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Devin Desktop 3.12: Power-User Guide to MCP Controls and Devin Local Fixes

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Last updated: November 10, 2026

Devin Desktop 3.12 is Cognition’s November 2026 update to its agent-native editor. Stable builds 3.12.32 (November 8) and 3.12.43 (November 9) add per-session MCP server controls, return rejected first prompts to the composer, let Devin Local resize images with image_size, and keep long Devin Local turns running.

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What’s new in Devin Desktop 3.12

Devin Desktop is the editor formerly called Windsurf. The 3.12 line follows the large 3.11 Agent Window redesign, which we covered in our Devin Desktop 3.11 guide. Where 3.11 rebuilt the interface, 3.12 focuses on control and reliability. The official Devin Desktop changelog lists two stable 3.12 builds.

3.12.32 (November 8, 2026) adds two features:

  • In the Agent Command Center, the “…” menu in a session header now shows that session’s MCP servers. You can turn a server on or off, or re-authenticate it.
  • If a local agent rejects the first prompt, Desktop puts the text back in the composer and shows the reason, so you can fix it and resend without retyping.

It also moves the editor to VS Code 1.141.2 and Electron 43.8.3, with Chromium security fixes. Opening Devin settings in IDE mode now opens an editor tab instead of switching modes, and chat diffs and code blocks follow your editor theme.

3.12.43 (November 9, 2026) changes how Devin Local behaves. A response that stops at the output limit before a tool call now continues the turn, and GPT models no longer stop to ask for input they can work out. Image reads take an image_size parameter; the default sends 70% of the original’s longest side, at least 1,024 px.

3.12 compared with 3.11

Area Devin Desktop 3.11 (Oct 23-30) Devin Desktop 3.12 (Nov 8-9)
Main focus New Agent Window matching the Devin web app Session controls and Devin Local reliability
MCP Configured MCP servers can be @-mentioned Per-session MCP list, on/off toggle and re-authentication in the session header
Rejected prompts No change listed Text returns to the composer with the rejection reason
Long turns Memory fixes for large sessions Turns that hit the output limit before a tool call continue
Images No change listed image_size on image reads; default 70% of longest side, minimum 1,024 px
Editor base Electron 42.11.16 for the remote server VS Code 1.141.2 and Electron 43.8.3
Plan approval Plan mode with approval cards Click the filename on a plan approval card to read the full plan

How to update and use the new controls

  1. Update Devin Desktop. It updates over the air; to install manually, download 3.12.43 for macOS, Windows or Linux from the Devin Desktop Releases page.
  2. Open the Agent Command Center and select a Devin Local session.
  3. Click the “…” menu in the session header to see which MCP servers the session has loaded.
  4. Switch off servers the task does not need, or choose re-authenticate for a server whose sign-in has expired.
  5. Send your prompt. If the agent rejects it, read the reason shown, edit the text still in the composer, and resend.
  6. Before approving a plan, click the filename on the plan approval card to read the full plan file.

Managing MCP servers per session

The new header menu works on top of your existing MCP setup. According to the Devin Local customizations docs, servers are installed from the Customize page’s MCPs tab and stored in .devin/mcp_config.json (project, shared in version control), .devin/mcp_config.local.json (local override, gitignored) or ~/.config/devin/mcp_config.json (user).

The session toggle is the quick control; the config files remain the place to add or remove servers. Approval rules are unchanged. The Devin Local permissions docs say the agent asks before calling any MCP tool, and you can allow one tool or every tool on a server, for the session or permanently. Enterprise admins can default-allow trusted servers.

Devin Local changes

  • Fewer stalled turns: responses cut off by the output limit before a tool call now continue.
  • GPT models ask less: they no longer pause for input they can work out themselves.
  • Restricted Cloud usage: follow-up prompts in a Devin Local session are no longer blocked when your Devin Cloud usage is restricted.
  • File context: in the IDE, dragging a file or folder from the Explorer or an editor tab onto the Devin Local panel adds it as a chip.
  • Sessions: reopened Local sessions keep their working directory and extra folders, and child sessions started in a Remote SSH window keep the parent summary.

Other fixes cover Windows codemaps, Mermaid diagrams in collapsed sections, the “Since last seen” cut-off in the Changes pane, Remote SSH hosts defined only in a custom remote.devinSSH.configFile, and crashes from third-party ACP agent permission requests.

Plans and availability

The changelog does not tie any 3.12 feature to a specific plan. Cognition’s self-serve plans page lists Free, Pro at $20 per month, Max at $200 per month, and Teams at an $80 monthly minimum. Pro and Teams full seats ($40 per month) include a daily and weekly quota shared across Devin sessions, Devin CLI and Devin Desktop; Max has a larger weekly quota with no daily cap. For a fuller cost breakdown, see how much Windsurf costs.

Workflows and prompt patterns

  • Trim tools per task: for a pure refactor, switch off issue-tracker or browser MCP servers so the agent only sees the tools it needs, then turn them back on for triage work.
  • Screenshot debugging: attach UI screenshots and rely on the image_size default; ask for a closer look at a specific region when fine detail matters.
  • Long autonomous runs: state the goal, the files in scope and the test command up front, for example “Fix the failing tests in src/billing and run npm test until they pass.” With 3.12.43, the turn is less likely to stall midway.
  • Plan, then read: use Plan mode for risky changes and open the full plan from the approval card before approving.

For review after the agent finishes, pair Desktop with Devin Review 2.0, and try SWE-2 Flash for fast, low-cost local turns. If you are comparing editors, Cursor’s approach to driving agents from other devices is covered in our Cursor remote control guide.

Limitations

The changelog does not document a settings key or allowed values for image_size, nor whether MCP toggles persist after a session ends. Cognition also states no plan restrictions or new model support for 3.12. Treat both features as session-level conveniences and keep your config files as the source of truth.

Frequently asked questions

What is the latest version of Devin Desktop?

As of November 10, 2026, the latest stable build in Cognition’s official changelog is Devin Desktop 3.12.43, released November 9, 2026. It followed 3.12.32 on November 8. The Releases page lists direct installers for macOS, Windows and Linux.

How do I turn off an MCP server for one session in Devin Desktop?

In the Agent Command Center, open the session, click the “…” menu in the session header, and switch the MCP server off. The same menu lists the session’s MCP servers and lets you re-authenticate one. This control was added in 3.12.32.

What does image_size do in Devin Local?

Since 3.12.43, image reads in Devin Local take an image_size value. By default Devin Local sends 70% of the original image’s longest side, with a minimum of 1,024 pixels, which keeps screenshots readable while sending less image data to the model.

Does Devin Desktop 3.12 change pricing or plans?

The 3.12 changelog does not mention pricing changes. Cognition’s self-serve billing page lists Pro at $20 per month, Max at $200 per month, and Teams full seats at $40 per month with a $80 monthly Teams minimum. Devin Local uses your existing plan’s usage.

Which VS Code version is Devin Desktop 3.12 based on?

Devin Desktop 3.12.32 moved the editor to VS Code 1.141.2 and Electron 43.8.3. Cognition says the Electron update includes Chromium security fixes, so it is worth installing even if you do not need the new agent features.

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