---
title: Use a persona in a thread
type: how-to
section: ai-studio
summary: Select the persona control at the top of a thread and choose a persona. Its text is added to the model's instructions on every message you send.
applies_to:
  clients: [web]
sources:
  - evolve-front-end/app/[lng]/studio/components/PersonasDropdown.tsx
  - evolve-front-end/app/[lng]/studio/components/PersonaIndicator.tsx
  - evolve-front-end/app/[lng]/studio/components/Personas/PersonaSystemPromptInspector.tsx
  - evolve-front-end/app/[lng]/studio/store/usePersonaStore.ts
  - evolve-front-end/app/[lng]/studio/utils/personaUtils.ts
  - evolve-front-end/app/i18n/locales/en/powerflow.json
verified:
  at: 2026-09-04
  env: code
  by: content-lane-ai-studio
ttl_days: 45
related: [ai-studio/create-a-persona, ai-studio/cost-and-usage, ai-studio/start-a-conversation]
---

Select the persona control at the top of the thread, next to the model name, and choose a persona. Every message you send from then on carries the persona's text as part of the model's instructions.

The control reads **Persona** when none is chosen, and shows the persona's name once one is.

## Choose a persona

1. Select **Persona** at the top of the thread. On a narrow screen, open the thread's **More options** menu and choose **Personas**.
2. Type in **Search personas** to narrow the list.
3. Select a persona.

Only your private personas appear here. If the list is empty it reads **No personas found**.

## Clear the persona

Open the same control and select the remove button on the persona that is currently chosen. The thread goes back to plain replies.

## A persona stays chosen

Your choice is remembered in this browser and applied to new threads until you clear it. Check the control at the top of a thread before you send if you want plain replies.

## See exactly what the model is told

Select the document button next to the chosen persona. A window headed with the persona's name shows the text the model receives, under a note: **Sent once per turn, after the platform system prompt. The platform prompt is not shown.** Below the title is its size in characters and approximate tokens.

A persona changes the model's instructions only. It does not change which model runs, which tools are available, or what your attachments do.

## If it did not work

- Replies read the same as before: check that the control shows a persona name and not **Persona**.
- The persona you made for a workgroup is not listed: the thread picker lists private personas only.
- **The system prompt could not be loaded.**: close the window and open it again.
- Costs went up after choosing a persona: the persona text is sent with every message. See [What your requests cost](/help/ai-studio/cost-and-usage).