Claude's memory import dropped my personal details: what arrives and what is lost

What does Claude's memory import actually keep?

Anthropic describes a focus, not a complete transfer. The item examples below apply that stated work-related boundary, not a separate vendor promise about each category.

Claude memory import is experimental and still in active development. It focuses on work-related topics, may not retain imported personal details unrelated to work, and may not always successfully incorporate imported memories. Ask your current assistant to list its memories using Anthropic's prompt, then open Settings, Your Claude (Settings, Memory in the older layout), choose Start import, paste the result and select Add to memory. It is available on Free, Pro, Max, Team and Enterprise on the web and Claude Desktop. In the new experience, memory updates shortly after import; in the legacy experience, within 24 hours. To export, open Settings, Your Claude, then Manage next to Your memory, or ask Claude to write out its memories verbatim. Read 30 October 2026; relative vendor update labels are not treated as publication dates. Anthropic: import and export your memory from Claude. Verified 30 October 2026.

Why were my personal details dropped?

Personal details unrelated to work may not be retained. Even work-related memories may not be incorporated successfully.

Claude memory import is experimental and still in active development. It focuses on work-related topics, may not retain imported personal details unrelated to work, and may not always successfully incorporate imported memories. Ask your current assistant to list its memories using Anthropic's prompt, then open Settings, Your Claude (Settings, Memory in the older layout), choose Start import, paste the result and select Add to memory. It is available on Free, Pro, Max, Team and Enterprise on the web and Claude Desktop. In the new experience, memory updates shortly after import; in the legacy experience, within 24 hours. To export, open Settings, Your Claude, then Manage next to Your memory, or ask Claude to write out its memories verbatim. Read 30 October 2026; relative vendor update labels are not treated as publication dates. Anthropic: import and export your memory from Claude. Verified 30 October 2026.

How do I import my memory into Claude today?

1. Ask your current assistant for its memories

   Use Anthropic's prompt in the linked import instructions to ask your current assistant to list its memories.

2. Open Claude memory settings

   Open Settings, Your Claude. In the older layout, open Settings, Memory.

3. Start the import

   Choose Start import, paste the result and select Add to memory.

How do I check what arrived?

Compare the list from your previous assistant line by line with the topics in Settings, Your Claude. Add missing items by telling Claude directly, then check the list again.

Claude memory is on by default for Free, Pro and Max. Team and Enterprise owners control availability, and memory is off per member until turned on. Memory is saved as individual topics while you chat, not as a summary after the chat ends. You can read, edit or delete topics in Settings. Deleting a conversation does not remove the memory entries generated from it. Read 30 October 2026; relative vendor update labels are not treated as publication dates. Anthropic: Claude chat search and memory. Verified 30 October 2026.

What changed

30 October 2026: the import path is Settings, Your Claude, not Settings, Capabilities. Memory is available on Free. The current experience stores individual topics during chats rather than a summary after the chat ends. The legacy import can take 24 hours; the new experience updates shortly after. Deleting a conversation does not delete its memory entries.

Claude memory import is experimental and still in active development. It focuses on work-related topics, may not retain imported personal details unrelated to work, and may not always successfully incorporate imported memories. Ask your current assistant to list its memories using Anthropic's prompt, then open Settings, Your Claude (Settings, Memory in the older layout), choose Start import, paste the result and select Add to memory. It is available on Free, Pro, Max, Team and Enterprise on the web and Claude Desktop. In the new experience, memory updates shortly after import; in the legacy experience, within 24 hours. To export, open Settings, Your Claude, then Manage next to Your memory, or ask Claude to write out its memories verbatim. Read 30 October 2026; relative vendor update labels are not treated as publication dates. Anthropic: import and export your memory from Claude. Verified 30 October 2026.

Claude memory is on by default for Free, Pro and Max. Team and Enterprise owners control availability, and memory is off per member until turned on. Memory is saved as individual topics while you chat, not as a summary after the chat ends. You can read, edit or delete topics in Settings. Deleting a conversation does not remove the memory entries generated from it. Read 30 October 2026; relative vendor update labels are not treated as publication dates. Anthropic: Claude chat search and memory. Verified 30 October 2026.

Where can your personal details live instead?

Keep your full list in a memory you hold and can export. An import into a work-focused assistant is not a substitute for checking and keeping your own record.

AI Twin is a personal AI memory layer, built in the UK. Take a copy. In Settings, open Export and leaving, then Build my export. In a few minutes you get three files: a summary to read, the complete record of every memory, source and audit entry, and an archive for other apps. Your Critical items are included, because this copy is yours.

AI memory

Export your AI Twin memory

Is Claude's memory import available on the free plan?

Yes. Anthropic lists Free, Pro, Max, Team and Enterprise, on the web and Claude Desktop. Claude memory import is experimental and still in active development. It focuses on work-related topics, may not retain imported personal details unrelated to work, and may not always successfully incorporate imported memories. Ask your current assistant to list its memories using Anthropic's prompt, then open Settings, Your Claude (Settings, Memory in the older layout), choose Start import, paste the result and select Add to memory. It is available on Free, Pro, Max, Team and Enterprise on the web and Claude Desktop. In the new experience, memory updates shortly after import; in the legacy experience, within 24 hours. To export, open Settings, Your Claude, then Manage next to Your memory, or ask Claude to write out its memories verbatim. Read 30 October 2026; relative vendor update labels are not treated as publication dates.

Anthropic: import and export your memory from Claude. Verified 30 October 2026.

Is the import permanent?

It adds memory to your account, but it is not a promise that every detail is retained unchanged. Import is experimental; topics can be edited or deleted. Claude memory import is experimental and still in active development. It focuses on work-related topics, may not retain imported personal details unrelated to work, and may not always successfully incorporate imported memories. Ask your current assistant to list its memories using Anthropic's prompt, then open Settings, Your Claude (Settings, Memory in the older layout), choose Start import, paste the result and select Add to memory. It is available on Free, Pro, Max, Team and Enterprise on the web and Claude Desktop. In the new experience, memory updates shortly after import; in the legacy experience, within 24 hours. To export, open Settings, Your Claude, then Manage next to Your memory, or ask Claude to write out its memories verbatim. Read 30 October 2026; relative vendor update labels are not treated as publication dates. Claude memory is on by default for Free, Pro and Max. Team and Enterprise owners control availability, and memory is off per member until turned on. Memory is saved as individual topics while you chat, not as a summary after the chat ends. You can read, edit or delete topics in Settings. Deleting a conversation does not remove the memory entries generated from it. Read 30 October 2026; relative vendor update labels are not treated as publication dates.

Anthropic: import and export your memory from Claude. Verified 30 October 2026.

Anthropic: Claude chat search and memory. Verified 30 October 2026.

Does deleting the chat remove imported memory?

Deleting a conversation does not remove the memory entries generated from it. Review and delete entries separately in Settings. Claude memory is on by default for Free, Pro and Max. Team and Enterprise owners control availability, and memory is off per member until turned on. Memory is saved as individual topics while you chat, not as a summary after the chat ends. You can read, edit or delete topics in Settings. Deleting a conversation does not remove the memory entries generated from it. Read 30 October 2026; relative vendor update labels are not treated as publication dates.

Anthropic: Claude chat search and memory. Verified 30 October 2026.

Can I export my Claude memory?

Open Settings, Your Claude, then Manage next to Your memory, or ask Claude to write out its memories verbatim. Claude memory import is experimental and still in active development. It focuses on work-related topics, may not retain imported personal details unrelated to work, and may not always successfully incorporate imported memories. Ask your current assistant to list its memories using Anthropic's prompt, then open Settings, Your Claude (Settings, Memory in the older layout), choose Start import, paste the result and select Add to memory. It is available on Free, Pro, Max, Team and Enterprise on the web and Claude Desktop. In the new experience, memory updates shortly after import; in the legacy experience, within 24 hours. To export, open Settings, Your Claude, then Manage next to Your memory, or ask Claude to write out its memories verbatim. Read 30 October 2026; relative vendor update labels are not treated as publication dates.

Anthropic: import and export your memory from Claude. Verified 30 October 2026.

How long until imported memory appears?

Shortly after in the new experience; within 24 hours in the legacy experience. Claude memory import is experimental and still in active development. It focuses on work-related topics, may not retain imported personal details unrelated to work, and may not always successfully incorporate imported memories. Ask your current assistant to list its memories using Anthropic's prompt, then open Settings, Your Claude (Settings, Memory in the older layout), choose Start import, paste the result and select Add to memory. It is available on Free, Pro, Max, Team and Enterprise on the web and Claude Desktop. In the new experience, memory updates shortly after import; in the legacy experience, within 24 hours. To export, open Settings, Your Claude, then Manage next to Your memory, or ask Claude to write out its memories verbatim. Read 30 October 2026; relative vendor update labels are not treated as publication dates.

Anthropic: import and export your memory from Claude. Verified 30 October 2026.