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Use Work mode

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Purpose

Some Monday jobs are too big for one answer: last week's orders to clean up, a report to build, a summary to write. Choose between a normal chat and Work mode, where the agent takes on bigger jobs: it plans the steps, reads and writes files, and hands parts of the job to helpers.

Before you start

Open a new chat with the default agent. The switch only exists on that page: chats with a custom agent, and chats you have already started, keep their mode. Your plan must include Work (see Understand plans and usage limits), your workspace policy must allow it (see Restrict workspace models, plugins and Work), and you need a model that can use tools.

Steps

  1. At the top of a new chat, choose "Chat" or "Work" on the switch labeled "Conversation mode". In Work, the heading above the box changes to "What should we work on?".
  2. In Work, a project bar under the message box shows "Workspace files" or the chosen project. Open it and choose a project to work in, or leave "Workspace files" to work with your general workspace files.
  3. Open the model button. In Work it only offers models that can use tools. If your current model cannot, it switches to one that can. See Choose a chat model and thinking level.
  4. Write your task, attach files if needed, and select "Send message". The switch and the project bar are locked while the chat is being created, and the chat keeps its mode and project from then on.
  5. While the agent works, the chat shows what it is doing, such as "Reading [file]", "Writing [file]", "Editing [file]" and "Searching [place]". Approve actions that ask for it. See Follow what the agent is doing.
  6. Open the files panel with the panel button at the top right of the chat, or "View files in chat" in the options menu. "Outputs" lists the files the agent created and "Inputs" lists the files you attached. Select a file to preview it, use "Download file" to save it, and "Refresh files" to update the lists. "Close files panel" hides it.

Expected result

The new chat uses the mode and project you chose. In Work the agent can create files that you find under "Outputs". Choosing a project does not share it with anyone and does not bypass your workspace permissions. You can also talk to the Work agent: with the message box empty, select "Live voice chat", and each spoken request runs as a Work task in this chat, with its project and files. See Talk using live voice. The browser extension's tools belong to Chat only and are not available in Work.

Troubleshooting

Problem What to do
There is no "Chat" and "Work" switch You are in a saved chat or with a custom agent. Open a new chat with the default agent from "New chat".
A model disappeared after selecting "Work" It cannot use tools. Pick another one, marked "Tools".
"This model cannot use tools, which Work needs. Choose a model that supports tools." Choose a model with the "Tools" badge.
"Work is available only with the default agent." Start the Work chat from "New chat", not from a custom agent.
"A Work conversation's project cannot change. Start a new conversation in the project you want." Start a new Work chat in that project.
"This Work conversation's project is no longer available." The project was removed. Start a new chat.
"Your current plan does not include this feature." Work is not part of your plan. See Understand plans and usage limits.
"Your workspace policy does not allow this kind of request." A workspace administrator has turned Work off. Ask them to turn on "Work enabled".
"Could not load files. Try refreshing." Select "Refresh files".

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