diff --git a/api/models/Assistant.js b/api/models/Assistant.js
index bf9382d0ee..ae4c8a7688 100644
--- a/api/models/Assistant.js
+++ b/api/models/Assistant.js
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ const Assistant = mongoose.model('assistant', assistantSchema);
  * @param {mongoose.ClientSession} [session] - The transaction session to use (optional).
  * @returns {Promise<Object>} The updated or newly created assistant document as a plain object.
  */
-const updateAssistant = async (searchParams, updateData, session = null) => {
+const updateAssistantDoc = async (searchParams, updateData, session = null) => {
   const options = { new: true, upsert: true, session };
   return await Assistant.findOneAndUpdate(searchParams, updateData, options).lean();
 };
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ const deleteAssistant = async (searchParams) => {
 };
 
 module.exports = {
-  updateAssistant,
+  updateAssistantDoc,
   deleteAssistant,
   getAssistants,
   getAssistant,
diff --git a/api/server/controllers/assistants/chatV1.js b/api/server/controllers/assistants/chatV1.js
index 34f9e9203c..624f013af2 100644
--- a/api/server/controllers/assistants/chatV1.js
+++ b/api/server/controllers/assistants/chatV1.js
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ const {
 } = require('~/server/services/Threads');
 const { sendResponse, sendMessage, sleep, isEnabled, countTokens } = require('~/server/utils');
 const { runAssistant, createOnTextProgress } = require('~/server/services/AssistantService');
+const validateAuthor = require('~/server/middleware/assistants/validateAuthor');
 const { formatMessage, createVisionPrompt } = require('~/app/clients/prompts');
 const { createRun, StreamRunManager } = require('~/server/services/Runs');
 const { addTitle } = require('~/server/services/Endpoints/assistants');
@@ -31,15 +32,14 @@ const { getModelMaxTokens } = require('~/utils');
 const { getOpenAIClient } = require('./helpers');
 const { logger } = require('~/config');
 
-const { handleAbortError } = require('~/server/middleware');
-
 const ten_minutes = 1000 * 60 * 10;
 
 /**
  * @route POST /
  * @desc Chat with an assistant
  * @access Public
- * @param {Express.Request} req - The request object, containing the request data.
+ * @param {object} req - The request object, containing the request data.
+ * @param {object} req.body - The request payload.
  * @param {Express.Response} res - The response object, used to send back a response.
  * @returns {void}
  */
@@ -60,30 +60,6 @@ const chatV1 = async (req, res) => {
     parentMessageId: _parentId = Constants.NO_PARENT,
   } = req.body;
 
-  /** @type {Partial<TAssistantEndpoint>} */
-  const assistantsConfig = req.app.locals?.[endpoint];
-
-  if (assistantsConfig) {
-    const { supportedIds, excludedIds } = assistantsConfig;
-    const error = { message: 'Assistant not supported' };
-    if (supportedIds?.length && !supportedIds.includes(assistant_id)) {
-      return await handleAbortError(res, req, error, {
-        sender: 'System',
-        conversationId: convoId,
-        messageId: v4(),
-        parentMessageId: _messageId,
-        error,
-      });
-    } else if (excludedIds?.length && excludedIds.includes(assistant_id)) {
-      return await handleAbortError(res, req, error, {
-        sender: 'System',
-        conversationId: convoId,
-        messageId: v4(),
-        parentMessageId: _messageId,
-      });
-    }
-  }
-
   /** @type {OpenAIClient} */
   let openai;
   /** @type {string|undefined} - the current thread id */
@@ -311,6 +287,7 @@ const chatV1 = async (req, res) => {
     });
 
     openai = _openai;
+    await validateAuthor({ req, openai });
 
     if (previousMessages.length) {
       parentMessageId = previousMessages[previousMessages.length - 1].messageId;
diff --git a/api/server/controllers/assistants/chatV2.js b/api/server/controllers/assistants/chatV2.js
index fef22e6493..664037d762 100644
--- a/api/server/controllers/assistants/chatV2.js
+++ b/api/server/controllers/assistants/chatV2.js
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ const {
 } = require('~/server/services/Threads');
 const { sendResponse, sendMessage, sleep, isEnabled, countTokens } = require('~/server/utils');
 const { runAssistant, createOnTextProgress } = require('~/server/services/AssistantService');
+const validateAuthor = require('~/server/middleware/assistants/validateAuthor');
 const { createRun, StreamRunManager } = require('~/server/services/Runs');
 const { addTitle } = require('~/server/services/Endpoints/assistants');
 const { getTransactions } = require('~/models/Transaction');
@@ -30,8 +31,6 @@ const { getModelMaxTokens } = require('~/utils');
 const { getOpenAIClient } = require('./helpers');
 const { logger } = require('~/config');
 
-const { handleAbortError } = require('~/server/middleware');
-
 const ten_minutes = 1000 * 60 * 10;
 
 /**
@@ -60,30 +59,6 @@ const chatV2 = async (req, res) => {
     parentMessageId: _parentId = Constants.NO_PARENT,
   } = req.body;
 
-  /** @type {Partial<TAssistantEndpoint>} */
-  const assistantsConfig = req.app.locals?.[endpoint];
-
-  if (assistantsConfig) {
-    const { supportedIds, excludedIds } = assistantsConfig;
-    const error = { message: 'Assistant not supported' };
-    if (supportedIds?.length && !supportedIds.includes(assistant_id)) {
-      return await handleAbortError(res, req, error, {
-        sender: 'System',
-        conversationId: convoId,
-        messageId: v4(),
-        parentMessageId: _messageId,
-        error,
-      });
-    } else if (excludedIds?.length && excludedIds.includes(assistant_id)) {
-      return await handleAbortError(res, req, error, {
-        sender: 'System',
-        conversationId: convoId,
-        messageId: v4(),
-        parentMessageId: _messageId,
-      });
-    }
-  }
-
   /** @type {OpenAIClient} */
   let openai;
   /** @type {string|undefined} - the current thread id */
@@ -309,6 +284,7 @@ const chatV2 = async (req, res) => {
     });
 
     openai = _openai;
+    await validateAuthor({ req, openai });
 
     if (previousMessages.length) {
       parentMessageId = previousMessages[previousMessages.length - 1].messageId;
diff --git a/api/server/controllers/assistants/helpers.js b/api/server/controllers/assistants/helpers.js
index f8c9efde47..e91a3dc528 100644
--- a/api/server/controllers/assistants/helpers.js
+++ b/api/server/controllers/assistants/helpers.js
@@ -1,4 +1,9 @@
-const { EModelEndpoint, CacheKeys, defaultAssistantsVersion } = require('librechat-data-provider');
+const {
+  EModelEndpoint,
+  CacheKeys,
+  defaultAssistantsVersion,
+  defaultOrderQuery,
+} = require('librechat-data-provider');
 const {
   initializeClient: initAzureClient,
 } = require('~/server/services/Endpoints/azureAssistants');
@@ -35,6 +40,7 @@ const getCurrentVersion = async (req, endpoint) => {
  * Initializes the client with the current request and response objects and lists assistants
  * according to the query parameters. This function abstracts the logic for non-Azure paths.
  *
+ * @deprecated
  * @async
  * @param {object} params - The parameters object.
  * @param {object} params.req - The request object, used for initializing the client.
@@ -43,11 +49,65 @@ const getCurrentVersion = async (req, endpoint) => {
  * @param {object} params.query - The query parameters to list assistants (e.g., limit, order).
  * @returns {Promise<object>} A promise that resolves to the response from the `openai.beta.assistants.list` method call.
  */
-const listAssistants = async ({ req, res, version, query }) => {
+const _listAssistants = async ({ req, res, version, query }) => {
   const { openai } = await getOpenAIClient({ req, res, version });
   return openai.beta.assistants.list(query);
 };
 
+/**
+ * Fetches all assistants based on provided query params, until `has_more` is `false`.
+ *
+ * @async
+ * @param {object} params - The parameters object.
+ * @param {object} params.req - The request object, used for initializing the client.
+ * @param {object} params.res - The response object, used for initializing the client.
+ * @param {string} params.version - The API version to use.
+ * @param {Omit<AssistantListParams, 'endpoint'>} params.query - The query parameters to list assistants (e.g., limit, order).
+ * @returns {Promise<object>} A promise that resolves to the response from the `openai.beta.assistants.list` method call.
+ */
+const listAllAssistants = async ({ req, res, version, query }) => {
+  /** @type {{ openai: OpenAIClient }} */
+  const { openai } = await getOpenAIClient({ req, res, version });
+  const allAssistants = [];
+
+  let first_id;
+  let last_id;
+  let afterToken = query.after;
+  let hasMore = true;
+
+  while (hasMore) {
+    const response = await openai.beta.assistants.list({
+      ...query,
+      after: afterToken,
+    });
+
+    const { body } = response;
+
+    allAssistants.push(...body.data);
+    hasMore = body.has_more;
+
+    if (!first_id) {
+      first_id = body.first_id;
+    }
+
+    if (hasMore) {
+      afterToken = body.last_id;
+    } else {
+      last_id = body.last_id;
+    }
+  }
+
+  return {
+    data: allAssistants,
+    body: {
+      data: allAssistants,
+      has_more: false,
+      first_id,
+      last_id,
+    },
+  };
+};
+
 /**
  * Asynchronously lists assistants for Azure configured groups.
  *
@@ -82,7 +142,7 @@ const listAssistantsForAzure = async ({ req, res, version, azureConfig = {}, que
     /* The specified model is only necessary to
     fetch assistants for the shared instance */
     req.body.model = currentModelTuples[0][0];
-    promises.push(listAssistants({ req, res, version, query }));
+    promises.push(listAllAssistants({ req, res, version, query }));
   }
 
   const resolvedQueries = await Promise.all(promises);
@@ -133,8 +193,27 @@ async function getOpenAIClient({ req, res, endpointOption, initAppClient, overri
   return result;
 }
 
-const fetchAssistants = async (req, res) => {
-  const { limit = 100, order = 'desc', after, before, endpoint } = req.query;
+/**
+ * Returns a list of assistants.
+ * @param {object} params
+ * @param {object} params.req - Express Request
+ * @param {AssistantListParams} [params.req.query] - The assistant list parameters for pagination and sorting.
+ * @param {object} params.res - Express Response
+ * @param {string} [params.overrideEndpoint] - The endpoint to override the request endpoint.
+ * @returns {Promise<AssistantListResponse>} 200 - success response - application/json
+ */
+const fetchAssistants = async ({ req, res, overrideEndpoint }) => {
+  const {
+    limit = 100,
+    order = 'desc',
+    after,
+    before,
+    endpoint,
+  } = req.query ?? {
+    endpoint: overrideEndpoint,
+    ...defaultOrderQuery,
+  };
+
   const version = await getCurrentVersion(req, endpoint);
   const query = { limit, order, after, before };
 
@@ -142,15 +221,47 @@ const fetchAssistants = async (req, res) => {
   let body;
 
   if (endpoint === EModelEndpoint.assistants) {
-    ({ body } = await listAssistants({ req, res, version, query }));
+    ({ body } = await listAllAssistants({ req, res, version, query }));
   } else if (endpoint === EModelEndpoint.azureAssistants) {
     const azureConfig = req.app.locals[EModelEndpoint.azureOpenAI];
     body = await listAssistantsForAzure({ req, res, version, azureConfig, query });
   }
 
+  if (req.user.role === 'ADMIN') {
+    return body;
+  } else if (!req.app.locals[endpoint]) {
+    return body;
+  }
+
+  body.data = filterAssistants({
+    userId: req.user.id,
+    assistants: body.data,
+    assistantsConfig: req.app.locals[endpoint],
+  });
   return body;
 };
 
+/**
+ * Filter assistants based on configuration.
+ *
+ * @param {object} params - The parameters object.
+ * @param {string} params.userId -  The user ID to filter private assistants.
+ * @param {Assistant[]} params.assistants - The list of assistants to filter.
+ * @param {Partial<TAssistantEndpoint>} params.assistantsConfig -  The assistant configuration.
+ * @returns {Assistant[]} - The filtered list of assistants.
+ */
+function filterAssistants({ assistants, userId, assistantsConfig }) {
+  const { supportedIds, excludedIds, privateAssistants } = assistantsConfig;
+  if (privateAssistants) {
+    return assistants.filter((assistant) => userId === assistant.metadata?.author);
+  } else if (supportedIds?.length) {
+    return assistants.filter((assistant) => supportedIds.includes(assistant.id));
+  } else if (excludedIds?.length) {
+    return assistants.filter((assistant) => !excludedIds.includes(assistant.id));
+  }
+  return assistants;
+}
+
 module.exports = {
   getOpenAIClient,
   fetchAssistants,
diff --git a/api/server/controllers/assistants/v1.js b/api/server/controllers/assistants/v1.js
index 3bbd6b63dd..96c9745292 100644
--- a/api/server/controllers/assistants/v1.js
+++ b/api/server/controllers/assistants/v1.js
@@ -1,8 +1,9 @@
 const { FileContext } = require('librechat-data-provider');
+const validateAuthor = require('~/server/middleware/assistants/validateAuthor');
 const { getStrategyFunctions } = require('~/server/services/Files/strategies');
 const { deleteAssistantActions } = require('~/server/services/ActionService');
+const { updateAssistantDoc, getAssistants } = require('~/models/Assistant');
 const { uploadImageBuffer } = require('~/server/services/Files/process');
-const { updateAssistant, getAssistants } = require('~/models/Assistant');
 const { getOpenAIClient, fetchAssistants } = require('./helpers');
 const { deleteFileByFilter } = require('~/models/File');
 const { logger } = require('~/config');
@@ -40,9 +41,11 @@ const createAssistant = async (req, res) => {
     };
 
     const assistant = await openai.beta.assistants.create(assistantData);
+    const promise = updateAssistantDoc({ assistant_id: assistant.id }, { user: req.user.id });
     if (azureModelIdentifier) {
       assistant.model = azureModelIdentifier;
     }
+    await promise;
     logger.debug('/assistants/', assistant);
     res.status(201).json(assistant);
   } catch (error) {
@@ -61,7 +64,6 @@ const retrieveAssistant = async (req, res) => {
   try {
     /* NOTE: not actually being used right now */
     const { openai } = await getOpenAIClient({ req, res });
-
     const assistant_id = req.params.id;
     const assistant = await openai.beta.assistants.retrieve(assistant_id);
     res.json(assistant);
@@ -83,6 +85,7 @@ const retrieveAssistant = async (req, res) => {
 const patchAssistant = async (req, res) => {
   try {
     const { openai } = await getOpenAIClient({ req, res });
+    await validateAuthor({ req, openai });
 
     const assistant_id = req.params.id;
     const { endpoint: _e, ...updateData } = req.body;
@@ -119,6 +122,7 @@ const patchAssistant = async (req, res) => {
 const deleteAssistant = async (req, res) => {
   try {
     const { openai } = await getOpenAIClient({ req, res });
+    await validateAuthor({ req, openai });
 
     const assistant_id = req.params.id;
     const deletionStatus = await openai.beta.assistants.del(assistant_id);
@@ -141,19 +145,7 @@ const deleteAssistant = async (req, res) => {
  */
 const listAssistants = async (req, res) => {
   try {
-    const body = await fetchAssistants(req, res);
-
-    if (req.app.locals?.[req.query.endpoint]) {
-      /** @type {Partial<TAssistantEndpoint>} */
-      const assistantsConfig = req.app.locals[req.query.endpoint];
-      const { supportedIds, excludedIds } = assistantsConfig;
-      if (supportedIds?.length) {
-        body.data = body.data.filter((assistant) => supportedIds.includes(assistant.id));
-      } else if (excludedIds?.length) {
-        body.data = body.data.filter((assistant) => !excludedIds.includes(assistant.id));
-      }
-    }
-
+    const body = await fetchAssistants({ req, res });
     res.json(body);
   } catch (error) {
     logger.error('[/assistants] Error listing assistants', error);
@@ -195,6 +187,7 @@ const uploadAssistantAvatar = async (req, res) => {
 
     let { metadata: _metadata = '{}' } = req.body;
     const { openai } = await getOpenAIClient({ req, res });
+    await validateAuthor({ req, openai });
 
     const image = await uploadImageBuffer({
       req,
@@ -229,7 +222,7 @@ const uploadAssistantAvatar = async (req, res) => {
 
     const promises = [];
     promises.push(
-      updateAssistant(
+      updateAssistantDoc(
         { assistant_id },
         {
           avatar: {
diff --git a/api/server/controllers/assistants/v2.js b/api/server/controllers/assistants/v2.js
index 81f55607a7..82608e4287 100644
--- a/api/server/controllers/assistants/v2.js
+++ b/api/server/controllers/assistants/v2.js
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 const { ToolCallTypes } = require('librechat-data-provider');
+const validateAuthor = require('~/server/middleware/assistants/validateAuthor');
 const { validateAndUpdateTool } = require('~/server/services/ActionService');
+const { updateAssistantDoc } = require('~/models/Assistant');
 const { getOpenAIClient } = require('./helpers');
 const { logger } = require('~/config');
 
@@ -37,9 +39,11 @@ const createAssistant = async (req, res) => {
     };
 
     const assistant = await openai.beta.assistants.create(assistantData);
+    const promise = updateAssistantDoc({ assistant_id: assistant.id }, { user: req.user.id });
     if (azureModelIdentifier) {
       assistant.model = azureModelIdentifier;
     }
+    await promise;
     logger.debug('/assistants/', assistant);
     res.status(201).json(assistant);
   } catch (error) {
@@ -58,6 +62,7 @@ const createAssistant = async (req, res) => {
  * @returns {Promise<Assistant>} The updated assistant.
  */
 const updateAssistant = async ({ req, openai, assistant_id, updateData }) => {
+  await validateAuthor({ req, openai });
   const tools = [];
 
   let hasFileSearch = false;
diff --git a/api/server/middleware/assistants/validate.js b/api/server/middleware/assistants/validate.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..613503f6c0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/api/server/middleware/assistants/validate.js
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+const { v4 } = require('uuid');
+const { handleAbortError } = require('~/server/middleware/abortMiddleware');
+
+/**
+ * Checks if the assistant is supported or excluded
+ * @param {object} req - Express Request
+ * @param {object} req.body - The request payload.
+ * @param {object} res - Express Response
+ * @param {function} next - Express next middleware function.
+ * @returns {Promise<void>}
+ */
+const validateAssistant = async (req, res, next) => {
+  const { endpoint, conversationId, assistant_id, messageId } = req.body;
+
+  /** @type {Partial<TAssistantEndpoint>} */
+  const assistantsConfig = req.app.locals?.[endpoint];
+  if (!assistantsConfig) {
+    return next();
+  }
+
+  const { supportedIds, excludedIds } = assistantsConfig;
+  const error = { message: 'Assistant not supported' };
+  if (supportedIds?.length && !supportedIds.includes(assistant_id)) {
+    return await handleAbortError(res, req, error, {
+      sender: 'System',
+      conversationId,
+      messageId: v4(),
+      parentMessageId: messageId,
+      error,
+    });
+  } else if (excludedIds?.length && excludedIds.includes(assistant_id)) {
+    return await handleAbortError(res, req, error, {
+      sender: 'System',
+      conversationId,
+      messageId: v4(),
+      parentMessageId: messageId,
+    });
+  }
+
+  return next();
+};
+
+module.exports = validateAssistant;
diff --git a/api/server/middleware/assistants/validateAuthor.js b/api/server/middleware/assistants/validateAuthor.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..749b309cbe
--- /dev/null
+++ b/api/server/middleware/assistants/validateAuthor.js
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+const { getAssistant } = require('~/models/Assistant');
+
+/**
+ * Checks if the assistant is supported or excluded
+ * @param {object} params
+ * @param {object} params.req - Express Request
+ * @param {object} params.req.body - The request payload.
+ * @param {string} params.overrideEndpoint - The override endpoint
+ * @param {string} params.overrideAssistantId - The override assistant ID
+ * @param {OpenAIClient} params.openai - OpenAI API Client
+ * @returns {Promise<void>}
+ */
+const validateAuthor = async ({ req, openai, overrideEndpoint, overrideAssistantId }) => {
+  if (req.user.role === 'ADMIN') {
+    return;
+  }
+
+  const endpoint = overrideEndpoint ?? req.body.endpoint ?? req.query.endpoint;
+  const assistant_id =
+    overrideAssistantId ?? req.params.id ?? req.body.assistant_id ?? req.query.assistant_id;
+
+  /** @type {Partial<TAssistantEndpoint>} */
+  const assistantsConfig = req.app.locals?.[endpoint];
+  if (!assistantsConfig) {
+    return;
+  }
+
+  if (!assistantsConfig.privateAssistants) {
+    return;
+  }
+
+  const assistantDoc = await getAssistant({ assistant_id, user: req.user.id });
+  if (assistantDoc) {
+    return;
+  }
+  const assistant = await openai.beta.assistants.retrieve(assistant_id);
+  if (req.user.id !== assistant?.metadata?.author) {
+    throw new Error(`Assistant ${assistant_id} is not authored by the user.`);
+  }
+};
+
+module.exports = validateAuthor;
diff --git a/api/server/routes/assistants/actions.js b/api/server/routes/assistants/actions.js
index 5150357612..e79d7bc2a5 100644
--- a/api/server/routes/assistants/actions.js
+++ b/api/server/routes/assistants/actions.js
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ const { encryptMetadata, domainParser } = require('~/server/services/ActionServi
 const { actionDelimiter, EModelEndpoint } = require('librechat-data-provider');
 const { getOpenAIClient } = require('~/server/controllers/assistants/helpers');
 const { updateAction, getActions, deleteAction } = require('~/models/Action');
-const { updateAssistant, getAssistant } = require('~/models/Assistant');
+const { updateAssistantDoc, getAssistant } = require('~/models/Assistant');
 const { logger } = require('~/config');
 
 const router = express.Router();
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ router.post('/:assistant_id', async (req, res) => {
     let updatedAssistant = await openai.beta.assistants.update(assistant_id, { tools });
     const promises = [];
     promises.push(
-      updateAssistant(
+      updateAssistantDoc(
         { assistant_id },
         {
           actions,
@@ -186,7 +186,7 @@ router.delete('/:assistant_id/:action_id/:model', async (req, res) => {
 
     const promises = [];
     promises.push(
-      updateAssistant(
+      updateAssistantDoc(
         { assistant_id },
         {
           actions: updatedActions,
diff --git a/api/server/routes/assistants/chatV1.js b/api/server/routes/assistants/chatV1.js
index 99de23c201..13386c6c85 100644
--- a/api/server/routes/assistants/chatV1.js
+++ b/api/server/routes/assistants/chatV1.js
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ const {
   // validateEndpoint,
   buildEndpointOption,
 } = require('~/server/middleware');
+const validateAssistant = require('~/server/middleware/assistants/validate');
 const chatController = require('~/server/controllers/assistants/chatV1');
 
 router.post('/abort', handleAbort());
@@ -20,6 +21,6 @@ router.post('/abort', handleAbort());
  * @param {express.Response} res - The response object, used to send back a response.
  * @returns {void}
  */
-router.post('/', validateModel, buildEndpointOption, setHeaders, chatController);
+router.post('/', validateModel, buildEndpointOption, validateAssistant, setHeaders, chatController);
 
 module.exports = router;
diff --git a/api/server/routes/assistants/chatV2.js b/api/server/routes/assistants/chatV2.js
index e0ef2e0b20..36c29f4bc0 100644
--- a/api/server/routes/assistants/chatV2.js
+++ b/api/server/routes/assistants/chatV2.js
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ const {
   // validateEndpoint,
   buildEndpointOption,
 } = require('~/server/middleware');
+const validateAssistant = require('~/server/middleware/assistants/validate');
 const chatController = require('~/server/controllers/assistants/chatV2');
 
 router.post('/abort', handleAbort());
@@ -20,6 +21,6 @@ router.post('/abort', handleAbort());
  * @param {express.Response} res - The response object, used to send back a response.
  * @returns {void}
  */
-router.post('/', validateModel, buildEndpointOption, setHeaders, chatController);
+router.post('/', validateModel, buildEndpointOption, validateAssistant, setHeaders, chatController);
 
 module.exports = router;
diff --git a/api/server/services/AppService.spec.js b/api/server/services/AppService.spec.js
index 602ef43f83..6bcf4754e1 100644
--- a/api/server/services/AppService.spec.js
+++ b/api/server/services/AppService.spec.js
@@ -218,6 +218,7 @@ describe('AppService', () => {
             pollIntervalMs: 5000,
             timeoutMs: 30000,
             supportedIds: ['id1', 'id2'],
+            privateAssistants: false,
           },
         },
       }),
@@ -232,6 +233,7 @@ describe('AppService', () => {
         pollIntervalMs: 5000,
         timeoutMs: 30000,
         supportedIds: expect.arrayContaining(['id1', 'id2']),
+        privateAssistants: false,
       }),
     );
   });
@@ -505,7 +507,31 @@ describe('AppService updating app.locals and issuing warnings', () => {
 
     const { logger } = require('~/config');
     expect(logger.warn).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
-      expect.stringContaining('Both `supportedIds` and `excludedIds` are defined'),
+      expect.stringContaining(
+        'The \'assistants\' endpoint has both \'supportedIds\' and \'excludedIds\' defined.',
+      ),
+    );
+  });
+
+  it('should log a warning when privateAssistants and supportedIds or excludedIds are provided', async () => {
+    const mockConfig = {
+      endpoints: {
+        assistants: {
+          privateAssistants: true,
+          supportedIds: ['id1'],
+        },
+      },
+    };
+    require('./Config/loadCustomConfig').mockImplementationOnce(() => Promise.resolve(mockConfig));
+
+    const app = { locals: {} };
+    await require('./AppService')(app);
+
+    const { logger } = require('~/config');
+    expect(logger.warn).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      expect.stringContaining(
+        'The \'assistants\' endpoint has both \'privateAssistants\' and \'supportedIds\' or \'excludedIds\' defined.',
+      ),
     );
   });
 
diff --git a/api/server/services/Files/Audio/textToSpeech.js b/api/server/services/Files/Audio/textToSpeech.js
index ab7a5e55dc..7778faabeb 100644
--- a/api/server/services/Files/Audio/textToSpeech.js
+++ b/api/server/services/Files/Audio/textToSpeech.js
@@ -300,7 +300,7 @@ async function textToSpeech(req, res) {
           break;
         }
       } catch (innerError) {
-        logger.error('Error processing update:', chunk, innerError);
+        logger.error('Error processing manual update:', chunk, innerError);
         if (!res.headersSent) {
           res.status(500).end();
         }
@@ -312,7 +312,10 @@ async function textToSpeech(req, res) {
       res.end();
     }
   } catch (error) {
-    logger.error('An error occurred while creating the audio stream:', error);
+    logger.error(
+      'Error creating the audio stream. Suggestion: check your provider quota. Error:',
+      error,
+    );
     res.status(500).send('An error occurred');
   }
 }
diff --git a/api/server/services/start/assistants.js b/api/server/services/start/assistants.js
index aa43f2b7c8..ab96db8701 100644
--- a/api/server/services/start/assistants.js
+++ b/api/server/services/start/assistants.js
@@ -29,7 +29,15 @@ function assistantsConfigSetup(config, assistantsEndpoint, prevConfig = {}) {
   const parsedConfig = assistantEndpointSchema.parse(assistantsConfig);
   if (assistantsConfig.supportedIds?.length && assistantsConfig.excludedIds?.length) {
     logger.warn(
-      `Both \`supportedIds\` and \`excludedIds\` are defined for the ${assistantsEndpoint} endpoint; \`excludedIds\` field will be ignored.`,
+      `Configuration conflict: The '${assistantsEndpoint}' endpoint has both 'supportedIds' and 'excludedIds' defined. The 'excludedIds' will be ignored.`,
+    );
+  }
+  if (
+    assistantsConfig.privateAssistants &&
+    (assistantsConfig.supportedIds?.length || assistantsConfig.excludedIds?.length)
+  ) {
+    logger.warn(
+      `Configuration conflict: The '${assistantsEndpoint}' endpoint has both 'privateAssistants' and 'supportedIds' or 'excludedIds' defined. The 'supportedIds' and 'excludedIds' will be ignored.`,
     );
   }
 
@@ -41,6 +49,7 @@ function assistantsConfigSetup(config, assistantsEndpoint, prevConfig = {}) {
     supportedIds: parsedConfig.supportedIds,
     capabilities: parsedConfig.capabilities,
     excludedIds: parsedConfig.excludedIds,
+    privateAssistants: parsedConfig.privateAssistants,
     timeoutMs: parsedConfig.timeoutMs,
   };
 }
diff --git a/api/typedefs.js b/api/typedefs.js
index b55dfa120a..3d33230d03 100644
--- a/api/typedefs.js
+++ b/api/typedefs.js
@@ -272,6 +272,12 @@
  * @memberof typedefs
  */
 
+/**
+ * @exports TPayload
+ * @typedef {import('librechat-data-provider').TPayload} TPayload
+ * @memberof typedefs
+ */
+
 /**
  * @exports TAzureModelConfig
  * @typedef {import('librechat-data-provider').TAzureModelConfig} TAzureModelConfig
diff --git a/librechat.example.yaml b/librechat.example.yaml
index acb1d772b8..48b2f5ad99 100644
--- a/librechat.example.yaml
+++ b/librechat.example.yaml
@@ -65,6 +65,8 @@ endpoints:
   #   # Should only be one or the other, either `supportedIds` or `excludedIds`
   #   supportedIds: ["asst_supportedAssistantId1", "asst_supportedAssistantId2"]
   #   # excludedIds: ["asst_excludedAssistantId"]
+  #   Only show assistants that the user created or that were created externally (e.g. in Assistants playground).
+  #   # privateAssistants: false # Does not work with `supportedIds` or `excludedIds`
   #   # (optional) Models that support retrieval, will default to latest known OpenAI models that support the feature
   #   retrievalModels: ["gpt-4-turbo-preview"]
   #   # (optional) Assistant Capabilities available to all users. Omit the ones you wish to exclude. Defaults to list below.
@@ -75,12 +77,13 @@ endpoints:
       apiKey: '${GROQ_API_KEY}'
       baseURL: 'https://api.groq.com/openai/v1/'
       models:
-        default: [
-          "llama3-70b-8192",
-          "llama3-8b-8192",
-          "llama2-70b-4096",
-          "mixtral-8x7b-32768",
-          "gemma-7b-it",
+        default:
+          [
+            'llama3-70b-8192',
+            'llama3-8b-8192',
+            'llama2-70b-4096',
+            'mixtral-8x7b-32768',
+            'gemma-7b-it',
           ]
         fetch: false
       titleConvo: true
@@ -147,7 +150,6 @@ endpoints:
       # Recommended: Drop the stop parameter from the request as Openrouter models use a variety of stop tokens.
       dropParams: ['stop']
       modelDisplayLabel: 'OpenRouter'
-
 # fileConfig:
 #   endpoints:
 #     assistants:
diff --git a/packages/data-provider/src/config.ts b/packages/data-provider/src/config.ts
index e773a5376e..bbcd073807 100644
--- a/packages/data-provider/src/config.ts
+++ b/packages/data-provider/src/config.ts
@@ -144,6 +144,7 @@ export const assistantEndpointSchema = z.object({
   version: z.union([z.string(), z.number()]).default(2),
   supportedIds: z.array(z.string()).min(1).optional(),
   excludedIds: z.array(z.string()).min(1).optional(),
+  privateAssistants: z.boolean().optional(),
   retrievalModels: z.array(z.string()).min(1).optional().default(defaultRetrievalModels),
   capabilities: z
     .array(z.nativeEnum(Capabilities))
diff --git a/packages/data-provider/src/createPayload.ts b/packages/data-provider/src/createPayload.ts
index d08bcea1e5..5b73f102f7 100644
--- a/packages/data-provider/src/createPayload.ts
+++ b/packages/data-provider/src/createPayload.ts
@@ -1,31 +1,24 @@
-import type { TSubmission, TMessage, TEndpointOption } from './types';
-import { tConvoUpdateSchema, EModelEndpoint, isAssistantsEndpoint } from './schemas';
+import type * as t from './types';
 import { EndpointURLs } from './config';
+import * as s from './schemas';
 
-export default function createPayload(submission: TSubmission) {
-  const { conversation, userMessage, messages, endpointOption, isEdited, isContinued } = submission;
-  const { conversationId } = tConvoUpdateSchema.parse(conversation);
+export default function createPayload(submission: t.TSubmission) {
+  const { conversation, userMessage, endpointOption, isEdited, isContinued } = submission;
+  const { conversationId } = s.tConvoUpdateSchema.parse(conversation);
   const { endpoint, endpointType } = endpointOption as {
-    endpoint: EModelEndpoint;
-    endpointType?: EModelEndpoint;
+    endpoint: s.EModelEndpoint;
+    endpointType?: s.EModelEndpoint;
   };
 
   let server = EndpointURLs[endpointType ?? endpoint];
 
-  if (isEdited && isAssistantsEndpoint(endpoint)) {
+  if (isEdited && s.isAssistantsEndpoint(endpoint)) {
     server += '/modify';
   } else if (isEdited) {
     server = server.replace('/ask/', '/edit/');
   }
 
-  type Payload = Partial<TMessage> &
-    Partial<TEndpointOption> & {
-      isContinued: boolean;
-      conversationId: string | null;
-      messages?: typeof messages;
-    };
-
-  const payload: Payload = {
+  const payload: t.TPayload = {
     ...userMessage,
     ...endpointOption,
     isContinued: !!(isEdited && isContinued),
diff --git a/packages/data-provider/src/types.ts b/packages/data-provider/src/types.ts
index b8c098359d..2eedd37925 100644
--- a/packages/data-provider/src/types.ts
+++ b/packages/data-provider/src/types.ts
@@ -37,6 +37,13 @@ export type TEndpointOption = {
   thread_id?: string;
 };
 
+export type TPayload = Partial<TMessage> &
+  Partial<TEndpointOption> & {
+    isContinued: boolean;
+    conversationId: string | null;
+    messages?: TMessages;
+  };
+
 export type TSubmission = {
   plugin?: TResPlugin;
   plugins?: TResPlugin[];
diff --git a/packages/data-provider/src/types/assistants.ts b/packages/data-provider/src/types/assistants.ts
index 423e56b61e..00600018b0 100644
--- a/packages/data-provider/src/types/assistants.ts
+++ b/packages/data-provider/src/types/assistants.ts
@@ -6,6 +6,9 @@ export type Schema = OpenAPIV3.SchemaObject & { description?: string };
 export type Reference = OpenAPIV3.ReferenceObject & { description?: string };
 
 export type Metadata = {
+  avatar?: string;
+  author?: string;
+} & {
   [key: string]: unknown;
 };