How to use OpenAI Dots: setup, first task, and iPhone shortcuts

Short answer

Make the first assignment easy to judge. Native iOS and Android apps now support Dot creation, while mobile web still does not. The iPhone widget and Shortcuts integration require Dot access, the right signed-in account, and a staged app rollout.

Before you start

The first Dot is included with eligible Pro and Business Premium plans. Pro access is rolling out in markets outside the European Economic Area, Switzerland, and the UK; Business Premium is available across supported regions. Enterprise users can try the beta when an admin enables it. Access is gradual and may take several days to reach your account. Check availability before changing plans. OpenAI Help Center

Step 1: create and name your Dot

Open the latest ChatGPT mobile app on iOS or Android, the desktop app, or desktop web and follow setup. Give your Dot a name; its handle changes from @yourname-dot to @yourname-agentname. Native mobile creation was added in the October 5–9 update. Mobile web remains unsupported.

Step 2: connect one app

On mobile, open your Dot’s profile and go to Customize > Plugins. On desktop, use the available connection controls. The list can vary, so pick the one your task actually needs and review its permissions first. Set up messaging channels such as Slack from desktop.

Step 3: give it a first task

Give it the finish line, the time window, where to look, and what to do if it gets stuck. For example: “Check tomorrow’s calendar for conflicts. List them; don’t move anything.” Tiny brief, fewer surprise adventures.

Step 4: choose custom rules

In Custom rules, choose what can happen freely, what is pre-approved, what needs a green light, and what stays with you. Read the rule text; a checkbox is a boundary, not a force field.

Step 5: schedule a recurring task

Ask for a reminder or repeating check, then find it under Scheduled. Double-check the time and rhythm; even a tireless assistant can be tireless at the wrong hour.

Step 6: use your Dot across devices

Create, message, or call your Dot in the native mobile app, desktop app, or a desktop browser. Mobile web does not support Dots. On mobile, your Dot’s computer opens in your control. Availability can still vary by account during the staged rollout.

Add the Your dot iPhone widget

OpenAI lists this in the October 12–16 update, rolling out with ChatGPT for iOS 1.2026.279. Use the latest iOS app, sign in to the account where you created your Dot, and confirm that account already has Dot access. OpenAI says adding the widget does not grant access to an ineligible account.

1. Touch and hold an empty area of the Home Screen, then choose Edit → Add Widget.
2. Find ChatGPT, choose Your dot, and select Add Widget.
3. Place the widget and select Done. Tap it to open your Dot with the message composer ready.

Message and call buttons are disabled by default. To add them, touch and hold the widget, choose Edit Widget, and turn on Show shortcut buttons. The message button opens the composer. The phone button appears only when calling is available; it starts a call or returns to an active one.

Create an Open your dot Apple shortcut

In Apple’s Shortcuts app, create a shortcut, add the ChatGPT action named Open your dot, select your Dot, and choose a mode:

Name and save the shortcut, then run it once. On a supported iPhone with an Action button, open Settings → Action Button, choose Shortcut → Choose a Shortcut, and select the saved shortcut. The action opens ChatGPT and requires authentication. If switching accounts makes the saved Dot unavailable, sign back in to the account that owns it.

When a Dot says it sent the result

Added October 5, 2026. Open the destination and check the actual result before marking the job done. In one Slack delivery report, a user said new replies were rejected as already sent or in progress, while readback showed only an earlier acknowledgement. Some later replies worked after another explicit request; this is a user report, not an official diagnosis or a reliable fix. An acknowledgement, a scheduled job, and a delivered answer are different things.

Make the finish line checkable

For a Slack answer, ask for the channel, thread link, and the new message, then open that thread. For a file, ask for its location and open the saved copy. For a report, require the source, date range, time zone, findings, and missing data. If the result is absent, ask the Dot to inspect the destination and explain what failed before trying again. Avoid repeated sends that could duplicate messages. Keep approvals in place; do not broaden permissions just to force delivery.

Texting and troubleshooting

Texting is a limited beta for some US Pro users, not Business or Enterprise. If Dots hasn’t appeared, check plan, market, admin settings, and rollout. Available apps vary, and disconnecting one won’t erase what it already collected.

FAQ