Instachat CLI

Download and install

Start with Download CLI. The website provides the current package and installer for macOS and Linux. You need Node.js 22 or newer, npm and curl.

curl -fsSL https://instachat.cc/install.sh | sh

The installer checks the download before installing it. Use an npm installation your account can write to; the installer does not request sudo. Once it finishes, check your version:

instachat --version

Sign in for the first time

instachat login

1. Keep the terminal open and follow the browser sign-in flow.
2. Choose Telegram and confirm the sign-in with your Telegram account. A first sign-in creates your Instachat account.
3. If you see the waiting-for-approval page, wait for manual approval. Registration does not grant immediate access, and creating another account will not speed up approval.
4. Return to the terminal after sign-in completes. If it has already returned to your shell, run instachat again after approval.

Use the same account when signing in at web.instachat.cc. Approval happens after sign-in; you do not need to request access before downloading.

Choose Yin or Yang

Yin is the fast option for everyday tasks. Yang is for deeper work and coding. Choose a model when starting a session:

instachat --model yin

instachat --model yang

These are stable SoulfulAI model names. The models behind them can improve without changing the commands you use.

Everyday use

Open your terminal in the project directory you want to work in, then start Instachat and type your request. Review any file or command permission prompts before allowing an action.

instachat

Continue the most recent conversation in the current directory:

instachat -c

To choose a saved conversation, open the resume picker. To resume a specific one, replace SESSION_ID with its saved session ID.

instachat --resume

instachat --resume SESSION_ID

Continuing a conversation starts a new CLI process; it does not require keeping an older CLI version. For available commands and flags:

instachat --help

Use your session from the web

Inside an active CLI conversation, enter /rc to share the session. This is a command at the Instachat prompt, not a shell command.

/rc

Open web.instachat.cc, sign in with the same account and select your connected CLI session. Keep the CLI and its computer running: the work still happens on that computer.

Use /rc status to check the connection, /rc help for guidance or /rc disconnect to stop sharing.

Updates and restarting

Website installations check for signed updates when you start an interactive session, unless automatic updates have been disabled. A newer release is installed before the new session starts. An already-running session keeps its current version.

A “Update installed · Restart to update” label means an update is installed and you need to close and relaunch the session to use it. You can then continue with instachat -c.

instachat update

To install explicitly, close other Instachat sessions first, then run:

instachat update --install

Start Instachat again and check instachat --version. If an update installed but the old version still starts, check whether your settings or environment set DISABLE_AUTOUPDATER or autoUpdates: false. Launchers installed before 1.2.5 can still block an explicitly installed update, even when an automatically updated session reports 1.2.5. Reinstall once from Download CLI in the same terminal to replace that older launcher, then restart with instachat -c. You can keep automatic updates disabled.

Daily limits

Your account’s allowance applies in the CLI too. The free daily allowance resets at 00:00 UTC. If it is exhausted, wait for the reset shown in the error or review your plan. Restarting, changing models or signing in again does not reset the account’s allowance.

A separate daily-spend safety limit can also stop requests. Follow the explanation and reset time returned for your account. For the response fields, see API errors and limits.

Troubleshooting

• macOS asks for Keychain access: the CLI stores account credentials in your Keychain. Review and allow the request if it came from the Instachat sign-in you started. If the Keychain is locked, unlock it and retry. Version 1.2.4 reports a timeout after about 10 seconds instead of waiting indefinitely; a timed-out write does not fall back to plaintext.
• You need to sign in again: run instachat login. After upgrading to 1.2.4, a profile whose HOME differs from the account’s home directory needs to sign in once because credential storage is now isolated by profile.
• You want to switch accounts: sign out, then sign in with the intended account.

instachat logout
instachat login

If you remain stuck, contact [email protected] with your CLI version and the error text. Do not include access tokens or Keychain contents.