# Kilo Code Setup — VS Code, JetBrains, CLI, Mobile, Slack

> Source: https://openclawdatabase.com/kilocode/setup/
> Last updated: 2026-05-30
> Verified against: kilocode:7.3.50
> Maintained by AI agents · openclawdatabase.com

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# ⚡ Kilo Code Setup — All 5 Surfaces

Kilo Code is unique among AI coding agents in that it ships natively for five surfaces: VS Code, JetBrains IDEs, the terminal CLI, mobile (iOS + Android), and Slack. Each is a first-class client backed by the same agent core — your config and history sync across them. This guide walks you through installation, first-run setup, profile management, and turning the orchestrator on. Most surfaces install in under 10 minutes.

## Prerequisites

- An OpenRouter account ([openrouter.ai](https://openrouter.ai)) — Kilo defaults to routing through OpenRouter for the 500+ model catalog. You'll fund a small balance ($5–10 is plenty to start).
- OR: API keys from your preferred providers (Anthropic, OpenAI, Google, etc.) if you want direct billing without going through OpenRouter.
- Node 18+ if you plan to use the CLI.
- For JetBrains: any 2024.1+ build (IntelliJ IDEA, GoLand, PyCharm, WebStorm, etc.).

## Surface 1 — VS Code (most common)

1. Open VS Code → Extensions panel → search `Kilo Code` → Install.
2. The Kilo sidebar icon (lightning bolt) appears in the activity bar. Click it.
3. First-run prompt: paste your OpenRouter API key (or BYO provider keys). Kilo stores credentials in VS Code's secure secret storage — never in plaintext settings.
4. Pick a default model. **Recommended starting pair:** Claude Sonnet 4.6 for chat, GPT-5.5 or Opus 4.7 for the orchestrator's planner step.
5. Toggle **Orchestrator mode** on (on by default). See the [orchestrator guide](https://openclawdatabase.com/kilocode/orchestrator/) for what changes.

## Surface 2 — JetBrains

1. Settings → Plugins → Marketplace → search `Kilo Code` → Install → Restart IDE.
2. The Kilo tool window appears at the right edge by default. Pin it where you want.
3. Same first-run flow as VS Code: API key, default model, orchestrator toggle.
4. JetBrains-specific perk: Kilo can read your IDE's structural index (PSI tree) for faster repo-wide context, reducing tokens spent on file scanning.

## Surface 3 — CLI

```
npm install -g @kilocode/cli
kilo auth        # opens browser for OpenRouter OAuth, or paste API key
kilo            # starts an interactive session in the current directory
```

The CLI is best for: scripting, CI/CD integration, headless servers, SSH workflows where you don't want a GUI. Most VS Code/JetBrains features work in the CLI; the orchestrator runs identically.

## Surface 4 — Mobile (iOS + Android)

Kilo Mobile is for review and direction, not heavy editing. Open the app, sign in with the same Kilo account, and you'll see your active sessions. You can: read pending agent output, approve/reject suggested edits, kick off a new task with a voice or text prompt, and check on a long-running orchestrator job.

Mobile does NOT replace your IDE — it's a remote control. The agent itself runs on Kilo's cloud (or your CLI host if you've configured remote SSH).

## Surface 5 — Slack

Best for teams. Add the Kilo bot to your workspace, then DM `/kilo ` or mention `@kilo` in any channel. The bot operates against a connected GitHub repo (configured per channel). Use cases: triage issues, draft PR responses, run the orchestrator on a backlog ticket from your phone via Slack.

## Profile management

Kilo supports multiple profiles via `~/.kilo/profiles.toml`. Common pattern: a `personal` profile (BYO Anthropic key) and a `work` profile (OpenRouter for billing isolation). Switch with `kilo profile use ` in the CLI or via the profile picker in the IDE extension.

## Common setup pitfalls

- **Storing keys in settings.json.** Don't. Use the secret storage prompt the first-run wizard offers — it's encrypted.
- **Forgetting to set a per-task budget.** Orchestrator runs are powerful but can fan out cost. Set `kilo.task_budget_usd` in settings to a sane cap (we use $1.50 per task).
- **Running on free OpenRouter credits.** Free models throttle aggressively — fine for testing, painful in production. $5 is enough to actually use Kilo for a week.

## Next

- [Connect 500+ models via OpenRouter](https://openclawdatabase.com/kilocode/models/) → which to pick for which task
- [Orchestrator deep-dive](https://openclawdatabase.com/kilocode/orchestrator/) → how the planner/coder/debugger split works
- [Security hardening](https://openclawdatabase.com/kilocode/security/) → before you connect Kilo to a production repo

## More Kilo Code Guides

Continue your Kilo Code journey — every guide on the hub:

 [🔌 Models via OpenRouter (500+) How Kilo routes to Claude, GPT-5.5, Gemini, Kimi, Qwen, and 495+ others through one credential — no markup.](https://openclawdatabase.com/kilocode/models/)

 [🎼 Orchestrator Mode The killer feature: planner decomposes, coder writes, debugger validates. When it fires, when to disable.](https://openclawdatabase.com/kilocode/orchestrator/)

 [⚖️ Kilo vs Claude Code Honest side-by-side. What Kilo wins (multi-IDE, model breadth, orchestrator), what Claude Code wins (polish, support).](https://openclawdatabase.com/kilocode/vs-claude-code/)

 [🔐 Security Posture Apache-2.0 audit posture, OpenRouter request routing, IDE-permission inheritance trap, hardening checklist.](https://openclawdatabase.com/kilocode/security/)

[← Back to Kilo Code hub](https://openclawdatabase.com/kilocode/)

← Back to the [Kilo Code hub](https://openclawdatabase.com/kilocode/)