Operating Instructions (AGENTS.md)

What is AGENTS.md?

AGENTS.md is a Markdown file that lives in your Claw's workspace. It contains the operating instructions that tell the Claw how to behave — what tasks to prioritize, which tools to prefer, what company procedures to follow, and any constraints it should respect. Think of it as a job description and standard operating procedures document rolled into one.

How do I edit AGENTS.md?

Open the Claw's Settings > Instructions panel. WorkClaw provides a rich text editor with Markdown preview. Changes are saved automatically and take effect on the Claw's next response — no restart is needed.

You can also edit the file directly in the Claw's workspace if you prefer working with raw Markdown.

What should I include?

A strong AGENTS.md typically covers:

• Role summary — A one-paragraph description of what the Claw does and who it serves.
• Priority rules — How to triage competing requests (e.g., "Urgent emails take precedence over research tasks").
• Tool preferences — Which skills or connections to use for specific tasks (e.g., "Always use the Google Calendar skill for scheduling").
• Boundaries — Things the Claw should never do (e.g., "Do not send external emails without human approval").
• Formatting guidelines — How responses should be structured (e.g., "Use bullet points for lists, keep replies under 200 words").
• Company context — Background information like industry jargon, internal acronyms, or organizational structure.

How long can AGENTS.md be?

There is no hard character limit, but shorter, well-organized instructions perform better than lengthy documents. Aim for clarity over completeness. If your instructions exceed a few pages, consider moving reference material into the Claw's workspace files and pointing AGENTS.md to those files instead.

Does AGENTS.md override personality settings?

AGENTS.md and SOUL.md work together. AGENTS.md controls what the Claw does; SOUL.md controls how it sounds. If the two files conflict — for example, instructions say "be brief" but personality says "be thorough and detailed" — the Claw attempts to reconcile them, but AGENTS.md generally takes precedence for task-related behavior.