packages/docs/user/apps-and-control.mdx
Eliza has multiple surfaces. The runtime does the work; the app is the surface you use to talk to it.
| Surface | Use it for | Launch |
|---|---|---|
| Desktop app | day-to-day local use | open the installed app |
| Browser dashboard | browser-based control | open the dashboard URL or desktop shell |
| Mobile app | remote check-ins | open the iOS or Android app |
| CLI runtime | servers, terminals, headless use | eliza start |
eliza start # start the API server
Stop the CLI runtime with Ctrl-C in the terminal, or quit the desktop app normally. See the CLI overview for the full command list.
If the runtime is local, the desktop app usually embeds the dashboard. If you installed the CLI, you can also open the dashboard from a terminal:
eliza dashboard
Closing the local app does not necessarily stop a remote or cloud backend. It only disconnects your client from it.