> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.embedder.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Choose a model

> Pick the model for a chat, and set a default model for a project or for subagents.

Embedder picks a model for each chat. You can switch to another model at any time, or pin a default for a project.

## Choose a model

* **VS Code:** select the model control in the chat composer. It shows the current group, **Fast** or **Thinking**, or **Models** when your models aren't grouped, and its tooltip reads **Choose model**. Choose a group to switch to its model, or select the arrow beside a group to pick a model from its list. You can also run `/model` or the **Embedder: Switch Model** command, which list each model by name with its provider beside it.
* **Terminal UI:** run `/model` to open **Select Model**. Each model shows its provider in parentheses after the name.

`/model` appears when more than one model is available.

## Set a default model for a project

To select a particular model whenever a project opens, create `.embedder/models.json` in the project root:

```json .embedder/models.json theme={"theme":"css-variables"}
{
  "main": "provider/model-name"
}
```

The value is the provider and the model name, separated by `/`. Copy both exactly as `/model` lists them, including case: a model the terminal UI lists as `model-name (provider)` is `provider/model-name`. If you're not sure of the exact name, choose the model with `/model` and leave `main` unset.

To choose models for [subagents](https://docs.embedder.com/core-concepts/subagents.md#subagent-types), add `subagents` with a subagent type, or `default` for every type you don't list:

```json .embedder/models.json theme={"theme":"css-variables"}
{
  "main": "provider/model-name",
  "subagents": {
    "default": "provider/other-model-name",
    "web-searcher": "inherit"
  }
}
```

`inherit` makes that subagent type use Embedder's usual choice.

To apply the same defaults to every project, put the file in `~/.embedder/models.json`. The project file takes precedence for each setting it includes. In a project file, set `main` to `"inherit"` to ignore a global default and use ordinary model selection. Removing `main` from the project file falls back to the global file, if there is one.

A default does not make a model available. If the pinned model is not available to you, Embedder ignores it and selects a model as usual. A pinned `main` model applies each time the project opens, so a model you choose with `/model` lasts until the next start.

Reopen the project after you change the file, then check the selected model. If the expected model is not selected, check the JSON syntax and the exact provider and model name. Embedder ignores a file with invalid JSON or an invalid value.


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