# Talk to a background worker

A background worker is the part of Nock that carries out longer work after the initial request. Its **Talk to the worker** panel shows that worker's conversation, activity, and files. It is not Chat Manager and does not open a Claude Code, Codex, or OpenCode chat.

## Open the worker panel

Choose **Talk to the worker** on a worker's card in Chat or **Tasks**, or on its row in **Settings → Usage → Work Nock ran for you**. You can also ask Nock to “open the worker” or “talk to the worker.” If several workers match, Nock asks which one; name the project or worker to be specific.

Opening the panel does not start another task. Each worker has its own Nock window; opening it again brings that window forward. The panel shows only that worker, not a list of unrelated coding chats.

## Read and continue the conversation

The panel shows what the worker said, what it changed, and its files. Type a follow-up in the panel to continue that worker's work in the same project when its session is available. It can also reopen a completed worker for a new follow-up. Check **Tasks** for the task status and result; the worker panel is the conversation view, not a replacement for task status.

If Nock cannot reopen the original session, it may not be able to continue the same conversation. Read the task result and inspect the project before asking it to try again.

## Review a worker's request

If the worker asks to take an action, read the request in the panel and choose **Allow once** or **Reject**. This decision is specific to that worker's request; it is not a Team message, a coding-agent permission prompt, or a blanket change to Nock's access mode.

The panel can talk only to its own worker. It does not share the work or delete it. To stop active work, use **Stop task** on the corresponding task card. Closing the worker window alone is not a stop command.

## Turn the feature off

The **Talk to the worker** control is in **Settings → Agent**. Turning it off removes the entry points and closes open worker panels; it does not erase task results or project files. **Open automatically when a worker asks a question** is a separate option, off by default. When enabled, a question opens the worker panel behind your current app without taking keyboard focus. A panel opened automatically closes when the worker ends unless you used or moved it; a panel you opened yourself remains until you close it. This option works only while Talk to the worker is on.

The **Update a running build by voice** setting is on by default. When enabled, you can tell Nock to send a change to a running worker or stop it; an update waits until the current step finishes. If you turn this off, voice requests do not steer or stop the worker, but the worker card's update box and **Stop** button still work. The panel and task card are separate: the panel is for conversation and review, while the card shows task status and controls. See [Background tasks](/nock/background-tasks), [Continue a task](/nock/continue-tasks), and [Chat windows](/nock/chat-windows) for the separate Nock and coding-chat flows.