Custom Modes
Custom Modes let you create tailored versions of Kilo’s built-in modes for your organization. You can also adjust the settings for Kilo Code's original default modes. You can define a mode’s purpose, behavior, and tool access — helping Kilo adapt to your team’s unique workflows.
For example, Admins and Owners can extend these by creating Custom Modes with specialized roles or personalities (e.g. “Documentation Writer” or “Security Reviewer”).
Creating a Custom Mode
- Go to Enterprise/Team Dashboard → Custom Modes.
- Click Create New Mode.
- Optionally select a template (e.g. User Story Creator, Project Research, DevOps).
- Fill in the following fields:
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Mode Name | Display name for the new mode (e.g. Security Reviewer). |
| Mode Slug | A short identifier used internally (e.g. security-reviewer). |
| Role Definition | Describe Kilo’s role and personality for this mode. Shapes how it reasons and responds. |
| Short Description | A brief summary shown in the mode selector. |
| When to Use (optional) | Guidance for when this mode should be used. Helps the Orchestrator choose the right mode for a task. |
| Custom Instructions (optional) | Add behavioral guidelines specific to this mode. |
| Available Tools | Select which tools this mode can access (Read, Edit, Browser, Commands, MCP). |
- Click Create Mode to save.
Your new mode appears under Custom Modes in the Modes dashboard.
Managing Custom Modes
- Edit: Click the edit icon to update any field or tool permissions.
- Delete: Click the 🗑️ icon to permanently remove the mode.