---
title: How do I give my agent a task?
question: how do I add and run a task
area: workspace
order: 2
surface: desktop
audience: beginner
keywords: [task, add task, create task, new task, run task, execute, execute with claude, load to claude, codex, queue, give agent a job, assign task, start task, submit task]
related: [what-do-the-task-states-mean, where-do-i-find-tasks-notes-and-done, what-is-the-done-tab, how-do-i-assign-a-task-or-note-to-a-module]
updated: 2026-07-21
---

# How do I give my agent a task?

Open the project's side panel, click the **tasks** tab, type the job into the box at the top and press **Enter** to add it. It lands in the list as a **pending** task. To hand it to the agent, click the task's text to open its actions, then click **▶ execute with claude**. That starts the agent if it is not already running and sends it the task. The task turns to **running** while the agent works, then **done** when it finishes.

## Before you start

You need a project open in the quadrant (a folder pinned to that slot). Tasks belong to that project's side panel. If you have not opened a project yet, see [How do I start working on a project?](../getting-started/how-do-i-start-working-on-a-project.md).

## Steps

1. In the **coding** workspace, find the project's side panel and click the **tasks** tab.
2. At the top is a box that reads "New task… (↵ to add · ⇧↵ for newline)". Type your task into it.
3. Press **Enter** to add it. If you want a new line inside the task without adding it yet, press **Shift+Enter**.
4. The task appears in the list, marked **pending**. This means it is queued but nothing is running yet.
5. Click the task's **text** to open a small row of actions beneath it.
6. Click **▶ execute with claude**. codus starts the agent (Claude) if it is not already running, then submits the task to it. The task turns to **running**.
7. Watch the terminal. The agent begins working, and the task shows a live timer. When the agent marks it finished, the task becomes **done** and a line is added to the **done** tab.

## Add it, or send it straight over

You do not have to run a task the moment you add it. Adding it puts it in the list as **pending** so you (or the agent) can come back to it. When you are ready, open its actions and choose how to send it:

- **▶ execute with claude**: start Claude if needed and send the task straight away.
- **✎ load to claude**: start Claude and drop the task into the terminal's input without sending, so you can add more detail first, then press **Enter** yourself.

If your team uses the Codex agent as well, you will also see **◆ execute with codex** and **✎ load to codex**, which do the same thing with that agent.

## You can also tell the agent directly

The tasks tab is for queuing work and keeping a record of it. You can always skip it and type a request straight into the terminal instead. Use tasks when you want a list you can run one at a time, or when you want the finished work logged in the **done** tab.

## How do I know it worked?

The task moves from **pending** to **running**, a timer appears on it, and the agent starts typing in the terminal. When it is finished the task shows as **done**, and a new line appears in the **done** tab describing what was done.

## Common problems

**"I clicked the task and nothing ran."** Clicking the task text opens its actions; it does not run the task. Click **▶ execute with claude** in the row that appears.

**"I clicked execute and nothing seems to happen."** If the agent was not already running, codus has to start it first, which takes a moment. Watch the terminal: it will open and the task will be sent once it is ready.

**"The task is stuck on running."** The agent is often waiting for you to answer a question in the terminal. Look at the terminal and reply using the arrow keys and **Enter**, not the mouse. See [How do I answer the agent when it asks me something?](../getting-started/how-do-i-answer-the-agent-in-the-terminal.md).

**"I added a task but it's gone."** Tasks belong to the project folder open in that quadrant. If the quadrant is now on a different folder, you are looking at a different list. Point it back at your project.