Run DeepSeek Harness on Android: DSH Go Lets You Remote-Control Desktop AI Agents

Overview

DSH Go is an open-source (AGPL-3.0) Android application that brings DeepSeek Harness (DSH) to mobile devices. It supports Android 8+ and is distributed via GitHub Releases as an arm64 APK. The app requires about 1 GB of storage for its built-in Ubuntu + Node.js environment when running locally, and includes a 241 MB offline speech-recognition model.

Core Features

Local execution : Installs Ubuntu, Node.js, and the DSH engine inside the app — no root, no Termux needed.

Remote host control : Connect to a computer running DSH via two methods:

Route A – SSH direct : Works on same LAN or with a public IP. Steps: add SSH host → enter host, username, port 22 → choose password or private key (stored only on phone) → set launch command (default dsh web; if DSH was installed via nvm, the full path must be provided) → test connection and verify fingerprint.

Route B – DSH Remote : Cross-network, zero-config. Install the DSH Remote plugin on the desktop, log in (e.g., GitHub), then log in with the same account on the phone. Pick the online host, verify fingerprint, and connect over an end-to-end encrypted channel.

Conversation UI : Switch models, send images, interrupt mid-stream.

Plugin marketplace : Plugins adapted for DSH Go render as native tool cards, forms, and panels.

Phone control (local engine only) : With accessibility permission granted, DSH can view the screen, tap, and type. Three confirmation tiers: ask every time, skip for current task, always skip. Sensitive actions (payments, passwords, verification codes, system settings) always revert to the user.

Offline voice : 241 MB model runs entirely on-device.

Sharing : One-tap encrypted link generation; recipient replays the full conversation in a browser.

Companion pets : Deepy (whale) and Jingniang accompany work sessions; can float on desktop via "Display over other apps".

Theming : Six color schemes, four launcher icons, custom wallpaper and splash screen.

Bilingual : Chinese/English, follows system language by default.

Upcoming : Image and video generation (UI ready, awaiting plugin release).

Setup Walkthrough

Desktop preparation

npm i -g @deepseek-ai/dsh
dsh web

This starts the DSH web server that the phone will connect to.

Phone installation

Download the arm64 APK from GitHub Releases.

On first launch, choose Local (installs ~1 GB environment) or Remote (nothing installed on phone). Low-memory devices should pick Remote.

Connecting via SSH (Route A)

Open Remote Host screen → "Add SSH Host".

Enter host, username, port (default 22).

Select password or private-key login; import key from file if needed.

Launch command defaults to dsh web — if DSH was installed via nvm, you must supply the full path (common pitfall).

Tap "Test Connection"; verify the fingerprint on the desktop, then trust.

Note: the test starts the remote DSH process and leaves it running; stop it manually when done.

Connecting via DSH Remote (Route B)

On desktop: install the Remote plugin and log in (e.g., GitHub).

On phone: choose same login method and account.

Select the online host from the list, verify fingerprint, connect.

Trade-off: DSH Remote only supports image attachments, cannot open the web UI in-app, plugins can only be toggled on/off, and DS Bot / conversation export are unavailable.

Switching Hosts

At the bottom of the conversation list, tap the current host name to toggle between local and remote engines. Conversations and workspaces stay on their respective hosts.

Known Issues & Tips

Early test builds with different signatures cannot be upgraded in place — uninstall first (wipes conversations and local environment).

Chinese OEMs aggressively kill background apps; DSH Go detects this and deep-links into the battery/auto-start settings for Vivo, Xiaomi, Huawei, Honor, OPPO.

Anonymous usage statistics are enabled by default; disable in Settings → Privacy & Sharing.

Author's Take

The remote-control capability is highlighted as the most valuable feature. The three-tier confirmation design for phone control is praised for keeping sensitive operations user-gated. The author also notes that the official DSH desktop client includes experimental plugins worth exploring separately.