Support

Getting Started

1. Install

Download Bring Your Own AI from the App Store. Requires iOS 26.0 or later, iPhone only.

2. Add an API Key

1. Open the app and tap the Models tab.
2. Tap the + button in the top-right.
3. Pick a provider (OpenAI, Anthropic, DeepSeek, MiniMax, or Custom).
4. Paste your API key. (Get one from your provider's dashboard.)
5. Tap Test to confirm the connection works.
6. Save. The endpoint is now available in the Chat tab.

3. Pick a Model

Back in the Chat tab, tap the model chip below the input to choose which model to use. You can switch models mid-conversation — different messages in the same chat can come from different models.

4. Start Chatting

Type your message. The response will stream in token-by-token. Long-form responses render with full Markdown, code-block syntax highlighting (100+ languages), and LaTeX math.

Troubleshooting

"Test" button fails for my endpoint

• Check that the API key is valid and not expired.
• Check that the base URL is correct (e.g. https://api.openai.com, not https://openai.com).
• Some providers require a custom base URL or path. Use the Custom provider to specify a full URL.

Streaming response stops mid-way

• Cellular networks sometimes interrupt long streams. Switch to Wi-Fi.
• Some providers have rate limits. Wait a few seconds and try again.
• If a response fails, the conversation will show a partial reply. You can re-send by tapping the regenerate button.

My conversation won't open

• Quit and relaunch the app.
• If the issue persists, the SQLite database may need recovery. Settings → Data Management → Repair Database.

Export to Markdown / JSON

Long-press any conversation in the conversation list, then choose Export. The exported file contains all messages with timestamps and the model used for each reply. API keys are stripped from exports.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Bring Your Own AI work offline?

No. All four supported providers (OpenAI, Anthropic, DeepSeek, MiniMax) require internet access to reach their APIs. Once a response is received, it is cached locally and remains available offline.

Are my API keys safe?

Yes. They are stored in the iOS Keychain with kSecAttrAccessibleWhenUnlockedThisDeviceOnly, encrypted with Secure Enclave-backed AES-256, and never leave your device — not even to iCloud backups.

Do you see my conversations?

No. Conversations live in a local SQLite database inside the app's sandbox. There is no remote server, no analytics SDK, and no telemetry. The only network calls are HTTPS requests directly to your chosen provider.

Can I import existing ChatGPT or Claude conversations?

Not in v1.0. Use Markdown or JSON export from those services, then paste the content into a new conversation in Bring Your Own AI.

Will you add support for other providers?

Any OpenAI-compatible endpoint can already be added via the Custom provider with a custom base URL. For new built-in providers, open an issue on GitHub.

Why is the app called "Bring Your Own AI"?

It's a play on "BYOD" / "BYOK" — the term describes software where users supply their own credentials rather than the vendor managing them centrally. In this case, you supply your own AI provider accounts, so we have nothing to collect, nothing to leak, and nothing to lose in a data breach.

Contact

File an issue or ask a question on GitHub at rubyalliance/bring-your-own-ai-site/issues. We respond within a few weekdays.