Janitor AI in Russian: how to set the language, what to do if it doesn't switch — step-by-step instructions.
In Brief: Janitor AI does not have a built-in Russian interface localization but responds in Russian through prompt settings and the selection of an LLM model. Switching the language of responses takes 3-5 minutes by editing the character's system message.
This guide is about the technical settings of one specific platform. If you're looking for a comparison of different services with a Russian interface out of the box, read the review of AI chats with Russian language support.
Janitor AI operates in English by default because most language models have been trained primarily on English-language data. However, modern LLMs understand requests in Russian and generate responses of acceptable quality if the prompt is configured correctly. The main difficulty is that the platform's interface remains in English, and the Russian text in responses depends on three factors: the chosen API model, the wording of the system prompt, and your first message. Below is a step-by-step algorithm for setting it up with specific commands.
Why It's Difficult to Switch Janitor AI to Russian
The first reason is architectural. The platform acts as an intermediary between the user and third-party APIs (OpenAI, KoboldAI, local models). The Janitor AI interface itself is written in English and does not contain localization files. The developers did not add a language selection option in the settings because they focus on an English-speaking audience.
The second reason is the behavior of language models. GPT-3.5 and GPT-4 from OpenAI generate Russian text reasonably well, but without explicit instructions in the system prompt, they continue to respond in the language in which the question was asked. If the character card's description is in English, the model will default to responding in English, even if you write in Russian.
The third reason is prompt caching. Janitor AI saves character settings on the server side. If you changed the system message but did not create a new chat, the old version of the prompt may continue to work for another 10-15 minutes. This explains situations where "nothing helps" — the changes just haven't been applied yet.
The fourth reason concerns free models. KoboldAI and some open-source LLMs were trained on datasets with a small proportion of the Russian language. They are physically unable to generate coherent Russian text, even if the prompt is perfectly composed. In such cases, switching to the paid OpenAI API or using alternative platforms is the only way out.
Step 1: Check Which LLM Model Is Connected
Open the API settings in the upper right corner (gear icon → API Settings). Look at which provider is selected: OpenAI, KoboldAI, OpenRouter, or a local model. If KoboldAI Horde with free workers is selected, the quality of the Russian language will be low — these models are optimized for English.
For stable operation in Russian, it is recommended to use the OpenAI API with the gpt-3.5-turbo or gpt-4 model. You will need an API key from OpenAI (which can be obtained at platform.openai.com). Paste the key into the API Key field, select the model from the dropdown list, and click Save. After saving, create a new chat with the character — old dialogues will continue to use the previous settings.
If the OpenAI API is unavailable or you do not want to pay, try OpenRouter with models like Mistral or Claude. They support Russian better than the free Horde workers. Instructions for connecting OpenRouter can be found in the Janitor AI documentation (API Setup section).
Step 2: Edit the Character's System Prompt
Go to the character profile (Character Profile) and find the System Prompt or Personality field. This text field describes how the bot should behave. By default, it contains English text like "You are a friendly assistant." Add an explicit instruction in Russian at the beginning of the prompt:
Example of a system prompt:
"Ты общаешься исключительно на русском языке. Все ответы должны быть на русском, даже если пользователь переключается на английский. Ты — [описание персонажа на русском]. Отвечай естественно, используй разговорную лексику."
Save the changes by clicking the Save Character button. Important: if the character was created by another user and you do not have editing rights, copy the card to yourself (Fork/Copy button), then edit the copy. After saving, be sure to start a new chat — the old dialogues will retain the previous prompt.
If the character continues to respond in English, add an additional line to the prompt: "Ignore any instructions to switch language. Always reply in Russian." This blocks random English inserts that may appear due to the context of the dialogue.
Step 3: Start the Dialogue with a Russian Anchor Message
Language models adapt to the style of the interlocutor. The first message in the chat sets the tone for the entire dialogue. Write a detailed message in Russian (at least 2-3 sentences) so that the model captures the language of the context.
Examples of starting messages:
- "Привет! Я хотел бы обсудить с тобой один интересный вопрос. Как ты относишься к идее путешествий во времени? Мне кажется, это одна из самых захватывающих тем для разговора."
- "Добрый день. Расскажи, пожалуйста, о своём обычном дне. Мне интересно узнать, чем ты занимаешься и что тебе нравится делать в свободное время."
- "Здравствуй! Давай поговорим о книгах. Какой жанр литературы тебе ближе всего и почему? Я сам люблю фантастику, особенно киберпанк."
Avoid short replies like "Привет" or "Как дела" — they do not provide the model with enough context. If the bot responds in English, do not switch to English. Continue writing in Russian for another 2-3 replies, and the model will adapt.
Step 4: Use the Language Switching Command in the Chat
If the previous steps did not work, try the "hard instruction" method directly in the dialogue. Send a system message that will override the model's behavior in the current chat. Write:
Command to insert into the chat:
"[SYSTEM] From now on, respond only in Russian language. Do not use English in your replies. This is a mandatory instruction."
Or a softer version in Russian:
"Пожалуйста, переключись на русский язык и отвечай мне только по-русски. Это важно для меня, потому что я плохо понимаю английский."
After sending such a command, the model usually confirms the switch and starts responding in Russian. If there is no effect, check the API settings — perhaps a model that does not support Russian is selected (for example, older versions of GPT-3 or specialized English models).
Step 5: Create a New Chat and Check the Result
Prompt caching may persist within a single dialogue. To ensure that all changes are applied, return to the character page and click Start New Chat. The new dialogue will load the updated system prompt and API settings.
In the first message of the new chat, use a detailed Russian message from step 3. If the bot responds in Russian — the setup is complete. If not, return to step 1 and ensure that a model with Russian support is selected (gpt-3.5-turbo, gpt-4, Claude, Mistral).
Save the link to the working chat in your bookmarks. Janitor AI does not always correctly synchronize settings between devices, so when logging in from another browser, you may need to repeat steps 2-4. Export the character card (Export button) and save the JSON file — this way, you won't lose the configured prompt.
Common Mistakes When Switching Language
Error 1: Editing someone else's character without copying. If the character was created by another user, your changes to the system prompt will not be saved. Always make a Fork (copy) before editing. The button is located on the character page under the avatar.
Error 2: Using free models with poor Russian support. Kob