Settings · Data Safety

Language, appearance, parsing preferences, API keys, and your account & data.

Language & appearance

UI language: 中文 / English toggle, applies site-wide.
AI output language: Follow system / Force Chinese / Force English. Note: parsing an English PDF with Force Chinese translates the content into the database.
Theme: Light / Dark / Follow system.

Parsing model preference Pro

Under Settings → Parsing model preference, pick a model separately for literature reproduction / Smart Review / Quick Import. The dropdown shows a live per-run cost estimate, so you can save money or reach for a stronger model as needed.

API Key (BYOK)

On Pro and Pro+, add your own model key (OpenAI, Claude, Gemini, DeepSeek, Kimi, Qwen and more, or any OpenAI-compatible address) under Settings → AI → My model and use it in Vara AI. The key is encrypted at rest (AES-GCM).

The Free plan shows this section but can't save a key. Using Vara as an LLM gateway from external clients (/v1/chat) is a separate API feature, set up under Settings → API access and enabled separately from Pro. See the pricing page.

Setup steps

Pick a provider: OpenAI, Claude (Anthropic), DeepSeek, Gemini, Grok, MiniMax, Kimi, GLM (Zhipu / Z.ai), Qwen, Doubao (Volcengine Ark), OpenRouter, SiliconFlow, or "Custom (OpenAI-compatible)".
The base URL defaults to the official address. Providers with separate China and international endpoints (MiniMax, Kimi, GLM, Qwen, Doubao, SiliconFlow) can be switched with one click; your key must belong to the same region. For Custom, enter an OpenAI-compatible address up to the /v1 level; it must be a public https domain.
Paste your API key.
Fill in the model name. Pick a suggestion, or click "Fetch models" to load the provider's list and choose from it. Some providers don't offer a list; just type the name.
Click "Test connection and save". Vara calls the provider once with what you entered and saves only if it works, showing the model's actual reply. If it fails it tells you why, such as an invalid key, an account out of credit, a wrong model name, an unusable address, or the provider being unreachable; you can still choose "Save anyway".

Using your model inside Vara

Per-conversation: the model picker at the bottom of the chat box shows a "My model (BYOK)" option. Select it and that conversation routes through your key without touching Vara quota.
Global default: flip the "Use my model for Vara AI by default" toggle in Settings → AI → My model, and every in-app AI feature (chat, Q&A, correction, PDF parsing, quick import, etc.) defaults to your BYOK model.
Vision exception: image understanding (uploading photos for analysis) still uses Vara's built-in MiMo vision model, not BYOK, to keep image results reliable.
Billing: BYOK calls are billed directly by your API provider. Vara does not charge for them or count them against your quota.
When Pro ends: Vara AI switches back to Vara's models without errors. Your saved key is kept and is used again once Pro is active; you can also delete it in the same place.

Data safety

Export all my data: download one ZIP with all your records, attachments and paper files from the Data tab. See the export guide.
Danger zone: one click to delete your account and permanently erase your data. Triple confirmation prevents accidents (PIPL Article 47 compliance).
Recoverable deletes: deleted materials are soft-deleted; contact an admin to restore them.

User memory

View / edit / delete the permanent background knowledge Vara keeps about you (up to 50 entries, 200 chars each). Anything the AI suggests remembering in chat only lands here after you confirm. See Ask Vara.