How to Use Janitor AI: Complete 2026 Setup Guide
This is the five-step path from signup to your first usable Janitor AI chat. It covers the free default model and the custom API path, character setup, and the common rough edges that trip up new users.
Step 1: Sign up
Go to the official Janitor AI site directly — typing the URL or using a trusted bookmark. Click the sign-up button, enter your email, and create a strong password. The platform sends a verification email; confirm it before trying to log in. Skipping verification is the most common reason users get stuck at the login screen on day one.
Use a unique password. Janitor AI accounts have been targeted by credential-stuffing attempts, so reusing a password from another site is the riskiest move you can make here.
Step 2: Choose your model
You have two paths. The default path uses Janitor AI's shared free model: zero setup, no payment, but variable speed and a moderate filter. The custom path connects an API key from OpenAI, OpenRouter, or a reverse-proxy: paid per token, much faster, broader model selection.
For first-time users, start with the default model just to see how the chat works. Once you have a sense of what you want from the platform, decide whether the paid path is worth it. The proxy setup guide walks through the API key flow in detail, and the free tier guide covers the trade-offs.
Step 3: Find or create a character
The character library is the heart of the platform. Browse by category, tags, or popularity. Open a few characters to see how they are written — the descriptions, example dialogues, and tags shape how the AI behaves. When you find a character whose setup feels well-crafted, start a chat.
To create your own character, click the create button and fill in: name, short description, persona (their identity and traits), scenario (the situation), and example dialogue (two or three exchanges that demonstrate voice). A strong example dialogue is the single biggest lever for response quality. You can also upload an avatar — square images crop best.
Step 4: Start chatting
Send your first message. On the free model, expect a wait. On a custom API key, responses arrive within seconds. If the first reply is off-tone or off-character, hit regenerate. Janitor AI keeps the chat history, so the model has access to context as the conversation grows. Long chats can drift — re-anchoring with a short out-of-character note ("OOC: stay in character, keep your descriptions concrete") often fixes drift mid-session.
Step 5: Customize settings
Open the settings panel inside a chat. The settings that matter most:
- Temperature: 0.7–0.9 for steady, in-character responses. 1.0+ for more varied, less predictable output.
- Max tokens: 200–400 is the sweet spot. Higher numbers produce longer responses but risk getting cut off.
- Persona: your own profile that the character sees. Worth filling out for any roleplay you take seriously.
- System prompt: available on most custom-API setups. A good system prompt is worth more than any other single setting.
Common issues and fixes
- Responses cut off mid-sentence: raise max tokens or shorten your prompt.
- Character keeps breaking character: the example dialogue is too thin — rewrite it.
- Long queue on the free model: nothing to do but wait or switch model. See our status guide.
- Proxy error: check the API key, billing credit, and endpoint URL. See the proxy guide.
- Cannot log in: see the dedicated login help page.