A project groups related conversations and gives them shared instructions and defaults. Use one for long-running work, a customer topic, a product plan, or a research theme that needs the same background every time.
Where to find it#
Projects live in the Projects section of the sidebar.
Each project row works like this:
- Click the folder icon to expand or collapse the project's conversations.
- Click the project name to start a new chat in that project.
- Click
+(New chat in project) to start a new chat without expanding first. - Open the
...menu (Project menu) to Edit or Delete the project. - With two or more projects, drag the handle on the left to reorder them. DEEIX saves the order and reports Failed to save project order if it cannot.
When there are no projects, the section shows No projects yet and the create button.
Create a project#
- Click
+in the Projects header, or open the empty-state create button. - Fill in the fields.
- Click Save.
| Field | Required | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Project name | Yes | Shown in the sidebar, the conversation list, and filters. Up to 80 characters. |
| Project instructions | No | Default system instructions for chats in the project. Up to 12000 characters. |
| Project default model | No | A chat model for new chats, or Use global default. |
| Project default MCP | No | Use global MCP tools, or a custom set of MCP tools. |
| Project default Skills | No | Skills loaded for new chats. |
| Project default knowledge bases | No | Knowledge bases used for retrieval in new chats. Shown only when RAG is enabled. |
The name cannot be empty. Use a stable name such as Website redesign, Customer A support, or Q3 growth analysis. Leave instructions empty when the project does not need persistent guidance.
For MCP and Skills, the number of selectable items follows the platform message limit. Knowledge bases are limited to eight, and an entry that reports no searchable files is disabled. A project can preset only one MCP image attachment processor; selecting a second shows Only one image processor can be selected.
What project instructions do#
Project instructions are added to chat model requests inside the project. Use them for background, goals, tone, terminology, output preferences, and boundaries.
They apply to future messages, not to already generated ones. Image generation, image editing, and other non-chat capabilities do not use project instructions. They also do not override platform or model rules.
Start a chat in a project#
- Click the project name, or the
+next to it. - The chat page shows a Project mode badge next to the greeting. Hover it for the rule: new chats are created in this project, and project instructions apply only to chat model requests.
- Send the first message.
The conversation is created inside the project. Expanding the project in the sidebar loads its recent active conversations. If you already have a project conversation open, clicking New chat in the sidebar keeps the new chat in the same project.
Move conversations into a project#
- Open a conversation menu from the sidebar, the All conversations list, or the conversation title menu.
- Choose Move.
- Pick the project, or Default to remove it from a project.
The conversation leaves the Recent list and appears under the project. Moving changes only membership; it does not rewrite messages, attachments, title, star, shares, or exports.
View and manage project conversations#
Click the folder icon to expand a project. DEEIX loads the project's active conversations below the row. Each conversation keeps the normal row menu: rename, labels, star, move, Share & Export, archive, and delete.
If the project has many conversations, use the All conversations page and open it from the project context to search and filter. See Recent.
Edit a project#
- Open the Project menu and choose Edit.
- Change the name, instructions, default model, or defaults.
- Click Save.
Changing the name updates the sidebar, lists, and filters. Changing instructions affects later project messages; it does not rewrite existing messages. Changing defaults affects new chats, not conversations that already exist.
Delete a project#
- Open the Project menu and choose Delete.
- Decide what happens to the conversations inside.
- Click Delete to confirm.
By default, only the project group is removed. Its conversations stay available and move to Default.
Select Also delete all conversations to delete them too. When that is selected, a second option lets you clean up their files. File cleanup follows the normal rule: only files that no other conversation references are deleted.
If the deleted project contains the conversation you are currently viewing, the page returns to a blank chat.
Reference: project dialog fields#
| Field | Options |
|---|---|
| Project name | Free text, required, up to 80 characters. |
| Project instructions | Free text, up to 12000 characters. |
| Project default model | Use global default, or any chat model enabled for your account. |
| Project default MCP | Use global MCP tools, or a custom selection. |
| Project default Skills | Custom selection, up to the platform limit. |
| Project default knowledge bases | Custom selection, up to eight; entries with no searchable files are disabled. |
Troubleshooting#
| What you see | What to check |
|---|---|
| The project default model "{model}" is currently unavailable | The model was disabled. The chat falls back to global defaults; pick another default model. |
| Failed to load available models | Retry opening the dialog; check that you are signed in. |
| Failed to load project defaults | MCP, Skills, or knowledge bases could not be loaded. Retry. |
| Only one image processor can be selected | Clear the current MCP image attachment processor before choosing another. |
| Select up to {limit} items | The selection reached the platform limit. Remove an item first. |
| Failed to save project order | The reorder did not persist. Try again. |