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The agent doesn’t work in the chat — it works on its own disk: it downloads exports, stores results, and keeps notes. The Files tab shows this entire environment — the tree on the left, the selected file’s contents on the right, with the option to edit and save.
The Files tab: the agent's container folder tree and an empty preview area
Above the list are three icons: create a file, create a folder, and refresh the tree.

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What lives where

Configuration files sit in the root. A ⚠ icon next to a name marks sensitive data — keys and connection settings.
Don’t edit files marked ⚠ — .env and openclaw.json — by hand, and don’t show them in screenshots: they contain access keys. If something breaks in them, don’t fix it manually — use Settings → Management → Diagnostics.
The Show backup copies toggle at the bottom of the list reveals technical backup files. It’s off by default, and that’s the right setting: you don’t need them in everyday work.
The same tree later: plugin-skills, plugins, and skill-workshop folders have appeared
The tree changes as the agent works: install a skill or enable the task board, and new folders appear. That’s normal.

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Why you’d open this tab

Most of the time, you won’t need to: the agent manages the files. Open the tab in four cases.
Asking the agent to handle files is usually faster than doing it by hand: “put the July report in workspace/reports and show me the result.” The Files tab is for checking, not for daily work.

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FAQ

They shouldn’t: the container disk survives restarts. Make sure you’re not looking in the wrong folder — the agent may have saved the result to a subfolder in workspace. If the file really is gone, look for traces in the Log.
Yes — create a file with the icon in the panel and paste in the content. The second way is easier: send the file to the agent in chat and ask it to put it in the right folder.
Give it the full path: workspace/reports/july.csv. The agent doesn’t scan the disk continuously — it goes where you send it.
They’re deleted with it and can’t be recovered. Before deleting, download a backup — an archive with the agent’s entire state.
The interface has no separate usage counter. Rule of thumb: the container is a working environment, not storage. Keep large archives on your side, and give the agent only what it’s working with right now.

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What’s next

Sites

A folder that instantly becomes a live website

Personality and Memory

The same files, presented for easy editing

Maintenance

Backup, diagnostics, terminal

Security and Access

Why you shouldn’t touch files with keys