> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.memorylake.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Update Actor Memory Settings

> Set or clear the instruction that decides what an actor's memory records in a workspace

```
PATCH /openapi/memorylake/api/v3/workspaces/{workspaceId}/actors/{actorId}/settings
```

Partially updates an actor's memory settings in a workspace. Fields you leave out stay unchanged. The change applies to this workspace only.

A new `fact_instruction` replaces the current one whole; it is not appended to. It takes effect the next time facts are extracted about the actor. Facts already recorded stay as they are.

If the actor has been deleted, its settings can still be read but no longer changed: the request returns `404` with `ACTOR_INACTIVE`.

This endpoint takes a person's actor ID. For an agent, use [Update Agent Memory Settings](/features/memorylake/api-reference/memory-settings/update-agent-memory-settings).

### Path Parameters

<ParamField path="workspaceId" type="string" required>
  Workspace ID
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="actorId" type="string" required>
  Actor ID
</ParamField>

### Request Body

<ParamField body="fact_instruction" type="string">
  What this memory is about and what it is not, in Markdown, at most 2,000 characters. Send an empty string to clear it and put the built-in default back in effect. [Draft Actor Fact Instruction](/features/memorylake/api-reference/memory-settings/draft-actor-fact-instruction) can write one for you.
</ParamField>

<RequestExample>
  ```bash Set the instruction theme={null}
  curl -X PATCH 'https://app.memorylake.ai/openapi/memorylake/api/v3/workspaces/ws-8001856949ad4f6a5b6226f415ffa877/actors/actor-3f9c2a7e5b1d4c8e9a6f0b2d7e4c1a95/settings' \
    -H 'Authorization: Bearer sk_xxxxxx' \
    -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
    -d '{
      "fact_instruction": "The personal profile of one person.\n\n## Include\n- Role, team and the products they work on\n- How they prefer work to be done\n\n## Exclude\n- The record of any single project\n- Anything about the assistant"
    }'
  ```

  ```bash Clear the instruction theme={null}
  curl -X PATCH 'https://app.memorylake.ai/openapi/memorylake/api/v3/workspaces/ws-8001856949ad4f6a5b6226f415ffa877/actors/actor-3f9c2a7e5b1d4c8e9a6f0b2d7e4c1a95/settings' \
    -H 'Authorization: Bearer sk_xxxxxx' \
    -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
    -d '{
      "fact_instruction": ""
    }'
  ```
</RequestExample>

### Response

Returns the memory settings after the update.

<ResponseField name="data" type="object">
  <Expandable title="Memory settings object">
    <ResponseField name="fact_instruction" type="string">What this memory is about and what it is not, in Markdown. An empty string means none has been set and the built-in default is in effect.</ResponseField>
  </Expandable>
</ResponseField>

<ResponseExample>
  ```json Success (200) theme={null}
  {
    "success": true,
    "data": {
      "fact_instruction": "The personal profile of one person.\n\n## Include\n- Role, team and the products they work on\n- How they prefer work to be done\n\n## Exclude\n- The record of any single project\n- Anything about the assistant"
    }
  }
  ```

  ```json Actor deleted (404) theme={null}
  {
    "success": false,
    "message": "Actor 'actor-3f9c2a7e5b1d4c8e9a6f0b2d7e4c1a95' is inactive because it has been deleted. Its existing memories stay readable, but it can no longer take part in writes.",
    "error_code": "ACTOR_INACTIVE"
  }
  ```
</ResponseExample>


This documentation is built and hosted on [Mintlify](https://mintlify.com), a developer documentation platform.