Introduction
For years, app stores have been synonymous with smartphones—until now. Hugging Face, the AI powerhouse, has launched an App Store for its open-source robot, the Reachy Mini. Priced at just $299, this stationary desktop robot comes with camera eyes, a speaker, and a microphone. With over 200 community-built apps already available for free, you can transform your Reachy Mini into a wave-detecting greeter, a dance partner, or even a personal assistant—all without writing a single line of code. This guide walks you through everything you need to get started, from setting up your robot to building your own custom apps using plain English.
What You Need
- A Reachy Mini robot (available at Hugging Face or through Pollen Robotics). Approximately 10,000 units have been sold since its July 2025 launch.
- A computer or tablet with internet access to browse the App Store.
- A free Hugging Face account (sign up at huggingface.co).
- A stable Wi-Fi connection for downloading apps and communicating with the robot.
- No coding or engineering background required—the AI agent does the heavy lifting.
Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1: Unbox and Power Up Your Reachy Mini
Take your Reachy Mini out of the box. Connect the power cable and place it on a flat, stable surface in your home or office. Ensure the robot’s camera eyes, speaker, and microphone are unobstructed. Press the power button (located on the base) and wait for the startup sequence to complete—you’ll hear a chime and see the eyes light up. Verify that the robot connects to your Wi-Fi network by following the instructions in the quick-start pamphlet. Once connected, note the robot’s IP address or use the Hugging Face app to confirm pairing.
Step 2: Log Into Your Hugging Face Account
Open a web browser on your computer or tablet and go to huggingface.co. Click “Sign In” in the top-right corner and enter your credentials. If you don’t have an account, click “Sign Up” and fill in the required fields (email, username, password). Verify your email address if prompted. Once logged in, you’ll have access to your personal dashboard, including the Reachy Mini App Store.
Step 3: Navigate to the Reachy Mini App Store
From your Hugging Face dashboard, locate the “Robots” tab in the main menu and click it. You’ll see “Reachy Mini” listed as a supported device. Click on it to open the dedicated App Store page. Here, you’ll find a library of over 200 community-built applications, each with a description, rating, and download button. Use the search bar or filter by category (e.g., “Greeting”, “Games”, “Productivity”) to explore what’s available.
Step 4: Browse and Download an App
Scroll through the listings. Each app displays its name, a short description, and the creator’s username. Click on any app to see more details, including compatibility notes and user reviews. When you find an app you like—say, “Wave Greeter”—click the “Get” button. The app will be downloaded and automatically installed onto your Reachy Mini via your Wi-Fi connection. You’ll receive a confirmation message once the installation is complete. Note: All apps are currently free; there is no monetization option for creators at this time.
Step 5: Test Your New App
After installation, interact with your Reachy Mini to test the app. For a greeting app, simply say “good morning” near the robot’s microphone. The robot should respond by waving its arms and possibly speaking a cheerful reply. If the app doesn’t work as expected, double-check that the robot is still connected to Wi-Fi and that the app’s permissions (microphone, speaker, camera) are enabled. You can also re-download the app to ensure you have the latest version.
Step 6: Build Your Own App (Optional)
Want to create something unique? The App Store also lets you design custom behaviors using Hugging Face’s “ML Intern” AI agent. Here’s how:
- On the Reachy Mini App Store page, click “Create App”.
- In the text box, describe what you want the robot to do in plain English. For example: “Wave when someone says good morning”.
- Click “Generate”. The AI agent will write the necessary code, test it against the robot’s firmware, and prepare a downloadable package.
- Review the auto-generated app description and make any tweaks if desired.
- Click “Publish” to make your app available to others, or “Install on My Robot” to keep it private.
The entire process takes less than an hour, even if you have no robotics experience. As Hugging Face CEO Clément Delangue explained, “Anyone can build the apps. My intuition is that more and more model builders will release on Reachy Mini as a way to test the robotics ability of new models.”
Step 7: Manage Your Installed Apps
To see all apps currently installed on your Reachy Mini, return to your Hugging Face dashboard and click “My Robots” > “Installed Apps”. From here, you can launch, update, or uninstall any app. Updating is as simple as clicking the “Update” button if a newer version is available. You can also remove apps you no longer use to free up space (though storage is generous).
Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your Reachy Mini App Store
- Start with popular apps: Look for apps with many downloads or high ratings. They tend to be more polished and reliable.
- Experiment with the ML Intern: Don’t be afraid to describe unusual behaviors—the AI can handle creative prompts. Try “Dance when you hear music” or “Blink eyes when I clap”.
- Keep your robot updated: Hugging Face periodically releases firmware updates for Reachy Mini. Check the “Settings” tab on your dashboard for any available updates to ensure compatibility with new apps.
- Join the community: Visit the Hugging Face forums or Discord server to share your custom apps, get feedback, and discover what others are building. Collaboration often leads to app improvements.
- Understand the data bottleneck: Historically, robotics software suffered from a lack of training data compared to fields like natural language processing. The App Store’s AI agent overcomes this by translating English commands into code without requiring you to learn SDKs or firmware details.
- Test in a quiet environment: Voice-triggered apps work best when background noise is minimal. Position the robot away from TVs or loud fans.
With these steps and tips, you’re ready to explore the new frontier of consumer robotics. The Reachy Mini App Store is just the beginning—make your robot as unique as you are.