--- url: https://pencel.ai/docs/reference/settings.md description: >- What each tab in Pencel's Settings does, from your account and plan to model choice, API keys, connections, spending limits, privacy and the activity log. --- # Settings Settings is where you manage your account, your plan, the AI models Pencel uses, the accounts it connects to, and what it keeps. Click **Settings** in the left sidebar, or press ⌘K (Ctrl+K on Windows and Linux) and type "Settings". The tabs, in order: ## Account Your sign-in and profile. * See the name and email you're signed in with, plus badges for **Signed in**, **Email verified** and your plan. Click **Sign out** to sign out. * **Verify your email** appears if you signed up with email and haven't verified yet. Enter the 6-digit code and click **Verify**, or click **Resend code**. * **How you appear** sets the name and picture on your own messages. * **Version & Updates** shows which version you have. Click **Check for Updates**, and when an update has downloaded, **Install & Restart**. See [Install Pencel](https://pencel.ai/docs/getting-started/installation.html). ## General Choices that apply across all of Pencel. * **Default Model**: the model Pencel uses when you haven't picked one in the message box or on an agent. Leave it on **System default** to let Pencel choose. See [Supported models](https://pencel.ai/docs/reference/supported-models.html). * **Pencel modes**: a short explanation of Pencel Auto and Pencel Private. * **Always-allowed built-in tools**: actions you approved with **Always Allow**. Click the **×** on one to make Pencel ask again. See [Approvals and permissions](https://pencel.ai/docs/privacy-and-security/approval-workflows.html). * **Getting started**: click **Restart getting started** to bring back the setup cards on Home and the short tour each page shows the first time you open it. Facts you already confirmed are kept. * **Radar**: an optional daily scan of your connected accounts for things like approaching deadlines and follow-ups you've missed. It only reads and never acts. It's off unless you turn it on. ## Credentials Every key Pencel uses, in one table: AI model keys (Anthropic, OpenAI, Google), keys for data sources such as the RFP and market data services, keys for tools such as web search, and your own named secrets. * Use the filters **All**, **AI models**, **Data sources**, **Tools** and **Custom**, or search. * Click a row to add or replace a key. **Save** stores it. **Save & test** also checks it with the provider. **Get a key** links to where you get one. * Each row's status is **Connected**, **Pencel-managed** (running on Pencel's shared key), **Not set** or **Failed**. * **Add credential** stores a named secret, such as a login a workflow needs for a website. Keys are stored encrypted on your computer and are never put into a prompt. When you're on Pencel credits, a banner says **Pencel-managed AI is active** and you don't need a model key. If you're eligible, the invite-code box is here too. See [Accounts, plans and credits](https://pencel.ai/docs/getting-started/accounts.html). ## Connections The outside accounts and services Pencel can use, such as Gmail, Outlook, Slack, QuickBooks Online and Notion. * **Recommended** lists popular connections. **Installed** lists yours and their status. **Custom Tools** holds tools you've added yourself. * Search, or click **Add Connection** to add one that isn't listed. * A connection that needs you to sign in again shows **Needs sign-in**. See [Connect your accounts](https://pencel.ai/docs/guides/setting-up-connections.html) and [Integrations](https://pencel.ai/docs/integrations/overview.html). ## Plan & Billing Your plan and credits. * **Current Plan** shows your plan. If you're not subscribed, choose **Solo** or **Pro**, monthly or yearly, and click **Upgrade to Solo** or **Upgrade to Pro**. * **Credit Balance** shows the credits you have left. **Top Up Credits** buys 40 more for $19. * **Manage Subscription** opens the billing portal to update payment details or cancel. * **Refresh** re-checks your plan if it looks out of date. See [Accounts, plans and credits](https://pencel.ai/docs/getting-started/accounts.html). ## Cost & Usage What Pencel has spent, and an overall limit. * **Monthly Budget**: set a spending limit for the whole app, in dollars. When it's reached, new AI work stops until next month or until you raise it. Click **Set limit**, **Edit limit**, or **Remove spending limit**. * Totals for **Today**, **This Week**, **This Month** and **All Time**, in credits. * A daily spending chart for the last 30 days. * Breakdowns **By Task**, **Recent Workflow Runs** and **Recent Chats**. Each room can also have its own monthly budget, set in its settings. See [Control what you spend](https://pencel.ai/docs/guides/managing-costs.html). ## Privacy **Share anonymous usage data during beta**: click **Opt in** to share anonymous usage statistics, such as which pages you visit and how often features are used, plus crash reports. Pencel never collects your conversations, documents, workspace data, keys or personal details. Sharing is required for the free starter credits and for redeeming an invite code. See [Data handling](https://pencel.ai/docs/privacy-and-security/data-handling.html). ## Activity Log A tamper-evident record of deletions, approvals, permission denials and access to your saved keys, for security reviews and compliance. * **Export…** saves the record for a period you choose (last 30 days, 90 days, year, or everything) as a folder with a plain-language summary and an integrity check. Message contents, documents and key values are never included. * **Run history** sets how long the detailed record of each run is kept: 30 days, 90 days (the default), 1 year, or **Keep forever**. After that, runs keep their outcome and cost. * The activity log itself is kept for 7 years and can't be shortened below 1 year. ## Memory What Pencel has learned from your conversations, in three views: **Journal** (what it noted, by date), **Profile** (what it has learned about you and your business, by topic) and **Facts** (the facts about your business you confirmed, which every teammate uses). You can set an item to **Smart** or **Off**, delete it, or add your own with **New Note**. See [Memory](https://pencel.ai/docs/concepts/memory.html). ## Plugins Package or install a whole setup. * **Export setup** saves this workspace's agents, workflows, knowledge, skills and tools as a single `.plugin` file. Keys and passwords are never included. * **Install plugin**: click **Choose plugin file…** to review exactly what a plugin adds, and what it needs to run, before you install it. Nothing connects or runs on its own. ## Related * [Accounts, plans and credits](https://pencel.ai/docs/getting-started/accounts.html) * [Supported models](https://pencel.ai/docs/reference/supported-models.html) * [Connect your accounts](https://pencel.ai/docs/guides/setting-up-connections.html) * [Data handling](https://pencel.ai/docs/privacy-and-security/data-handling.html)