Chapter 07 · DESKTOP
Memory, chat search and Incognito
Chat search and memory are different. Search retrieves context from past conversations; memory retains useful information for future work. Incognito avoids those ongoing-context features, but it is not an exemption from every data-retention policy.
Video
Steps
- Open Settings > Memory and inspect memory and chat-search controls. Current documentation describes editable and deletable Topics.
- Ask about a past conversation and check the source Claude references. General memory is not a substitute for the original conversation when exact wording matters.
- Edit or delete an incorrect memory topic in settings. Also inspect the sensitive-topics option and Project-specific context boundaries.
- Use Incognito for a temporary conversation. Read its limitations before closing it: do not assume it can be recovered like a normal chat. Memory import/export is different from exporting all account data.
Common pitfall: Incognito does not guarantee that no information is retained anywhere. Service terms and organization policies still apply.
Hands-on exercise: Inspect Topics, correct a non-sensitive sample detail and open a short Incognito conversation to compare history behavior.
Filmed demo · Video is added in the media phase
Recap
Comprehension check
How does chat search differ from memory?
Recap
- Search and memory are different
- Inspect, edit and delete Topics
- Incognito is not a zero-retention guarantee