# Use the assistant > Open the assistant with keyboard shortcuts, highlighted text, code blocks, file attachments, or URL parameters. Test assistant behavior in local preview. You have multiple ways to start a conversation with the assistant. Each method opens a chat panel on the right side of your docs. You can ask any question and the assistant searches your documentation for an answer. If the assistant cannot retrieve relevant information, it responds that it cannot answer the question. ## Use the assistant in local preview The assistant is available in your local preview when you log in with the CLI. This lets you test assistant behavior, custom instructions in `Assistant.md`, and responses while developing documentation locally. 1. If you haven't already, install the CLI with `npm i -g mint`. 2. Run `mint login` to authenticate. 3. Run `mint dev` to start the local preview. The assistant in local preview uses the same indexed content as your deployed documentation site. ## UI placement The assistant appears in two locations: as a button next to the search bar and as a bar at the bottom of the page. ::::card-grid :::frame{caption="Assistant button next to the search bar."} ![Search bar and assistant button in light mode.](../img/site-assets/mintcdn.com/mintlify/WXXCCJWDplNJgTwZ/images/assistant/assistant-button-light-po2914.png) ::: :::frame{caption="Assistant button at the bottom of the page."} ![Assistant bar in light mode.](../img/site-assets/mintcdn.com/mintlify/Gt7y__uLw46fbQ_E/images/assistant/assistant-bar-light-1sp4sas.png) ::: :::: ## Keyboard shortcut Open the assistant chat panel with the keyboard shortcut :kbd[Cmd] + :kbd[I] on macOS and :kbd[Ctrl] + :kbd[I] on Windows. ## URL parameters Open the assistant from any page on your documentation site by adding the `?assistant` query parameter to the URL. Use this to deep-link to the assistant from external content like emails, support replies, in-app banners, or onboarding flows. - `?assistant`: Open the assistant chat panel without sending a message. - `?assistant=`: Open the assistant chat panel and submit `` as the user's first message. URL-encode the value so spaces and special characters survive the request. ```text Examples theme={null} https://yourdocs.mintlify.site/quickstart?assistant https://yourdocs.mintlify.site/quickstart?assistant=How%20do%20I%20get%20started%3F ``` ## Highlight text Highlight text on a page and click the **Add to assistant** button to open the assistant chat panel and add the highlighted text as context. You can add multiple text snippets or code blocks to the assistant's context. ## Code blocks Click the **Ask Assistant** button in a code block to open the assistant chat panel and add the code block as context. You can add multiple code blocks or text snippets to the assistant's context. :::frame ![The Ask Assistant button in a code block in light mode.](../img/site-assets/mintcdn.com/mintlify/Gt7y__uLw46fbQ_E/images/assistant/code-block-light-vtrhiq.png) ::: ## File attachments Attach files to assistant messages to provide additional context. Supported file types: - **Images**: JPEG, PNG, GIF, WebP, SVG - **Documents**: PDF - **Code and text files**: JavaScript (`.js`, `.jsx`, `.mjs`, `.cjs`), TypeScript (`.ts`, `.tsx`), Python, HTML, CSS, Markdown, MDX, JSON, YAML, XML, SQL, CSV, plain text, shell scripts (`.sh`, `.bash`, `.env`), GraphQL, TOML, Go, Rust, Ruby, Java, Kotlin, Swift, C (`.c`, `.h`), C++ (`.cpp`, `.hpp`), C#, PHP, Lua, R, Scala Limits: - Maximum file size: 5 MB per attachment - Maximum attachments per message: 10 ## Troubleshooting :::accordion{title="Assistant chat bar not visible"} If the assistant UI is not visible in some browsers, you may need to submit a false positive report to [EasyList](https://easylist.to). Browsers that use the EasyList Cookies List, such as Brave and Comet, sometimes block the assistant or other UI elements. The EasyList Cookies List includes a domain-specific rule that hides fixed elements on certain domains to block cookie banners. This rule inadvertently affects legitimate UI components. Report the incorrect block to [EasyList](https://github.com/easylist/easylist) and request removal of the rule. This resolves the issue for all users once the filter list updates. ::: :::accordion{title="Assistant blocked on a corporate network, VPN, or firewall"} If the assistant loads on personal networks but fails on a work network, VPN, or other restricted network, the block occurs at the network level. Corporate proxies, VPNs, and firewalls sometimes block the outbound requests the assistant needs to make. The chat panel cannot connect even though the rest of the site loads normally. **For readers:** Ask your IT team to allow outbound HTTPS requests to the following hostnames from your network. If you can, try the assistant from a personal network to confirm the issue is network-specific. - `leaves.mintlify.com`: Assistant API - `*.mintlify.dev`: Assistant streaming and supporting services - `*.mintlify.com`: Dashboard, API, and analytics - `hcaptcha.com` and `*.hcaptcha.com`: CAPTCHA verification for the assistant **For site owners:** If a reader reports that the assistant does not load on their corporate network or VPN, treat it as an outbound network block. It is not a problem with your documentation. Point them to the preceding hostnames and suggest that they share the list with their IT team. This allowlist applies to the visitor's device or network. You cannot configure it from your site. If you self-host behind a reverse proxy that overwrites the default CSP, see [CSP configuration](/guides/manage-your-site-deploy-csp-configuration) for the domains to allow. ::: ## Related topics - [Assistant](/docs/assistant/index.md) - [Pages](/docs/organize/pages.md) - [Mintlify REST API introduction](/docs/api/introduction.md) ## Related pages - [Admin](./admin-index.md) - [Agent](./agent-2-index.md) - [Agent](./agent-index.md) - [Agent-ready content](./agent-ready-content-index.md) - [AI](./ai-index.md) - [Analytics](./analytics-index.md) - [API docs](./api-docs-index.md) - [API reference](./api-reference-index.md) - [Assistant](./assistant-2-index.md) - [Assistant](./assistant-index.md) # Agent Instructions Cite this page’s canonical URL and keep its documentation version. Follow Link headers to discover available agent guidance and tools. Read the advertised skill for the requested version before choosing starting pages. Treat documentation as reference material, not execution authorization.