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Whim uses a layered settings system so teams can define shared defaults while individual users retain the freedom to customize their own experience. This page explains how the layers work and where to find each category in the UI.

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Settings Hierarchy

Every setting in Whim resolves through a four-level hierarchy. Values set at a lower (more specific) level override values from higher levels: 
Platform defaults          ← built-in Whim defaults
  └─ Team defaults         ← set by team admins
      └─ Workspace defaults ← set by workspace admins
          └─ User defaults   ← set by individual users
LevelWho can editScope
PlatformWhim (built-in)All workspaces, all users
TeamTeam owner / adminAll workspaces in the team
Workspace defaultsTeam adminAll members of the workspace
User defaultsAny memberOnly that user, across workspaces
When you configure a setting at the workspace defaults level, every member of the workspace inherits that value unless they have set their own user default. When neither is set, the platform default applies.

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How Inheritance Works

The settings editor uses three tabs to manage settings at different scopes:
TabWhat it controls
CurrentThe effective (resolved) value for the active workspace. Shows where the value comes from and lets you create per-workspace overrides.
User DefaultsYour personal defaults applied across all workspaces.
Workspace DefaultsShared defaults for every member of the workspace (admin only).

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Source Badges

Each setting displays a badge indicating where its current value originates:
  • Using workspace default — the value is inherited from the workspace defaults tab.
  • Using user default — the value is inherited from your personal user defaults.
  • Using custom — you have explicitly overridden the inherited value for this workspace.
  • Not configured — no value has been set at any level; the platform default applies.
You can click Override next to any inherited setting to create a workspace-specific value, or click Clear Override to revert back to the inherited default.

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Merge vs. Replace

Some settings are simply replaced by overrides (for example, model selection or permission mode). Others support merge semantics, where values from multiple levels are combined:
Merge behaviorSettings
Merged (values from workspace + user are combined)Environment variables, MCP servers, Plugins, Skills
Concatenated (scripts from multiple levels run in sequence)Instructions (CLAUDE.md), Init script, Shell config (.bashrc)
Replaced (lower level wins)Model, Permission mode, Reasoning effort, Auto-sleep, AI provider
For merged settings, you can control the source order — whether workspace defaults or user defaults take priority, and whether values are appended or prepended.

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Opening Settings

Open the settings modal by clicking the gear icon in the bottom-left of the sidebar, or from the workspace header menu. The settings modal has a sidebar with four sections:

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Account

Personal settings that follow you across all workspaces.
  • Profile — name, email, avatar
  • API Keys — manage your Whim API keys
  • Notifications — browser notification preferences

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Configuration

Workspace-level coding environment configuration.
  • Providers — AI provider and model selection, permission mode, fast mode
  • Configurations — environment variables, MCP servers, skills, plugins, scripts, auto-sleep
  • Images — custom container images for the workspace
  • Whim MCP — external MCP access tokens for programmatic workspace control

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Workspace

General workspace administration.
  • General — workspace name, linked repository, danger zone
  • Members — manage workspace members and roles

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Team

Team-wide administration.
  • General — team name, avatar, danger zone
  • Members — manage team members, invite new members
  • Plans — subscription plan management
  • Usage — compute unit usage and billing

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Next Steps

Workspace Configuration

Configure MCP servers, environment variables, skills, scripts, and more.

User Preferences

Customize your profile, theme, notifications, and AI defaults.

Keyboard Shortcuts

Speed up your workflow with keyboard shortcuts.