# Profiles and setup

> Create reusable profiles with custom system prompts, models, MCP servers, and tool allowlists using clai setup.

Canonical URL: https://www.clai.chat/docs/guides/profiles/ · Version: 1.0 · Updated: 2026-10-21

Full site index: https://www.clai.chat/llms.txt

Profiles let you package a model, a system prompt, tool permissions, and MCP servers into a reusable preset that you activate with `-p <profile-name>`.

## Interactive setup wizard

Run `clai setup` (or `clai s`) to launch the interactive configuration TUI:

- `clai setup 0` — General config (`textConfig.json`, `photoConfig.json`, `videoConfig.json`, `audioConfig.json`, `skills.json`, `theme.json`)
- `clai setup 1` — Model files (vendor/model-specific JSON configs)
- `clai setup 2` — Text generation profiles (`profiles/<name>.json`)
- `clai setup 3` — MCP server configuration (`mcpServers/<name>.json`)
- `clai setup 4` — Shell contexts (`shellContexts/<name>.json`)

## Profile file structure

Each profile lives at `~/.config/.clai/profiles/<name>.json`:

```json
{
  "model": "gpt-5.2",
  "prompt": "You are a security-focused Go code reviewer. Point out race conditions and error handling gaps.",
  "use_tools": true,
  "tools": ["rg", "file_tree", "find"],
  "mcp_servers": {},
  "use_lookback": false
}
```

## Using a profile

Pass `-p <name>` (`-profile`) to use a profile from `~/.config/.clai/profiles/`, or `-prp <file>` (`-profile-path`) to load a profile from a project-specific path:

```sh
clai profiles list
clai -p reviewer q "Audit internal/chat/handler.go"
clai -prp ./.clai/reviewer.json q "Run project review"
```

See [Configuration](/docs/reference/configuration/) for every profile field.