> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.tonic.ai/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.tonic.ai/textual/textual-install-administer/configuring-textual/enable-and-configure-textual-features/enabling-the-textual-agent.md).

# Enabling the Textual Agent

The Textual Agent requires a connection to an LLM.

If you do not set these variables, then Textual uses the [default provider and model](/textual/textual-install-administer/configuring-textual/enable-and-configure-textual-features/configuring-the-default-llm-provider-and-model.md).

To select a specific provider and model for the Textual Agent, set the following environment variables:

* `CHAT_LLM_PROVIDER` - The LLM provider to use for the Textual Agent.  For information about setting up connections to LLM providers, go to [Configuring connections to LLM providers](/textual/textual-install-administer/configuring-textual/enable-and-configure-textual-features/configuring-connections-to-llm-providers.md).
* `CHAT_MODEL_NAME` - The name of the model to use for the Textual Agent.


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