How to download Silly Tavern and what you actually installed: client + model
Part 1 of the “Using Silly Tavern” series. Menu names depend on your build. Not official Silly Tavern documentation.
People search silly tavern how to download and often get stuck after install: why can’t I chat yet?
The relationship: frontend ≠ LLM
Treat Silly Tavern like a browser: it handles UI, chat logs, cards, presets—but page content comes from elsewhere.
Replies come from either:
- a cloud API (you pay per use or buy credits), or
- local inference (you run Koboldcpp, text-generation-webui, etc., then point ST at the URL).
So: installing Silly Tavern alone does not give you a model. That expectation gap is extremely common.
Download (verb checklist)
- Open the official or widely trusted release page (e.g. GitHub Releases) and pick the right archive for your OS.
- Verify the version and release notes; avoid random repacks from unknown file hosts.
- Extract / install somewhere you control; if the OS blocks launch, follow its developer/signature prompts.
- Pause before “chat”: confirm the app opens; next wire a model in How to connect an API (or your local stack).
Avoid: “convenience” bundles with unknown binaries or injected scripts—you’re handing your machine to strangers.
After install, what you still need
- A working model path: API base URL + key, or a local server address.
- (Optional) character cards: you can test connectivity without cards, but real use imports PNG/JSON cards—when the pile grows, manage files on Mac with Sillycard.
Safety & policy (short)
- Treat API keys like passwords—don’t screenshot them into public chats or commit them to git.
- Follow each provider’s terms and local law; adult content rules vary by platform and jurisdiction.
See also
Series: Using Silly Tavern · index
Browse, preview, and edit PNG character cards on Mac with Sillycard. Details: App Store and in-app copy.