Perplexity Personal Computer is the Perplexity desktop app for Mac and Windows, rebuilt around Computer so it can use your local files, your native apps, voice control and, on the right hardware, AI models running on your own machine. As of October 2026 it needs macOS 15 Sequoia or later, or Windows 10 or 11, and local models need 24 GB or more of memory.
The catch: Windows doesn't get app control yet
The headline feature, letting Perplexity work inside your installed apps, is Mac-only for now. Perplexity's help page says installed-app control isn't yet available on Windows. On a Mac it can work with Mail, Finder, Slack, Messages and Notes.
The second catch is memory. Running a model locally needs 24 GB or more of unified memory on an Apple silicon Mac, and Perplexity says 32 GB gives the best results. Most everyday laptops won't meet that, which means the cloud does the work for them.
What the desktop app adds over the browser
Perplexity Computer on its own is web-based and runs tasks in the cloud. Personal Computer does everything Computer does and adds your local machine. Perplexity calls Personal Computer the superset, with Computer as a feature inside it. For the cloud side, read my page on how Perplexity Computer works.
- Local files. Connect any folder so it can read, write and search it.
- A floating task bar. Summon it with one shortcut from anywhere.
- App control. Mail, Finder, Slack, Messages and Notes, on Mac only.
- Voice mode. Talk to it instead of typing.
- Always-on. On a Mac mini it keeps running even with your laptop closed.
- iPhone remote. Start tasks from anywhere.
- Local models. Run models on supported hardware.
You don't pick a model for each job, either. Computer builds teams of agents across 20+ frontier models and chooses the combination for each task automatically, as of October 2026.
Do you need a Mac mini?
No. Any Mac on macOS 15 Sequoia or later, or a PC on Windows 10 or Windows 11, will run the app. Perplexity recommends a Mac mini for continuous, always-on use, because it can carry on with tasks while your laptop is shut, but it says plainly you don't need one.
On a Mac mini, sessions are secured with two-factor authentication. More widely, Computer carries out actions in an isolated sandbox, and on-device authorisation protects sensitive steps.
Hardware that can run local models
Local models only run on supported hardware. Here's the list as of October 2026.
| Hardware | Needs | Local mode | Local models |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple silicon Mac | 24 GB+ unified memory, macOS 15+ | Hybrid compute | Gemma 4 E4B, Qwen3.6 35B-A3B, Perplexity model |
| AMD Ryzen AI Max | 24 GB+ GPU-accessible, Windows 10/11 | Portable Computer | PPLX 27B, Qwen 27B |
| NVIDIA RTX / RTX PRO | 24 GB+ VRAM, Windows 10/11 or Ubuntu | Portable Computer | PPLX 27B |
| NVIDIA DGX Spark | DGX OS | Portable Computer | PPLX 27B, Qwen 27B |
On Windows, Linux and DGX Spark only one local model runs at a time. Local models are open to Pro, Max and Enterprise subscribers, and if an organisation manages your account, an administrator controls local inference. If you're weighing up a plan, my page on Perplexity Max covers the top tier.
Hybrid compute vs Portable Computer
These are the two ways a local model fits in, and they're different.
Hybrid compute (Mac). Each task is split. Cloud models handle planning, web search and reasoning, while a local model on your Mac processes private files and sensitive steps.
Portable Computer (Windows, Linux, DGX Spark). The model and agent run on your device, so the whole task can run locally and only reaches the cloud with your permission. Perplexity describes it as running the model, orchestrator, scheduler and sandbox on your own supported NVIDIA hardware, rather than the secure cloud sandbox Computer normally uses on web, iOS and Android paid plans.
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Credits follow the same split. Work the local model handles doesn't use Computer credits, but any step that runs in the cloud uses them like other Computer work.
Running a task with a local model
- Download the Perplexity app for Mac or Windows and sign in.
- Connect the folders you want Computer to read.
- On Mac, download a local model, open the model selector and choose Hybrid.
- Pick the local and cloud model for the task and run it.
- Use the floating task bar shortcut to start tasks from anywhere on the desktop.
There's a safety net on the Mac route. Before information from a protected file reaches the cloud, a privacy gate can mask sensitive details, keep the step local, refuse the action or ask for your consent.
My verdict on Perplexity Personal Computer
I'd install it if you're on a Mac and want Perplexity working inside Mail, Finder and Notes, or if you've got the memory to run a local model and you handle private files. I'd hold off on Windows if app control is the reason you want it, because it isn't there yet. And if your machine has less than 24 GB of memory, you'll still get the desktop app, local folders and voice, just with the thinking done in the cloud.
Frequently asked questions
What is Perplexity Personal Computer?
It's the Perplexity desktop app for Mac and Windows, rebuilt around Computer, with access to your local files, native apps, voice control and local models.
Does Perplexity Personal Computer work on Windows?
Yes, on Windows 10 or 11, but as of October 2026 installed-app control isn't yet available on Windows.
How much memory do I need to run a local model?
24 GB or more of unified memory on an Apple silicon Mac, GPU-accessible memory on AMD Ryzen AI Max, or VRAM on NVIDIA RTX. On a Mac, 32 GB gives the best results.
Do local models use Computer credits?
No. Work the local model handles doesn't consume Computer credits, but any cloud step does.
Do I need a Mac mini for Perplexity Personal Computer?
No. Any Mac on macOS 15 Sequoia or later, or a Windows 10 or 11 PC, runs it. A Mac mini is best for always-on use because it keeps working with your laptop closed.
What's the difference between hybrid compute and Portable Computer?
Hybrid compute on a Mac splits each task: the cloud plans, searches and reasons while a local model handles private files. Portable Computer on Windows, Linux and DGX Spark runs the model and agent on your device and only reaches the cloud with your permission.
Which apps can Perplexity Personal Computer control?
On a Mac it can control Mail, Finder, Slack, Messages and Notes. Installed-app control isn't yet available on Windows.
