> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://aether.baimoqilin.com/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Frequently Asked Questions About Aether

> Answers to common questions about Aether's compatibility, privacy, LLM providers, Alpine Linux runtime, and the extension system.

Find answers to the most common questions about setting up and using Aether. If your question isn't covered here, check the [Troubleshooting](/help/troubleshooting) page or open an issue on GitHub.

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="What Android version does Aether require?">
    Aether requires **Android 8.0 Oreo (API 26) or higher** and runs on **arm64-v8a** (64-bit ARM) devices only. It will not install on x86 tablets, emulators, or 32-bit ARM devices.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Does Aether cost anything?">
    Aether itself is **free and open-source** under the GPL-3.0 license. You only pay for the LLM API usage charged directly by your chosen provider (OpenAI, Anthropic, etc.). Aether does not add any fees or markups.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Are my API keys safe?">
    Yes. API keys are stored in **Aether's private app storage** on your device and sent only to the respective provider's API endpoint when you make a request. Aether has no servers of its own and never receives or logs your keys.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can I use Aether offline?">
    The AI chat features require an internet connection to reach LLM provider APIs — the models themselves run in the cloud. However, the **Alpine Linux runtime and shell tools** work fully offline once the environment has been initialized, so you can run local scripts and commands without a connection.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="What is the Alpine Linux VM?">
    Aether ships with an **Alpine Linux arm64 root filesystem** that runs via `proot` — a user-space tool that emulates a Linux environment without requiring root access. This gives the AI agent a real Linux shell where it can execute commands, install packages with `apk`, and use standard UNIX tools to complete tasks.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Does Aether require root?">
    No. Root access is **never required**. For privileged device operations, Aether optionally integrates with **Shizuku**, which uses Android's ADB (Wireless Debugging) interface to grant elevated permissions without rooting your device. Shizuku itself is entirely optional.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can I use Aether without Termux or Shizuku?">
    Yes. Both Termux and Shizuku are **optional integrations**. The built-in Alpine Linux runtime handles the vast majority of shell-tool use cases — file manipulation, scripting, package installs — without any additional apps. Install Termux or Shizuku only if you need deeper device automation capabilities.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="What is an Extension / Mod?">
    Extensions are packages that add new tools, UI surfaces, or application behaviors to Aether. They can be **TypeScript scripts** (interpreted at runtime by the Pi framework) or **compiled Kotlin/DEX native mods** (injected directly into the app as a Compose or WebView UI layer). A single extension package can extend the Pi agent and inject native UI into Aether at the same time. See the Extension Developer documentation for details on building your own.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Where is my chat history stored?">
    Chat history is stored in a **local database** inside Aether's private app storage on your device. It is never synced to any server, cloud service, or Aether infrastructure. Your conversations stay on your device.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="How do I update Aether?">
    Download the latest APK from the [GitHub Releases page](https://github.com/Zhou-Shilin/Aether/releases) (or grab a nightly build from Nightly Link) and install it over your existing version. Android will perform an in-place upgrade that preserves all your data, settings, and chat history.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>