SillyTavern custom OpenAI endpoint guide
Connect SillyTavern to a custom OpenAI-compatible endpoint: Chat Completion, Custom source, base URL ending in /v1, API key, model list, context settings and fixes. 18+.
Short answer
In SillyTavern, open API Connections, set the API to Chat Completion, choose Custom (OpenAI-compatible) as the source, and enter https://tryunrestrictedai.com/v1 as the endpoint (no /chat/completions). Paste your API key, pick a model from the list, and click Test Message.
18+ only. The click-by-click version with copy buttons is on the SillyTavern setup page.
Steps
- Create an API key in the console and set a per-key budget. API use needs a plan (Starter is $19 with $19 of usage), a top-up from $5, or the one-time $0.50 API trial for verified accounts.
- In SillyTavern, open API Connections (the plug icon).
- Set API to
Chat Completionand Chat Completion Source toCustom (OpenAI-compatible), as in the official SillyTavern docs. - Custom Endpoint (Base URL):
https://tryunrestrictedai.com/v1. The SillyTavern docs say: "try adding /v1 to the end of the endpoint URL. Do NOT add the /chat/completions suffix." - API key: paste it.
- Model: SillyTavern fills the dropdown from
/v1/models, which we serve for your key. You can also type an ID such asvenice-uncensored-role-play. - Click Connect, then Test Message.
Settings that matter
- Context Size: 32,768 or less (our service ceiling). Max Response Length: 4,096 or less; larger values are lowered to the model’s limit instead of failing.
- Long chats: up to 256 messages per request are accepted; the 32,768-token context is the real limit.
- Prompt Post-Processing: if you get role-order errors, choose "Merge consecutive messages from the same role" or "Semi-strict".
- Streaming: supported (server-sent events).
Which samplers are used (tested 8 Nov 2026)
We sent SillyTavern’s default Chat Completion request shape to production, including message name fields, an empty system message and every default sampler. It returned a reply. Here is what happens to each field:
| Field | What we do |
|---|---|
temperature (0 to 2), top_p, max_tokens, stream | Forwarded to the model |
stop (up to 4 strings) | Forwarded; extra or empty stop strings are dropped |
top_k, min_p, top_a, repetition_penalty, presence_penalty, frequency_penalty, typical_p, tfs, seed, logit_bias, reasoning_effort, mirostat, DRY and XTC settings | Accepted and ignored |
max_completion_tokens | Treated as max_tokens |
Message name, empty messages, text-only content arrays, developer role | Normalized |
n above 1, logprobs: true, tools, images | Refused with a 400 that names the field |
Cost
Same math as the JanitorAI guide. At 8,000 input and 300 output tokens on venice-uncensored-role-play ($1 and $4 per 1M), a reply costs about $0.009. Trimming context is the biggest saving.
Troubleshooting
To see the raw error, test outside SillyTavern with the command below. Error codes are explained in errors.
curl https://tryunrestrictedai.com/v1/chat/completions \
-H "Authorization: Bearer $KEY" -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d '{"model":"venice-uncensored-1-2","messages":[{"role":"user","content":"hi"}],"max_tokens":50}'| Symptom | Fix |
|---|---|
| Empty model list | Check that the source is Custom, not "OpenAI"; the URL ends in /v1; and the key has no spaces |
| 413 | Lower Context Size |
| 400 naming a field | Turn off that feature (for example token probabilities or function calling) |
| "API not responding" warning while chat works | SillyTavern has a "Bypass API status check" option |
FAQ
Base URL or full URL?
SillyTavern wants the base URL ending in /v1; JanitorAI wants the full /v1/chat/completions path.
Does it support Text Completion mode?
No. Use Chat Completion; we expose /v1/chat/completions only.
Can I use images or tool calling?
Image input and tool calling are not supported in chat completions. Image generation is a separate endpoint, /v1/images/generations; see Generate images.
Which model for role-play?
venice-uncensored-role-play is Venice’s role-play route. Abliterated Llama 3.3 70B routes are also available. Test with your own card, and compare prices in the API price comparison.