What is Phi Browser?
Phi Browser is the browser that knows you, and gets things done.
It is an intelligent browser for macOS, built on the Chromium engine with a native macOS interface. The core is open source, your data stays local-first, and the AI is included — Phi is free to use for now, with AI usage covered. Phi learns how you work, anticipates what you need, and can take care of routine tasks for you.
These guides give you the big picture and the "why" behind how Phi is built. For quick, specific answers, see the FAQ.
Made for macOS
Phi runs on Apple Silicon Macs (M1 and newer) on macOS 14 or later. It feels at home on macOS: a native interface, a vertical sidebar, and a choice of three layout modes so you decide how much space goes to the page versus browser controls.
New to Phi? Start with Getting Started to install and walk through first run, then learn your way around in Layouts & Navigation.
A browser with four AI parts
Phi's AI is built in and on by default. Rather than one vague "AI", it comes in four parts that each do something different:
- Memory — quietly builds context from how you browse, so the assistant understands you without you teaching it anything.
- Assistant — a chat companion you name yourself, ask questions, and delegate work to.
- Agentic — actually does things for you, from one-off actions to background and scheduled tasks that run on their own.
- Skills — reusable workflows the assistant can run on demand.
Read Meet your assistant for Memory, talking to it, and Skills, and Automation & Phi Link for agentic tasks and using Phi from your phone.
Your data stays yours
Phi is local-first. What Phi remembers lives on your Mac, is never used to train AI models, and stays under your control — you can view, manage, and delete it.
See Privacy & Your Data for the details.
Where to go next
- Getting Started — install Phi and first run.
- Switching to Phi — migration notes for Chrome, Safari, Arc, and Dia users.
- Layouts & Navigation — modes, the sidebar, tabs, Split View, Tab Groups.
- Spaces & Profiles — separate workspaces, isolated Profiles, and URL routing rules.
- Bookmarks & Pinned Tabs — bookmarks that open in place as tabs, and pinned tabs.
- Themes & Appearance — color themes, light/dark, and what the theme colors.
- Meet your assistant — Memory, talking to it, and Skills.
- Memory — how the assistant learns from your browsing and how you stay in control.
- Skills — reusable workflows: browse the built-in set and create your own.
- New Tab & Widgets — the personalized new tab and its widgets.
- Automation & Phi Link — agentic tasks, Phi Sentinel, and Telegram.
- Phi Sentinel — the background app that runs automation and hosts Private AI.
- Privacy & Your Data — how your data is handled.
- Time Machine Backups — rolling back to a previous version after a major update.
- FAQ — quick answers to specific questions.