Claude/Memory/Chat/Search
- Claude can search previous conversations and remember context across chats. Search pulls relevant past sessions into new chats; memory synthesizes chat history into ongoing context.
Search past chats with Claude
- Available on paid plans (Pro, Max, Team, Enterprise) on web, Claude/Desktop, and Claude Mobile.
- Prompt Claude to search previous conversations for relevant information across sessions. Ask naturally (e.g. what you discussed about a topic, find a conversation, continue a project).
- Searches use Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) and appear as tool calls in the current chat.
What Claude can search
- All chats outside of projects.
- Individual project conversations (search is limited to within each project).
Search and reference past chats
- Rolled out accounts: enabled by default. Ask about previous conversations naturally.
- Example prompts:
- "What did we discuss about [topic]?"
- "Can you find our conversation about [subject]?"
- "Let's continue where we left off with [project]."
- When Claude searches, the current chat shows a tool call.
Prevent searching past chats
- Settings > Capabilities → Preferences → turn off Search and reference chats.
Exclude a specific past chat from searches
- Incognito chats (all plans): ghost icon upper right when starting a chat outside a project.
- Incognito = temporary conversation not saved to chat history; not used when searching previous conversations.
- Enterprise / Team: incognito chats still included in standard data exports and follow org data retention policies.
What is Claude's memory?
- Memory from chat history is available to all Claude users (free, Pro, Max, Team, Enterprise) on web, Desktop, and Mobile.
- Claude generates memory from chat history so conversations build continuity over time (not a stateless interface).
How does Claude's memory work?
- Beyond search, enabling memory adds:
Memory summary
- Automatic summarization of conversations; synthesis of key insights across chat history (excluding project chats).
- Synthesis updates every 24 hours and provides context for every new standalone conversation.
Project memory and summary
- Each project has its own memory space and project summary; context stays focused per project, separate from other projects and non-project chats.
Enable Claude's memory
- Enterprise: members can enable individually only when an Owner enables it for the org.
- Toggle: Settings > Capabilities.
- Disable options:
- Pause memory: keeps existing memory but does not use or create new memory; chats while paused are not summarized if memory is turned back on.
- Reset memory: permanently deletes all memories including project memories; cannot be undone; re-enabling starts from scratch.
- Enterprise: all memory retained and exportable by admins per enterprise chat data retention policies.
What does Claude remember?
- Work-related context for collaboration (visible in memory or project summary):
- Role, projects, professional context
- Communication preferences and working style
- Technical preferences and coding style
- Project details and ongoing work
What Claude doesn't remember
Incognito chats
- Ghost icon when starting a chat outside a project; incognito mode on → chats not saved to memory or chat history.
- Close the incognito chat to resume normal remembering.
Data retention and privacy
- Memory retained per existing chat data retention policies.
- Deleted conversations removed from memory synthesis.
- Memory updates within 24 hours when conversations are created, modified, or deleted.
- All memory data included in data exports.
- Enterprise data retention policies apply to memory-related data, including incognito chats.
User controls and visibility
View and manage memory summary
- Settings > Capabilities → View and edit memory → Manage memory modal.
- Edit via Claude or pencil icon (custom instructions in lower left of summary).
- Updates from chat ("remember X") apply to the next conversation immediately (no wait for daily synthesis).
Past chat citations
- When Claude references previous conversations: citations link to original chats; option to delete specific conversations.
Toggle search and memory
- Disable or re-enable Search and reference chats and memory in Settings > Capabilities.
Importing memory from other AI tools
- Transfer memory between Claude and other AI services (import/export); experimental, active development.
Controls for Enterprise plan owners
- Owners and Primary Owners manage memory features org-wide.
Organization-level memory controls
- Generate memory from chat history enabled by default; users manage own settings when on.
- Disable org-wide: Organization settings > Capabilities → immediately deletes all existing memory synthesis for all users; users cannot access memory synthesis setting.
- Disabling at org level permanently deletes all memory data for all users.
Data handling and compliance
- Chat summaries stored with conversation data; follow org retention; deleted when conversation deleted.
- Memory synthesis: encryption at rest, tied to conversations; updates as conversations expire or delete.
- Incognito: no memory contribution, not in user chat history; still in Owner data exports and retention (≥30 days for safety).
Audit logging and data exports
- Audit: org-level memory toggle changes by Owners; standard conversation access logging for synthesis; individual user memory edits not logged.
- Exports: synthesis and chat summaries in standard conversation exports; incognito in org exports; summaries tied to source conversations.
Team plan limitations
- No org-level memory controls; Team members manage memory individually.