| 1 | # Model Presets |
| 2 | |
| 3 | Model Presets are named, reusable model setups. Every setup contains a main, |
| 4 | utility, and embedding model. |
| 5 | |
| 6 | Use them when you want to switch a chat between setups such as "fast", "cheap", |
| 7 | "local", "balanced", or "maximum power" without rebuilding the settings each |
| 8 | time. |
| 9 | |
| 10 | ## Choose A Preset |
| 11 | |
| 12 | The preset menu is the first dropdown on the left side of the chat status bar. |
| 13 | Its closed label shows the preset and the short main-model name, without the |
| 14 | provider prefix. |
| 15 | |
| 16 |  |
| 17 | |
| 18 | 1. Open a chat. |
| 19 | 2. Click the current preset name. |
| 20 | 3. Choose the preset you want. |
| 21 | |
| 22 | The selected preset affects the current chat. Choose **Use scoped preset** to |
| 23 | return the chat to the default selected for its project and agent profile. If no |
| 24 | more specific choice exists, Agent Zero uses the global preset. |
| 25 | |
| 26 | The **Default** preset is always available. You can edit its models, but you |
| 27 | cannot rename or delete it. |
| 28 | |
| 29 | ## Initial Presets |
| 30 | |
| 31 | When no saved preset collection exists at startup, Agent Zero downloads the |
| 32 | curated **Default**, **Efficiency**, and **Power** presets from the public |
| 33 | [`agent0ai/a0-presets`](https://github.com/agent0ai/a0-presets) repository. If |
| 34 | GitHub is unavailable or the file is invalid, Agent Zero saves its bundled |
| 35 | plugin fallback instead. Existing saved presets short-circuit this check and |
| 36 | are never replaced. |
| 37 | |
| 38 | ## Edit Presets |
| 39 | |
| 40 | Click **Edit presets** from the same menu. |
| 41 | |
| 42 | From this screen you can: |
| 43 | |
| 44 | - rename presets; |
| 45 | - choose the main model; |
| 46 | - choose the utility model; |
| 47 | - choose the embedding model; |
| 48 | - enter the shared API key for each model provider; |
| 49 | - open API key settings; |
| 50 | - add or delete presets (except **Default**); |
| 51 | - save the preset list. |
| 52 | |
| 53 | Think of a preset as a label on a model setup. |
| 54 | |
| 55 | | Field | Simple meaning | |
| 56 | | --- | --- | |
| 57 | | **Main model** | The model that does the main conversation and reasoning. | |
| 58 | | **Utility model** | A smaller helper model for lighter internal tasks. | |
| 59 | | **Embedding model** | The model that creates vectors for memory and knowledge retrieval. | |
| 60 | |
| 61 | The editor presents each preset as one complete setup. Internally, an existing |
| 62 | non-default preset may inherit omitted advanced values from **Default**. |
| 63 | |
| 64 | ## Add A Preset |
| 65 | |
| 66 | Click **Add**, give it a name, choose models, then click **Save**. |
| 67 | |
| 68 | Good preset names are easy to spot quickly: |
| 69 | |
| 70 | - `Max Power` |
| 71 | - `Balanced` |
| 72 | - `Fast Cheap` |
| 73 | - `Local Private` |
| 74 | - `GPT-5 Mini` |
| 75 | - `Claude Opus` |
| 76 | - `Kimi Budget` |
| 77 | |
| 78 | Some people prefer names based on purpose. Others prefer names that look like |
| 79 | the model they use most. Both are fine. The important thing is that your eyes |
| 80 | can find the right option quickly. |
| 81 | |
| 82 | ## A Simple Starting Set |
| 83 | |
| 84 | If you are not sure what to create, start with three presets: |
| 85 | |
| 86 | | Preset | Use it for | |
| 87 | | --- | --- | |
| 88 | | **Best** | Hard work where quality matters more than cost or speed. | |
| 89 | | **Balanced** | Everyday chats, coding, writing, and research. | |
| 90 | | **Cheap** | Simple tasks, quick drafts, summaries, and tests. | |
| 91 | |
| 92 | You can always rename them later. |
| 93 | |
| 94 | ## Choose Defaults For New Chats |
| 95 | |
| 96 | In **Settings → Agent → Models**, choose the global preset used by new chats. |
| 97 | The summary shows its main, utility, and embedding models. Changing it also |
| 98 | applies that preset to the currently open chat. |
| 99 | |
| 100 | Use **Per-project / agent** to open the full Model Configuration plugin. Its |
| 101 | scope selector lets you choose a different default preset for a project, an |
| 102 | agent profile, or their combination. These scopes store only the preset choice; |
| 103 | editing a preset updates every scope that uses it. |
| 104 | |
| 105 | ## How Presets Fit With Other Controls |
| 106 | |
| 107 | | Control | What it changes | |
| 108 | | --- | --- | |
| 109 | | **Model Preset** | Which main, utility, and embedding models power the chat. | |
| 110 | | **Agent Profile** | The agent's role, tone, and prompt behavior. | |
| 111 | | **Project** | Workspace, files, memory, secrets, and project instructions. | |
| 112 | | **Skill** | A specific procedure added to prompt protocol. | |
| 113 | |
| 114 | For example, you can use the same "Researcher" Agent Profile with a cheaper |
| 115 | preset for simple questions and a stronger preset for difficult investigations. |