How do you talk OOC in Character AI?

Wrap your message in an OOC marker — (OOC: your note) or ((your note)) — and address the AI as the author, not the character: (OOC: slow the pacing down, and don't speak for my character). Most bots follow it; some heavily-scripted ones need a reminder like (OOC: respond OOC only).

What are OOC commands in Janitor AI?

Same syntax — (OOC: …) or [OOC: …] — used to give the bot direction: change tone, re-describe a scene, correct a memory, skip time. Janitor bots generally respect OOC well because many character cards explicitly instruct the model to treat it as author notes.

Why does the bot ignore my OOC messages?

Three common reasons: the marker is buried mid-paragraph (put it in its own message), the character card overrides it (heavily-scripted bots stay in character no matter what), or the context window has pushed your instruction out — repeat it every so often.

Is there an AI roleplay app where you don't need OOC hacks?

ISEKAI ZERO builds the controls into the game — story direction and memory are handled by the app, and characters remember past chapters natively. Free to play with a free model, daily free Mana, and ad-watch top-ups.

Home › Blog › OOC Commands in Character AI & Janitor AI

OOC Commands in Character AI & Janitor AI: How to Talk Out of Character (Copy-Paste Examples)

By the ISEKAI ZERO team · Updated 2026-08-08

Stories you can play right now

A Second Chance at Level One (Function Edition)Reborn in a fantasy world after death, start at Level 1 and forge your own path—hero, merchant, or anything between.

Your Party Won Without YouBuried by your own party, you awaken beneath their victory—and decide what their stolen future becomes.

Zenith AcademyElite mecha pilot academy where corporate privilege clashes with merit. You're an outsider. Survive, excel, and forge your legacy.

Where is Our Hero???A Betrayed hero builds a new life, unaware that his epic betrayal was a comedy of errors, and his empire's desperate, bumbling search is about to crash into his peaceful exile.

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Soulwarden AcademyIn a world where treasured objects become weapons, a Demon Lord appeared.

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Explore the Multiverse!A tear in reality appears in front of you that allows you to go anywhere you so choose.

OOC — "out of character" — is the hidden control channel of AI roleplay: a way to direct the AI as the author without your character saying a word. Here's the syntax that actually works on Character AI and Janitor AI, with copy-paste examples.

The syntax

All three markers work on both platforms; the key is making it unmistakable:

(OOC: your note here) — clearest, recommended
((your note here)) — classic RP style
[OOC: your note here] — common on Janitor

Two rules: send OOC as its own message (buried mid-paragraph it gets read as dialogue), and close the loop — end with (OOC over, continue the scene) so the bot returns to the story.

Copy-paste commands that work

Pacing:

(OOC: slow down — don't skip ahead, play this scene out in detail)
(OOC: timeskip to the next morning)

Stop the bot speaking for you:

(OOC: never write my character's dialogue or actions — only your own)

Memory repair:

(OOC: reminder — my character is named Ren, we met at the academy, you owe him a favor)

Tone and direction:

(OOC: make this scene more tense; the character should be suspicious of me)
(OOC: rewrite that last reply — keep the same events but less melodramatic)

Asking the AI directly:

(OOC: what does the room look like? answer OOC, then continue)

Why bots ignore OOC (and the fixes)

The card overrides you. Heavily-scripted characters are instructed to never break character. Fix: (OOC: pause the roleplay entirely. Respond only OOC.) — repeated once, firmly.
Context slid out. Long chats push old instructions out of the model's memory — your "never speak for me" from 200 messages ago is gone. Re-send key OOC rules occasionally.
Filter interference. On Character AI, OOC can't unlock anything the platform blocks — the model applies moderation to everything, OOC or not. (Same reason no mod APK can remove the filter.)

The honest part: OOC hacks are duct tape

Every command above exists because the platform gives you no real controls — no memory you can rely on, no pacing settings, no authorial layer. You're patching the game through the chat box.

ISEKAI ZERO is what it looks like when the controls are part of the game: it's an AI story game where characters natively remember what happened chapters ago, scenes carry art and music, and story direction is a game mechanic rather than a parenthetical plea. Free to play — a free model, free Mana daily, watch ads for more — on iOS, Google Play, or straight in your browser. The stories above are live; pick one and you'll never type "(OOC: please remember my name)" again.

FAQ

Do OOC commands work in group chats? Yes, but every bot in the room reads them — expect mixed compliance.

Can OOC get around the Character AI filter? No — moderation is server-side and applies to all text. Anyone claiming an OOC jailbreak is selling you a broken prompt.

What's the difference between OOC and A/N? A/N (author's note) is fanfic furniture; in chat, OOC is the working equivalent.

Where did OOC come from? Decades of roleplay culture — full explainer here.

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The ISEKAI ZERO teamWe build the AI roleplay & story game — storylines with memory, visuals, music, and a 25% creator profit share. These guides are how we explain the category honestly, including where competitors beat us.