This guide is for people opening DreamChat for the first time. Start with chat, then shape your characters, chat phrases, voice messages, scheduled messages, and stickers as you go.
1. First Launch
DreamChat creates one default character and one default chat.
The bottom tab bar has three main tabs: Characters, Chat, and Settings.
To begin right away, open the Chat tab, enter the chat, type in the bottom input field, and tap the paper plane button.
Automatic character replies are chosen from Chat Phrases. If you are not sure how to set them up yet, open Characters → Character Settings → Chat Phrases → Export / Import → Apply Default Template to import the template library. For short answers first, you can also start with Yes/No Mode.
2. Using the Chat Tab
The Chat tab lists recent chats. Inside a chat, you can:
Type and send messages from the bottom input bar.
Tap the emoji button to open stickers and emoji.
Tap the search button to search messages in the current chat or jump by date.
Long-press a message to reply, copy, capture a screenshot, or delete it. Screenshot preview can switch between Original and Anonymous.
Use the top menu to switch between Chat Mode and Yes/No Mode, or use Choose for Me. See the Chat Modes article for the differences.
Use the top menu to open character settings, group settings, current context, or pause scheduled messages for this chat.
In one-on-one chats, you can start a Video Call or ask the character to call later. Weather keywords can also trigger current-weather replies.
For a tour of the chatroom toolbar, search, long-press menu, screenshots, and input bar, see the Chatroom Screen Guide.
3. Creating and Managing Characters
Open the Characters tab and tap the plus button to add or import a character. Open a character to adjust:
Character name, chat background, read receipts, and whether your own avatar is shown.
Reply timing, including minimum and maximum delay.
Chat Phrases, Voice Messages, sticker usage, scheduled messages, Weather Reminder, and Video Call.
The share button in the top-right corner exports a character share file.
To create a new chat, open the Chat tab, tap the plus button, and choose Direct or Group. Group chats need at least two available characters and must be supported by your current plan.
4. Setting Up Chat Phrases for Replies
Path: Characters → Character Settings → Chat Phrases
General is the default phrase set. You can also create custom phrase sets.
Open a phrase set, tap Add Chat Phrases, and enter one chat phrase per line.
If you need a starting point, open the tray icon menu labeled Export / Import in the top-right corner of the Chat Phrases screen, then choose Apply Default Template. Choose a template language (繁體中文, 简体中文, 日本語, or English), then choose Append or Replace. Each language template currently contains 260 chat phrases.
Append keeps your current library and adds non-duplicate content. Replace updates matching phrase sets by name, while local sets without a match are kept.
If you have a supported phrase backup file, first use the Phrase Library Format Converter to create a DreamChat phrase library JSON, then return to Chat Phrases and choose Import Phrase Library. The converter currently supports the backup format exported from the milk phrase site.
In phrase set settings, add Usage Context and Trigger Keywords to help DreamChat pick the right set for incoming messages.
Lower Randomness for steadier replies; raise it for more variation.
Smart Assist is set in the Chat Phrases section of Character Settings, with Off, Natural, Precise, and Varied modes. It chooses a phrase set using the incoming message, set name, usage context, trigger keywords, and chat phrase text. When Apple language processing is available, on-device judgment can help, but it does not generate new conversation text. For better trigger keywords, see the Smart Assist setup tips.
5. Setting Up Character Voice Messages
Path: Characters → Character Settings → Voice Messages
Each voice message needs a short audio file, display text, and the phrase sets it should use. When enabled, it joins the reply pool with text phrases from the same phrase sets.
When a voice message is selected in chat, DreamChat sends a playable voice bubble. Lists, search, notifications, and text exports use the display text.
Voice capacity is calculated from your current plan and purchased Voice Expansion Packs. Voice messages beyond capacity are archived and do not enter the reply pool.
For full setup, plan limits, voice packages, and backup differences, see the Voice Messages Guide.
6. Using Context Tags for the Current Chat Context
Path: Settings → Context → Context Tags
Create reusable context tags such as "bedtime", "travel", or "comfort".
In a custom phrase set's settings, select the context tags that fit that set.
While chatting, open Current Context from the top menu and choose the tags for this conversation.
Include Context prioritizes custom phrase sets that match the selected tags. Exclude Context avoids phrase sets that match the selected tags.
Switching Include / Exclude keeps the tags selected in the other mode, so you do not need to set them again.
Context tags are for switching what the chat is currently about. They do not write reply text. For setup details and behavior notes, see the Context Tags guide.
7. Setting Up Scheduled Messages
Path: Characters → Character Settings → Scheduled messages
Tap the plus button to add a scheduled message.
In Basic, set the name, target chat, and enabled state.
In Days, choose which days can send. The default is every day, and at least one day remains selected.
In Time, add one or more times and optionally set Time variation.
In Source, choose manual message content or random from Chat Phrase Library.
If entering message content manually, put one possible message per line.
Scheduled messages need notification permission. You can enable Character Message Alerts in Settings → Notifications, and review the status in Settings → Notifications → System Permissions.
8. Weather Reminder
Path: Characters → Character Settings → Weather Reminder
Set a daily weather reminder for a character, including the target one-on-one chat, reminder time, time variation, and region.
Manual region selection does not require location permission. Current location is requested only after you explicitly choose to use it.
When Ask in Chat is enabled, keywords can trigger current-weather replies, with an option to send only the weather reply.
Path: Characters → Character Settings → Video Call
In one-on-one chats, you can call a character or ask them to call later.
Each character can control incoming calls, frequency, and call background. Notification settings control ringtone and global quiet hours.
This is a local simulated call. It does not use the real camera, microphone, or system phone UI. Outside the app, it only shows local notifications.
For incoming-call logic, redials, and outside-app notification limits, see the Video Call Guide.
10. Stickers and Emoji
Path: Settings → Stickers & Emoji
In Sticker Management, create a sticker set, then add images from Photos or Files.
In Emoji Management, organize the emoji sets you want to use.
Return to Character Settings, open Stickers, choose which sticker sets the character can use, and adjust Frequency.
In chat, tap the emoji button on the left side of the input bar to send stickers or insert emoji.
11. System Permissions
Path: Settings → Notifications → System Permissions
Review notifications, photo selection, screenshot saving, and Music library access.
DreamChat asks only when you tap Allow or use a related feature.
If access was denied, DreamChat shows Open Settings instead of repeatedly asking again.
12. Settings, Membership, and Backup
Settings → Me lets you change your display name.
Settings → Membership shows your current plan, Restore Purchases, and plan limit comparison. Eligible users also see the one-month Dream Walker yearly trial prompt.
Settings → Appearance & Language changes the theme color and app language.
Settings → Data can export a full backup, character settings text, or chat history text, and can import a full backup.
Importing a full backup overwrites the current app data. Keep any files you need before continuing.