Why does Claude lose context in long chats?
A chat holds only so much, and near the limit Claude summarizes the start. Here’s how to keep the details.
Updated 18 October 2026
In Claude
Sources: context window, length limits, projects, chat search.
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Know how much a chat holds
On paid plans, the newest models hold up to 1M tokens, others 500K or 200K, about 500 pages. With code execution on, Claude summarizes earlier messages near the limit to make room.
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Put what matters in a project
Every chat in a project starts with its instructions and files. Keep the instructions short: the project’s context and key guidelines.
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Free up room
Turn off tools and connectors this chat doesn’t need. They take up a lot of space.
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Ask a new chat to find the old one
On paid plans, Claude searches your past chats when you ask.
Or with SkyOS
SkyOS keeps each decision as its own exact, dated note, outside the chat. With the memory instructions on, Claude reads the notes before it answers, so early decisions stay in view however long the chat gets.
SkyOS saves as you chat, so connect it before your next long one. It works on Claude’s Free plan too.
Free while in beta. No card needed.