If you’ve already built up a stack of characters in TavernAI or SillyTavern, you don’t need to write them again. WhisperAI accepts the same character card formats those apps use, so you can import TavernAI characters directly: PNG cards with embedded JSON, plain JSON exports, the lot. This guide walks through the import in order, then covers the small cleanup steps that make a freshly imported character actually feel right.
What a character card actually is
A TavernAI character card is one of two things:
- A PNG image with character data embedded in a metadata chunk. The image is the avatar; the JSON inside is the personality, scenario, example dialogues, and so on.
- A JSON file exported from TavernAI, SillyTavern, or any compatible tool. Same data, no avatar.
WhisperAI reads both. Drag, drop, done.
Step-by-step: import TavernAI characters
- Find your character file. In TavernAI / SillyTavern, the file lives under your characters folder. Pull out the PNG or use the “Export” option to grab a JSON.
- Open the Character Gallery in WhisperAI: bottom nav, then Characters.
- Tap Upload Character. Select the PNG or JSON. WhisperAI parses the card on device, so the file never leaves you in plaintext.
- Review the import. The imported character lands in your private gallery with name, avatar, personality and opening scenario already filled in.
- Start chatting. Tap Chat. The character is encrypted on your device with the same PIN that protects everything else.
What to clean up after import
TavernAI cards are written for a different runtime, so a fresh import sometimes feels slightly off. Three quick fixes cover most cases:
- Trim the personality block. If the original used long, repetitive descriptions, condense to the traits and rules that actually matter. Shorter is sharper.
- Rewrite the opening scenario in present tense. WhisperAI prefers a clear “you are in X, doing Y” over a paragraph of backstory dump.
- Add 1-2 example dialogues. If the card already has them, keep the best two. If it doesn’t, write them: they’re the single biggest lever for keeping the character in voice.
Common import issues
“The character feels generic.” Almost always the personality block is too vague. Add three speech-pattern rules and one rule about what the character will never do.
“The PNG didn’t import.” Some character cards strip the metadata when re-saved by image editors. Re-download the original or export the JSON instead.
“The avatar is missing.” JSON imports don’t carry an image. Add one in the editor. Or use the AI character generator to produce a matching one.
What stays private
One detail worth flagging: when you import TavernAI characters into WhisperAI, the card itself is parsed on your device and stored encrypted. The server doesn’t keep a plaintext copy of your character. That’s the same property that protects your conversations: it just also covers the people you’re talking to.