> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://mintlify.manicule.dev/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
> For every page in one file, fetch https://mintlify.manicule.dev/llms-full.txt (large).
> To search and read these docs as tools, connect the MCP server at https://mintlify.manicule.dev/api/mcp.
> Every agent surface: https://mintlify.manicule.dev/.well-known/llms-manifest.json

# Customize assistant behavior (/assistant/customize)

<!-- agent-signals: reading_time_min: 2 · est_tokens: 570 · updated: 2026-07-31 -->
Related: [Configure the assistant](/assistant/configure.md), [Mintlify widget](/assistant/widget.md), [Add assistant skills](/assistant/skills.md), [Use the assistant](/assistant/use.md)

> Customize the AI assistant by adding an Assistant.md file with system instructions that shape its tone, persona, focus areas, and response behavior.

Add a `.mintlify/Assistant.md` file at the root of your documentation project to give the assistant custom instructions that shape how it responds (`ASSISTANT.md` is also an accepted filename). The assistant uses these instructions as system-level context for every response.

<Warning>
  Place your `Assistant.md` file inside the `.mintlify/` directory, not at the root of your project. If you store the file at the root of your project, your custom instructions are publicly accessible by the `/assistant.md` path. When placed inside `.mintlify/`, your `Assistant.md` file is not served publicly.

  If you must store your `Assistant.md` file at the root of your project or any other directory, add it to your [`.mintignore`](/organize/mintignore) file to exclude it from your documentation site.
</Warning>

Instructions in an `Assistant.md` file add to the assistant's system prompt. They do not replace or override the assistant's default instructions.

To remove the custom instructions, remove the `Assistant.md` file.

Use `Assistant.md` to:

* Adjust the assistant's persona and tone
* Provide product-specific context
* Define support escalation paths
* Specify terminology preferences
* Restrict or scope the assistant's focus areas
* Provide version-specific guidance

<Tip>Use assistant [skills](/assistant/skills) for topic-specific guidance that the assistant loads only when a user asks a relevant question.</Tip>

## Example `Assistant.md` file

```markdown title=".mintlify/Assistant.md"
You are a helpful assistant for Acme Corp's developer platform.

## Tone
- Be concise and direct. Getting to the point helps people more than being exhaustive.
- Use technical language appropriate for software developers. Most people asking you questions are familiar with Acme's products.

## Product context
- Acme SDK v3 is the current stable release. v2 is deprecated. If people ask about v2, remind them it's deprecated but answer their questions.
- Direct billing questions to support@acme.com.

## Terminology
- Use "workspace" instead of "project" or "organization".
- Use "access token" instead of "API key".
```