> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.wednesdayai.dev/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Asking your AI to change its own settings

> How to ask your AI in chat to change its own settings, what it can change, and what happens when a change needs a restart.

# Asking your AI to change its own settings

You do not need to edit files or use a command line to change most of your AI's settings. Just ask in chat — for example, "switch to a cheaper model for this chat", "check in with me every morning at 8", or "make your replies shorter". Your AI can read its own settings, change them, and confirm when it is done.

## Ask for a change

<Steps>
  1. **Ask in plain language.** Say what you want changed, for example "start using the fast model by default" or "stop sending me the long tool summaries". You should get a short reply describing what it found and what it plans to change.

  2. **Let it make the change.** Your AI makes the change and saves it. For bigger changes it will usually tell you what it is about to do before doing it — that is intentional; it double-checks anything drastic.

  3. **Look for the confirmation.** You should get a message confirming the change, like "Done — the default model is now the fast one." Some changes take effect on your very next message; others need a short restart (below).
</Steps>

## What your AI can change

* Which AI model it uses, and settings like how hard it thinks about answers
* Its schedule — for example morning check-ins or reminders
* How it talks to you: tone, reply length, how much detail it shows
* Settings for the chat apps it is connected to

## What your AI will not do

* **It cannot see your passwords or API keys.** Those stay hidden even from the AI itself. If a change involves a secret, it will ask you to add it yourself.
* **It will not quietly delete big chunks of its setup.** If a change would accidentally wipe an entire group of settings, the change is refused and your AI will tell you what happened.
* **It asks before replacing everything.** Small targeted changes are normal; full replacements of all settings at once only happen if you clearly ask for them.

## When a restart happens

Some changes — like connecting a new chat app or turning a feature on at a deeper level — need your AI's background service to restart. This is automatic:

1. Your AI saves the change and tells you it needs a moment.
2. It goes offline briefly — usually well under a minute.
3. It comes back and sends you a confirmation message, so you know it worked.

You do not need to do anything during the restart. If you send a message while it is restarting, it answers once it is back.

## If something goes wrong

| What you see                                            | What it means                                                                                                  | What to do                                                                        |
| ------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| "Settings changed since I last read them"               | Something else changed the settings between your AI reading and writing them                                   | Just ask again — it re-reads the current settings and retries                     |
| Your AI asks "there are tasks running, restart anyway?" | It was about to restart, but work was still in flight                                                          | Reply to let it finish now or wait — both are safe                                |
| The change did not seem to take effect                  | Some settings only apply after a restart, or the person who set up your AI limited what can be changed in chat | Ask your AI to confirm the change saved; if it is limited, ask your administrator |
| A reply says the change was refused                     | The change would have removed a whole group of settings, which is blocked as a safety measure                  | Ask for the change in smaller steps, one setting at a time                        |

<Note>
  Changes made in chat last — they are saved, not temporary. If you want to undo a change, just ask for the previous setting back.
</Note>

## Related

* [Slash commands](/users/commands) — quick settings you can change yourself with `/model`, `/think`, and friends
* [Troubleshooting](/users/troubleshooting)