor the Task From Mobile
The updated app can be used to check task progress while the task is executing.
If the task produces supported office documents, open them directly on the phone for a quick review.
Step 6: Continue on Desktop When Needed
For detailed editing, local file work, or workflows that require a large screen, return to the desktop client and continue from the synchronized task.
This is the main advantage of the new workflow: the user does not have to treat mobile and desktop sessions as completely separate workspaces.
Important Limitation: Remote Desktop Tasks Still Depend on the Computer
Cloud synchronization does not mean that a remote computer can be completely powered off.
For tasks that rely on the connected-computer mode, the desktop machine still needs to remain available.
Tencent’s mobile documentation says the desktop client should remain running for connected-computer tasks.
A separate August 10 report about the update adds a practical warning: users remotely calling desktop WorkBuddy should enable the relevant remote or lock-screen capability, and laptop users should avoid allowing the computer to enter sleep mode during execution.
If the machine sleeps or becomes disconnected, a local task may stop.
This limitation does not apply in the same way to cloud-hosted tasks that Tencent says can continue after the client is closed.
A Simple Rule
Use this distinction:
Needs a local file or local application?
↓
Keep the connected computer available.
Can run entirely in WorkBuddy cloud?
↓
The task can continue without the desktop client.
What Version 1.2.0 Fixes Compared With Earlier Mobile Workflows
The App Store history is useful because it shows what users were missing.
Before version 1.2.0, several public reviews complained that:
- Phone and desktop tasks were not fully synchronized.
- Automations created on one device were difficult to see on another.
- Users had to switch devices without a continuous task history.
Version 1.2.0 directly adds desktop-task viewing and launching from mobile.
The update therefore addresses one of the most visible complaints about the early mobile experience.
A simplified before-and-after comparison:
| Workflow | Earlier Mobile Experience | WorkBuddy 1.2.0 |
|---|---|---|
| View desktop task from phone | Limited/incomplete | Supported |
| Start desktop task from phone | Previously less complete | Supported |
| View documents on phone | Limited | Documents, spreadsheets, presentations supported |
| Cross-device task continuity | User complaints about gaps | Cloud synchronization substantially improved |
| Manage multiple computers | Not a core highlighted workflow | Demonstrated by Tencent PR director |
The phrase “substantially improved” is intentional.
Tencent’s public-relations post says the previously requested cloud-sync feature has basically been realized. That is not the same as guaranteeing that every type of task, automation, local state, or third-party integration is perfectly synchronized in every scenario.
Where the Mobile Workflow Is Most Useful
The update is especially relevant when work continues while the user is away from a desk.
Commuting
Start a cloud research or drafting task from the phone and review the result before arriving at the office.
Meetings
Check whether an AI-generated document or presentation is ready without opening a laptop.
Business Travel
Direct a connected office computer to process local material while working from another location.
Long-Running Tasks
Monitor an ongoing task without keeping the desktop window in front of you.
Multi-Computer Work
Use one mobile interface to check tasks running on different WorkBuddy-connected machines.
The common pattern is the same: the user is no longer required to remain physically attached to the device that is doing the work.
Privacy and Security Still Require Attention
Remote AI-agent control introduces useful flexibility, but it also increases the importance of access control.
A connected WorkBuddy instance may be able to work with:
- Local documents
- Spreadsheets
- Project folders
- Internal reports
- Business data
Tencent says local file operations are limited to user-authorized directories.
Users should still apply ordinary security practices:
- Lock the mobile device.
- Protect the WorkBuddy account.
- Review which directories are authorized.
- Avoid giving an agent broader file access than necessary.
- Check generated content before external sharing.
- Use trusted networks for sensitive workflows.
- Remove old device access when a computer is replaced or reassigned.
For enterprise deployments, Tencent offers separate organizational controls including usage management, enterprise skills, security and auditing, and enterprise model configuration.
常见问题
What is new in WorkBuddy 1.2.0?
WorkBuddy 1.2.0 adds mobile access to desktop-side tasks, lets users start desktop tasks from the phone, and supports viewing common office documents such as documents, spreadsheets, and presentations. Tencent also says task execution and conversation experience have been improved.
Can WorkBuddy start a computer task from a phone?
Yes. The latest mobile version supports launching desktop-side WorkBuddy tasks from the phone. The connected computer still needs to remain available when the task depends on local files or applications.
Does WorkBuddy synchronize tasks between phone and computer?
Tencent says the latest update has largely implemented the cloud synchronization capability users had requested. Tasks and generated outputs can be kept synchronized across devices in supported workflows.
Can WorkBuddy manage more than one computer?
Tencent public-relations director Zhang Jun said he tested the new version with multiple computers and could manage them from the mobile app. The exact behavior can depend on account configuration, device state, and the type of task being executed.
Can WorkBuddy run tasks when my computer is off?
Cloud-hosted WorkBuddy tasks do not require a connected desktop and can continue running in the cloud. Tasks that need local files or desktop-side applications require the relevant computer and desktop WorkBuddy client to remain available.
What files can I view in the WorkBuddy mobile app?
The current App Store release notes specifically mention documents, spreadsheets, and presentations. WorkBuddy also supports broader multimodal input and file workflows, but mobile preview support can vary by file type.
Is WorkBuddy available on iPhone and Android?
Yes. Tencent provides a native mobile app for iOS and Android, while later releases have also been distributed through Huawei’s ecosystem. Availability and version timing can vary by store.
Is WorkBuddy a chatbot or an AI agent?
Tencent positions WorkBuddy as an AI agent workspace. Instead of only answering questions, it can break complex work into steps, call tools, operate on authorized files, and deliver work products such as reports, spreadsheets, presentations, and other outputs.
相关工具
- Tencent WorkBuddy: Tencent’s official product page for the WorkBuddy AI office workspace.
- WorkBuddy Official Site: The official WorkBuddy product site for downloads and product access.
- WorkBuddy on the App Store: Apple’s current listing and version history for the WorkBuddy mobile app.
- WorkBuddy Enterprise: Tencent’s enterprise version with organizational management, enterprise skills, model configuration, and security features.
- Tencent Cloud TokenHub for WorkBuddy: Official instructions for configuring supported custom model services inside WorkBuddy.
Related Links
- Tencent Cloud WorkBuddy Product Page: Official description of WorkBuddy’s agent execution, cloud tasks, local file access, and multi-agent workflows.
- WorkBuddy App Mobile Guide: Tencent Cloud Developer Community guide covering mobile input, cloud execution, connected-computer mode, and cross-device workflows.
- WorkBuddy App Store Version History: The official Apple listing showing version 1.2.0 and its mobile task-control changes.
- Tencent WorkBuddy International Overview: Tencent Cloud’s international overview of WorkBuddy for research, documents, and data-analysis workflows.
- Tencent Cloud WorkBuddy Documentation: Tencent Cloud documentation describing WorkBuddy as a desktop AI agent with local computer operations and model integration.
- WorkBuddy Enterprise: Official enterprise product information covering seats, administration, security, and organization-level controls.
Summary
Tencent’s WorkBuddy 1.2.0 update closes one of the biggest gaps in its early mobile experience: users can now view and start desktop-side AI tasks from a phone and keep tasks and generated outputs synchronized more consistently across devices.
The mobile app can also open common office deliverables, making it possible to check a report, spreadsheet, or presentation while away from the computer. Zhang Jun’s test also shows that the phone can be used as a control surface for multiple WorkBuddy-connected computers.
The main operational distinction remains important. Cloud tasks can continue without the desktop client, while tasks that depend on local files or desktop applications still require the connected computer to remain available.
The update turns WorkBuddy’s mobile app from a secondary AI interface into a practical remote control and review surface for cross-device agent work.
