---
title: Modes
description: Agent and Ask tell the agent what a chat is for, Multitask splits Agent's work across subagents, and you can switch at any time.
canonical_url: https://lookout.itoowasinarcadia.com/docs/modes
type: guide
section: Use Lookout
last_updated: 2026-10-22
related:
  - https://lookout.itoowasinarcadia.com/docs/chats
  - https://lookout.itoowasinarcadia.com/docs/subagents
  - https://lookout.itoowasinarcadia.com/docs/tools
  - https://lookout.itoowasinarcadia.com/docs/settings
---

> Every page of these docs: https://lookout.itoowasinarcadia.com/llms.txt

# Modes

Agent and Ask tell the agent what a chat is for, Multitask splits Agent's work across subagents, and you can switch at any time.

Every chat has a mode, and the mode tells the agent what the chat is for. A chat in Ask shows its mode as a chip in the message box; Agent shows none.

| Mode | What it's for |
|---|---|
| **Agent** | Edit files and run commands |
| **Ask** | Answer questions without changing files |

A mode is an instruction the agent follows, not a lock: in every mode it has the same tools and the same access to your machine. See [Safety](https://lookout.itoowasinarcadia.com/docs/safety#full-access). **Multitask** is an option of Agent mode: it splits the work across parallel subagents.

## Switch modes

- Press `⇧Tab` in the message box. It cycles through **Agent**, **Multitask** and **Ask**.
- Or click **+** (`⌘/`) and pick one under **Modes**.
- Click the **×** on the mode chip to go back to Agent.

The chat keeps its history when you switch. A switch made while the agent works applies from its next turn. The agent never switches its own chat's mode.

On Home, the **Ask** pill under the message box switches to Ask, and **Tour this workspace** sends a request for a tour of the project right away (in a project, not in Scratch). Click a pressed pill again to go back to Agent. **Settings › Chat › Show on Home** chooses whether Home offers Multitask and Ask; Ask is off by default.

## Ask without changes

In Ask, the agent reads and searches your code and runs commands to answer you, without changing files. Switch to Agent when you want the changes made.

## Split work with Multitask

In Agent mode, the **Multitask** toggle in the message box turns it on, as does picking **Multitask** with `⇧Tab`. The agent then hands substantial work to subagents it doesn't wait for, so the chat stays free while they work. Multitask stays on until you turn it off. How the subagents work is on [Subagents](https://lookout.itoowasinarcadia.com/docs/subagents#multitask).

The toggle shows in every message box while **Settings › Chat › Composer › Multitask in the composer** is on, as it is by default. Turning it off hides the toggle and leaves each chat's mode as it was.

## Modes in the CLI

`lookout exec` and `lookout resume` take `--mode`, with `agent`, `ask` or `multitask`:

```sh
lookout exec "Explain how the login flow works" --mode ask
```

## Related

- [Chats and projects](https://lookout.itoowasinarcadia.com/docs/chats.md): Projects hold your folders and their chats, and the message box sends, queues, steers and stops the agent's work.
- [Subagents](https://lookout.itoowasinarcadia.com/docs/subagents.md): The agent can hand parts of a task to subagents that report back, waiting for them or working on while they run.
- [Agent tools](https://lookout.itoowasinarcadia.com/docs/tools.md): The tools the agent calls, how each one shows in the chat, and how modes relate to them.
- [Settings](https://lookout.itoowasinarcadia.com/docs/settings.md): Settings in the Mac app page by page: what each setting does, and its default.