Projects and conversations
Keep purpose, files and related conversations together.
Reviewed 6 October 2026 · 2 min read
Give a project a clear purpose
A project provides continuity across related conversations. Use a readable name and a description covering audience, goal and constraints.
Local files belong to the selected computer. Sharing a project does not automatically grant terminal access to that computer.
- Use project creation and enter its name and description.
- Open its conversation, or use the plus beside the project name to create another conversation in it.
- Use project settings to review name, description, memory and sharing options available in your build.
- Keep one project for one coherent product, with separate conversations for distinct work.
Try this
Update this project’s description: a private household budget tool, offline first, with CSV import and no bank connection. Keep the existing project and files.
Check the result
- The conversation belongs to the intended project.
- Its name is meaningful rather than a generated folder identifier.
- Saved decisions describe requirements, not claims that unfinished tasks are complete.
Recover missing access
For a load error, check account, connection and access before creating a duplicate. For a missing local folder, locate it on the correct computer.
Import from ChatGPT or Claude
In New project, choose Import from ChatGPT or Claude. Cloud conversations first need an export: request the provider’s official data export, download its ZIP, then choose it in Helios. You can also copy the project export prompt into a single conversation and ask for a portable project ZIP or JSON. A private cloud link alone does not provide access.
The archive is read on your device. Select conversations and review included files before importing into your private Work project. User and assistant roles are retained. Attachments, tools, hidden branches and provider project memberships are not recreated. The prompt cannot recover information the source AI cannot access.
Imports run no code and grant no permissions. Source history is unverified historical context. Choose exports under 32 MB and import selected content in batches under 3 MB.
Delete a project
Delete project is available in Project settings. It removes saved project data and conversations still in the project. Conversations moved elsewhere and folders on your computer are kept. Conversation cleanup is queued durably for the server. Stop active work before deleting.
Example project plans
Guide examples contain fictional user messages and authored assistant replies in separate roles. Their Work plan and project log are teaching material. Checks remain pending until you run and verify them in your own environment.
Further reading
External references inform the guidance; their product-specific features are not promises about Helios.