> AI agents: this is one page from PostHog's docs. Full index of Markdown docs for LLMs: https://posthog.com/llms.txt

# Agent instructions

Canonical URL: https://posthog.com/docs/tasks/agent-instructions

> **Cloud region:** This page uses US Cloud hosts. For an EU Cloud project, use `https://eu.posthog.com` instead of `https://app.posthog.com` (app host for links).

## On this page

- [Set your instructions](#set-your-instructions)
- [Which runs use them](#which-runs-use-them)
- [Privacy and safety](#privacy-and-safety)

Agent instructions are standing instructions that PostHog cloud agents read at the start of a task run. They work like an `AGENTS.md` or `CLAUDE.md` file on your computer, but PostHog stores them and gives them to every cloud run that needs them.

Use them to tell agents how your team works. For example:

-   Which repository owns which part of your product
-   Which checks to run before a pull request
-   How to write commit messages, pull request descriptions, and code comments
-   Your personal preferences, such as the language or the level of detail in replies

The repository's own `AGENTS.md`, `CLAUDE.md`, and Cursor rules still apply. Use agent instructions for guidance that is not in a repository, or that applies to more than one repository.

## Set your instructions

Go to [Settings > AI > Agent instructions](https://app.posthog.com/settings/project-task-agent-instructions). The section has two fields:

| Field | Who can edit it | Where it applies |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **Project instructions** | Project admins | Every cloud task run in the project |
| **My instructions** | Every project member, for their own text | Cloud task runs that you start |

Each field accepts up to 20,000 characters of Markdown. Agents read the project instructions first, then your personal instructions.

## Which runs use them

| Run | Project instructions | My instructions |
| --- | --- | --- |
| A run that a person starts, from [PostHog AI](https://posthog.com/docs/posthog-ai.md), [Slack](https://posthog.com/docs/slack.md), PostHog web, or a [PostHog Desktop cloud run](https://posthog.com/docs/posthog-desktop/cloud-runs.md) | Yes | Yes, from the person who started the run |
| [Self-driving](https://posthog.com/docs/self-driving.md) runs, such as scouts, report research, and implementation | Yes | No |
| Scheduled runs and workflows | Yes | No |

Local runs in PostHog Desktop do not use these settings. They read the instruction files on your computer.

## Privacy and safety

-   Anyone who continues a task that you started can see your personal instructions. Do not put secrets or private information in them.
-   An agent in a cloud sandbox cannot change agent instructions. This stops one run from writing instructions for later runs.
-   A change applies to runs that start after you save it.