---
title: "Update an intern"
method: PATCH
path: "/interns/{internId}"
tags: ["Interns"]
---

# Update an intern

`PATCH /interns/{internId}`

Changes the intern name, description, instructions or model. Omitted fields stay unchanged. The request body is capped at 1048576 bytes and a larger body is refused with 413. The API key selects the caller, workspace and visible interns. There is no default workspace fallback. Requests on regional hostnames such as `eu.openrouter.ai` are refused. [API key](/docs/api-reference/authentication) required.

## Path parameters

- `internId` string, required — ID of an intern visible to the authenticated API key.

## Request body

- UpdateInternRequest — Lifecycle settings to change. Omitted fields stay unchanged and null clears a field.
  - `description` string, nullable — New free-form description. Null clears it.
  - `instructions` string, nullable — New standing instructions. Null clears them.
  - `model` string, nullable — New OpenRouter model slug. Null restores the workspace default.
  - `name` string — New intern name, unique per creator within the workspace.

## Response `200`

Updated intern.

- Intern — Public lifecycle state and settings for one intern.
  - `attached_vault_id` string, nullable, required — Vault the intern borrows from another intern, or null when it borrows none.
  - `createdAt` string, required — ISO 8601 creation time.
  - `description` string, nullable, required — Free-form description.
  - `hostname` string, nullable, required — Public hostname the intern is reachable at, or null until provisioning has assigned one.
  - `id` string, required — Intern id.
  - `instructions` string, nullable, required — Standing instructions the intern boots with.
  - `lastFailureMessage` string, nullable, required — Why the last provisioning attempt failed, when status is failed.
  - `model` string, nullable, required — OpenRouter model slug the intern runs, or null for the workspace default.
  - `name` string, required — Intern name, unique per creator within a workspace.
  - `progress` object, nullable, required — Active provisioning step, or null once provisioning has settled.
    - `stepLabel` string, required — Human-readable label of the active provisioning step.
    - `stepNumber` integer, required — One-based index of the active step.
    - `totalSteps` integer, required — Number of provisioning steps.
  - `status` 'awaiting_slack_install' | 'queued' | 'provisioning' | 'running' | 'failed' | 'stopped' | 'destroying' | 'destroy_failed', required — Lifecycle status.
  - `updatedAt` string, required — ISO 8601 last update time.
  - `vault_id` string, nullable, required — Vault the intern owns, or null before it has been created.
  - `workspaceId` string, required — Workspace that owns the intern and scopes its secrets.

## Other responses

- `400` — The request body is invalid.
- `401` — Missing, unknown or provisioning API key.
- `403` — The key owner no longer has access, or the request used a regional hostname.
- `404` — The caller is outside the Intern API programme, the intern is hidden, or lifecycle writes are disabled.
- `408` — The request exceeded its route deadline.
- `413` — The request body is larger than 1048576 bytes.
- `500` — The request could not be completed.

## Changes

- **2026-09-17** `c3b9702bd9d7` — 1 info
  - endpoint added

[Change history](https://skmtc.dev/openrouterteam/apis/openrouter-api/changes/interns/:internId/patch.md)

---

[API](https://skmtc.dev/openrouterteam/apis/openrouter-api.md) · [All operations](https://skmtc.dev/openrouterteam/apis/openrouter-api/llms.txt) · [OpenAPI document](https://skmtc.dev/openrouterteam/apis/openrouter-api/revisions/c3b9702bd9d7?raw)