How to Install TavernAI 2 on Windows or a Linux VPS

Updated

TavernAI 2 installs two ways: a desktop download for Windows 10/11 (including a portable version, with no account required), or a one-line terminal script on a Linux VPS that extracts the app to ~/TavernAI and adds an update script. Either path gets you the app itself — you still need to connect an AI provider or load a local model before you can chat.

Before you install

Check these first, since both install paths assume them:

  • Windows: Windows 10 or 11. The site lists a desktop download and a portable app; the portable build is the one to pick if you don't want a fixed install location.
  • Linux VPS: a server you can reach over SSH with curl available. The script writes to your home directory, so no special system-wide permissions are implied.
  • Either way: enough disk space for the app plus any local models you plan to load (GGUF language and vision models can be large), and a network connection for the initial download and for any API provider you connect later.

No account is required to install or run the app.

Installing on Windows 10/11

  1. Go to tavernai.net and take the Windows download for Windows 10/11. If you want a self-contained copy, choose the portable version instead of the standard installer.
  2. Run the downloaded file and let it place the app on your machine (or unpack it, for the portable build).
  3. Launch TavernAI 2. You land in the chat workspace with cards, the Prompt Manager, and the chat interface — but no model is connected yet.
  4. Move on to "Connecting a model" below before expecting a reply.

Expected result: the app opens and you can create or import a character card, but sending a message won't produce output until a provider or local model is set up.

Installing on a Linux VPS

The site provides a single install command for Linux servers:

curl -fsSL https://tavernai.net/install.sh | bash

What this does, per the site's description:

  • Downloads the latest stable build.
  • Extracts it to ~/TavernAI.
  • Adds an update script so you can pull newer builds later without repeating the whole process.

Expected result: a ~/TavernAI directory containing the app, plus an update script you can run when a new stable build is released.

Verify it worked: confirm the directory exists and contains the app files:

ls ~/TavernAI

If the directory is missing or empty, the download likely failed — check that the VPS has outbound network access and that curl is installed.

Connecting a model so you can actually chat

Installing the app is only half the setup. TavernAI 2 supports two routes, and you pick one (or switch between them per chat):

Route What you need When it fits
Local models GGUF language and vision models loaded inside TavernAI, running on CPU, CUDA, or Vulkan You want everything on your own hardware and have the GPU/CPU headroom
AI provider One of the built-in API integrations, or a custom one You'd rather not run models locally, or your machine can't handle them

The site notes more than a dozen built-in and custom API integrations, and that you can switch the same chat between local models and a provider. After connecting either one, send a test message in a chat to confirm replies generate.

Common snags

  • App opens but nothing generates. Almost always a missing provider or model — the install doesn't bundle one.
  • Local model won't load. Check whether your hardware matches the backend you selected (CPU vs. CUDA vs. Vulkan); a CUDA build won't help on a machine without a compatible GPU.
  • VPS install fails silently. Re-run the curl command and watch the output; a blocked outbound connection or missing curl is the usual cause.
  • You want to update later. Use the update script the installer added rather than re-running the install from scratch.

Once a model is connected, the rest of the app — branching chats, dynamic cards, the Prompt Manager, per-character prompt trees, and the assembled-prompt viewer — is available without further installation steps.