How to connect ChatGPT to your computer

ChatGPT is great at explaining and writing, but on its own it cannot touch the files on your computer. With a remote MCP connector it can: rename files, read data files, run scripts and report back, even when you are chatting from your phone.

What you need

• A ChatGPT plan that includes Developer mode.
• A free Shellway account.
• The Shellway app installed on the computer you want ChatGPT to use.

Step 1: install Shellway on your computer

Sign in at mcp.getshellway.com/dashboard with Google, generate a pairing code, and run the commands shown there on your computer. You need Node.js 22 or newer.

Step 2: add the connector in ChatGPT

In ChatGPT, open Settings, then Apps & Connectors, then Advanced settings, and turn on Developer mode. Create a connector named Shellway with the URL https://mcp.getshellway.com/mcp and OAuth authentication, then sign in.

Step 3: ask for something

Start a new chat, switch on Shellway from the + menu and try: "List the ten largest files in my Downloads folder."

Good habits

• Start the agent with --readonly while you get used to it. ChatGPT can then read files but not change anything.
• Try new ideas in a test folder first.
• Commit code to git before asking for big changes.

More ideas are in the prompt library.