Quick Start
Download and Install
Chatbox AI supports multiple platform installations:- Desktop: Windows, macOS, Linux
- Mobile: iOS, Android
- Web: Direct browser access
Configure APIYI
Step 1: Open Settings
- Launch the Chatbox AI application
- Click the settings icon (⚙️) in the lower left corner
- Enter the “Model Configuration” interface
Step 2: Add Custom Provider

- Click the + Add button in the “Model Provider” section
-
Fill in the provider information:
- Name: APIYI (customizable name)
- API Mode: Select OpenAI API Compatible
- API Key: Enter your APIYI key
- API Host:
https://api.apiyi.com/v1 - API Path:
/chat/completions(default value)
-
Advanced Configuration (Optional):
- Enable “Improve Network Compatibility” option (as shown in the image)
- Can configure dedicated image generation endpoints
Configuration Key Points
- The API Host field corresponds to the Base URL and must include the
/v1suffix - The API Path field specifies the specific endpoint path
- API Key can be obtained from the APIYI Console
- After configuration, click the + New button in the lower right corner to add a model
Step 3: Select Model
After configuration is complete, you can select the following models in the chat interface:Supported Models
Model Support
Chatbox AI supports various mainstream AI models through APIYI, including:- GPT Series: GPT-5 series, GPT-4o, gpt-4.1, o3, etc.
- Claude Series: Claude 4 Sonnet, Claude 3.5 Haiku, etc.
- Gemini Series: Gemini 2.5 Pro, Gemini 2.5 Flash, etc.
- Featured Models: Reasoning, vision understanding, code generation specialized models
View Complete Model List
For detailed model information, pricing, and feature comparisons, please visit the Model Information Page
Core Features
Multi-Platform Sync
Core advantages of Chatbox AI:- Local Storage: Data completely stored locally, protecting privacy
- Cross-Platform Access: Switch between different devices
- Offline Functionality: Some features support offline use
Conversation Management
Intelligent Conversation Features:- Multi-turn conversation context retention
- Conversation history search and management
- Conversation export (Markdown, PDF)
- Prompt library and message references
Document Processing
Document Understanding Capabilities:- PDF, TXT, DOCX document upload
- Image understanding and analysis
- LaTeX and Markdown rendering
- Code highlighting and preview
Image Generation
AI Image Creation:- Supports DALL-E series model image generation
- Configurable dedicated image generation endpoints
- Supports various image sizes and styles
- Batch image generation functionality
- Add dedicated image generation provider in settings
- Use standard
/images/generationsendpoint - Directly describe image requirements in chat
- System automatically calls image generation API
Advanced Settings
Parameter Tuning:Usage Tips
Prompt Optimization
Chatbox AI has a built-in prompt library, and you can also create custom prompts:Privacy Protection
Chatbox AI adopts a “privacy by design” philosophy:- Data stored locally, not uploaded to cloud
- Supports self-hosted API endpoints
- Can be used completely offline (with local models)
Advanced Configuration
Custom API Endpoints
In addition to basic chat functionality, you can also configure dedicated image generation endpoints:Chat Completion Endpoint Configuration
Image Generation Endpoint Configuration
Method 1: Use Dedicated Image APIEndpoint Selection Recommendations
- Regular conversations: Use
/chat/completionsendpoint - Reverse-engineered image generation models, like sora_image: Use
/chat/completionsendpoint - Image generation: Prioritize
/images/generationsstandard endpoint - Special needs: Can use
gpt-image-1or/v1/responsesendpoint - In Chatbox, the “API Path” field corresponds to the specific endpoint path
Network Proxy Settings
If you need to use a proxy for access:- Go to Settings > Network Configuration
- Configure HTTP/HTTPS proxy
- Set proxy authentication (if needed)
Keyboard Shortcuts Settings
Common shortcuts:Ctrl/Cmd + N: New conversationCtrl/Cmd + T: Switch modelCtrl/Cmd + /: Show command paletteCtrl/Cmd + K: Quick search
Mobile Configuration
iOS/Android Configuration
Mobile configuration is the same as desktop:- Download Chatbox AI mobile app
- Go to Settings > Model Configuration
- Add APIYI custom provider
- Configure the same API Base URL and key
Mobile-Specific Features
- Voice Input: Supports voice-to-text
- Camera Integration: Take photos directly for image analysis
- Offline Cache: Conversation history available offline
- Push Notifications: Important message alerts
Troubleshooting
Common Issues
Connection Failed- Check API Base URL:
https://api.apiyi.com/v1 - Verify API key validity
- Confirm network connection is normal
- Wait for model list to auto-refresh
- Manually click “Refresh Models” button
- Check API key permissions
- Try switching to a faster model
- Check network latency
- Reduce context length
Log Debugging
Enable debug mode:- Settings > Advanced Options
- Enable “Debug Mode”
- View detailed log information
Data Backup
Regularly backup conversation data:- Settings > Data Management
- Export conversation history
- Backup configuration files
Best Practices
Performance Optimization
-
Choose Models Wisely
- Simple tasks use gpt-4.1
- Complex tasks use o3, gpt-5 series
- Long texts use Claude 4, gemini-2.5-pro series
-
Context Management
- Regularly clean up unused conversations
- Set context length reasonably
- Use conversation grouping feature
-
Resource Management
- Monitor API usage
- Set usage quota reminders
- Update app version regularly
Security Recommendations
- Don’t share API keys
- Change keys regularly
- Protect app with strong passwords
- Handle sensitive information carefully
Team Collaboration
Although Chatbox AI is primarily for individual users, team support is possible through:- Share prompt templates
- Export and share conversation records
- Unify API configuration standards
Comparison Advantages
vs Other Clients
| Feature | Chatbox AI | ChatGPT Web | Other Clients |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local Storage | ✅ | ❌ | Partial support |
| Multi-Platform | ✅ | ❌ | Partial support |
| Custom API | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Offline Features | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Privacy Protection | ✅ | ❌ | Uncertain |
Reasons to Choose Chatbox AI
- Privacy First: Data completely stored locally
- Flexible Configuration: Supports various API endpoints
- Cross-Platform: Unified user experience
- Feature Rich: Prompt library, document processing, etc.
- Continuous Updates: Active development and maintenance