Last updated:
Save and Move Your Character.AI Characters
This guide walks you through migrating from Character.AI in three steps: request your data export, save your characters as character cards, and import them into a new platform.
On October 12, 2026, Character.AI announced a voluntary Chapter 11 process—a U.S. court-supervised bankruptcy process—to facilitate a sale. Its official update (opens in a new tab) says the platform “remains up and running,” and Character.AI expects the sale to be complete “by the end of November or perhaps early December 2026.”
Independent guide; not affiliated with Character.AI.
- I haven't exported anything yetStart with Character.AI's official data export.Request your Character.AI export →
- I want to keep my characters, not just chatsSave each character as a portable PNG or JSON character-card file.Save your characters →
- I already have a character card (PNG/JSON)See which platforms can import it.Find a platform →
How to Migrate Your Character.AI Characters in 3 Steps
Step 1: Save Your Data
Start with Character.AI's official data export. It may take 3–4 weeks to process, so request it today rather than when you need the file. Our guide covers the steps, the timeline, and common fixes: Request your Character.AI export.
Step 2: Save Your Characters
Character.AI has not said its data export includes import-ready character cards, so save your characters separately—with a browser extension such as Chatbot Manager (formerly CAI Tools), or by copying each field from the edit page of a character you created. Keep the files somewhere safe; you'll import them in the next step. See how to save your characters as character cards.
Only copy or upload a character if you created it or have permission from its creator or rights holder. Public visibility alone does not grant that permission.
Step 3: Import Into a New Platform
Some platforms can import character cards directly, but they don't all keep the same details. SpicyChat's guide says it imports the name, greeting, and personality, while SillyTavern saved our test card in its newer V3 format. Compare the imported character with the original before relying on it. See which platforms can import your characters.
Which Platforms Can Import Your Characters?
This table lists only platforms where official documentation or our own test shows importing a Character.AI character. It is a capability check, not a ranking—a platform not listed here is not necessarily worse.
Scroll the table sideways to see every column.
| Platform | What it imports | Where it runs | Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SillyTavern | Character cards (PNG) and JSON character files; chats as JSON or JSONL | On your own computer (you install it) | The software is free and open-source. You provide the AI model or API, which may cost money. In our test, a Chatbot Manager JSON character imported into SillyTavern 1.19.0. | SillyTavern docs (opens in a new tab), source code (opens in a new tab), and our test, checked October 19, 2026 |
| SpicyChat | A PNG Character Card, or a JSON file containing text data | Not stated in its import guide | Imports the name, greeting, and personality; you add tags, visibility, and advanced options yourself. | SpicyChat import guide (opens in a new tab), checked October 20, 2026 |
What Is a Character Card? PNG, JSON, and Card Versions
A character card is a file that stores a character's details so another app can load them. It is usually a PNG image with the character data embedded in it, or a plain JSON file.
The format has several versions. Chatbot Manager's documentation describes its download as a “v1 spec character card.” Chara Card V2 (opens in a new tab) is a later, openly published version of the specification. When we imported a v1 card into SillyTavern 1.19.0, SillyTavern saved it in its newer V3 format.
Fields such as the name, description, and first message are stored inside the file. Compare an imported card with the original character, because not every field is guaranteed to carry over.
Is Character.AI Shutting Down? What We Know
On October 12, 2026, Character.AI said (opens in a new tab) it “has initiated a voluntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy process to facilitate a court-supervised sale of the company.”
For now, the service is running: “The Character.ai platform remains up and running, and you can continue to access all services at this time.”
The outcome is uncertain. Character.AI expects the sale to be complete “by the end of November or perhaps early December 2026.” It hopes the sale will “allow continued operations of the Character.ai platform,” but says: “If such a bid is unavailable, however, the platform will be wound down.”
Disney has offered $20 million for a non-exclusive license to some of the company's intellectual property, SAN reported (opens in a new tab) on October 13, 2026. At that time, Character.AI hadn't said whether users' chats are among the assets it plans to sell.
We don't predict the outcome. We'll update this section when Character.AI or the court publishes new information.
Character.AI Migration FAQ
- Can I move my Character.AI characters to another app?
- Sometimes. If you created the character or have permission, you can move the details available to you with a character card or by copying fields by hand, and platforms such as SillyTavern and SpicyChat can import character cards. A private Definition can't be downloaded with Chatbot Manager. Check the imported result, because not every field is guaranteed to carry over.
- Will my chats come with my characters?
- Not automatically. Character cards and chat exports are separate files. See our export guide for ways to save chats, and check what the destination platform supports.
- Has Character.AI been acquired?
- Not as of our last update. On October 12, 2026, Character.AI announced a Chapter 11 process to facilitate a court-supervised sale, which it expects to complete "by the end of November or perhaps early December 2026." SAN reported on October 13 that Disney offered $20 million for a non-exclusive license to some of the company's intellectual property—a license, not a purchase of the company. We'll update this answer when the outcome is announced.
- Does it cost anything to migrate?
- Requesting Character.AI's data export and copying your own characters' fields by hand don't require a paid tool. Whether the rest costs money depends on the tools and platform you choose: SillyTavern is free, open-source software but needs an AI model, which may cost money, and other platforms set their own pricing. Check current pricing before relying on any of them.
- Can you download character cards from Character.AI?
- Character.AI hasn't said its own data export includes import-ready character cards. A third-party browser extension such as Chatbot Manager (formerly CAI Tools) can download a character as a character-card file; its documentation calls this a "v1 spec character card." A private Definition can't be downloaded with it.