Check your Mac
Confirm macOS 15 or later and at least 16 GB of unified memory. For a wider model choice, 24 GB or more is recommended.
Getting started
From install to first scene.
Charpal handles the local runtime. You bring the character—and decide how deep the world goes.
Install Charpal
Use the Mac App Store for the simplest signed installation and automatic updates.
Download a local model
Charpal checks your hardware and helps you select a compatible model. The download needs internet; generation can work offline afterward.
Create or import a character
Start with a quick character, or import a PNG/JSON card using the SillyTavern V2 structure.
Add your persona and world
Set your identity for the scene, add a scenario, and use lorebook entries for facts that should activate in context.
Start—and branch—the story
Edit or regenerate any turn. Create a checkpoint before a major choice to preserve both paths.
Choose a model that fits
Start smaller
A smaller model leaves more memory for context and other apps, and usually responds faster.
Close heavy apps
Local inference shares unified memory with the rest of macOS. Freeing memory improves stability.
Tune for the scene
Temperature can add variety; context length helps retain more history but uses more memory.