Claude ChatLesson 9

Settings & Toggleable Features

Several Claude Chat features are optional — web search, Deep Research, code execution, and memories. Turn them on or off per chat depending on what you are doing.

Toggleable features overview

Many Claude Chat capabilities are opt-in. You enable them from the chat input toolbar or your account settings. Each conversation can use a different combination — search on for news queries, code execution on for data analysis, all off for a simple writing task.

claude.ai → Chat tools
Toggleable features
Enable or disable capabilities per conversation from the chat input toolbar
🌐
Web search
Search the internet for current information
On
🔬
Deep Research
Multi-step research across many sources
Off
💻
Code execution
Run Python and create files in a sandbox
On
🧠
Memory
Save preferences learned from conversations
On
Toggle features on or off from the chat toolbar — each conversation can use different settings
🌐01

Web search toggle

Control whether Claude can search the internet during a conversation. When enabled, Claude fetches live information and cites sources. When disabled, answers come only from training data and uploaded files.

When to use
  • ·Turn ON for current events, live prices, recent news, or time-sensitive facts
  • ·Turn OFF for creative writing, coding help, or tasks that don't need the web
  • ·Toggle per conversation — not a permanent account setting
Example: Enable web search, then ask: 'What were the major tech product announcements this month?'
🌐 Web search📎⚙️
You:
"What is the current inflation rate in the US?"
🌐 Searching the web…
🔬02

Deep Research mode

A more thorough research mode where Claude plans a research strategy, searches multiple sources, reads and cross-references them, and produces a longer report with multiple sources.

When to use
  • ·Comparing options (tools, vendors, approaches) that need multiple sources
  • ·Writing research summaries or literature reviews
  • ·Questions where a single web search result is not enough
  • ·Available on paid plans — slower, but pulls from more sources
Example: Enable Deep Research, then ask: 'Compare the top 3 project management tools for remote teams in 2026.'
🔬 Deep Research in progress
✓Planning research approach
✓Searching 12 sources
✓Reading and cross-referencing
○Writing detailed report
Topic: "Compare cloud providers for a startup in 2026"
💻03

Code Execution & File Creation

Lets Claude run Python code in a secure sandbox, see the output, and create downloadable files — spreadsheets, charts, and processed datasets — in Anthropic's sandbox rather than on your machine.

When to use
  • ·Analyzing CSV or Excel data with real calculations
  • ·Generating charts or visualizations from data
  • ·Testing code snippets and verifying they work before copying
  • ·Creating files (CSV, images, PDFs) you can download directly
Example: Upload a sales.csv, enable code execution, and ask: 'Group revenue by region and create a summary CSV.'
analysis.py — running…Executed
import pandas as pd
df = pd.read_csv("sales.csv")
print(df.groupby("region")["revenue"].sum())
Output:
region
North 45200
South 38100
West 52400
📄 Created: sales_summary.csv⬇️ Download
🧠04

Generating memories from chat history

Claude can learn preferences from your conversations and save them as memories — things like your role, preferred tone, formatting habits, or ongoing projects. Memories persist across chats so you don't repeat yourself.

When to use
  • ·When Claude notices a pattern — e.g. you always want bullet points
  • ·Saving your role or expertise level for tailored answers
  • ·Remembering project context that applies across conversations
  • ·You review and approve each memory before it is saved
Example: After several chats where you ask for concise answers, Claude suggests: 'Save that you prefer concise responses?' — you click Approve.
🧠 Memories — learned from your chats
Preferred toneConcise, professional
RoleSoftware developer
Format preferenceBullet points for lists
Claude suggested saving "I prefer bullet points" from a recent conversation — you approved it.

Managing your settings

FeatureWhere to control itScope
Web searchChat input toolbar (🌐 icon)Per conversation
Deep ResearchChat input toolbar or Research menuPer conversation
Code executionChat input toolbar (💻 icon)Per conversation
MemoriesSettings → MemoriesAccount-wide (you approve each)
Plan note: Some features — Deep Research, code execution, and extended memory — may require a Pro or Team plan. Free accounts have access to basic web search and limited memory. Check your plan at Settings → Plan on claude.ai.
Summary:
  • Web search toggle — turn live internet access on or off per chat.
  • Deep Research — longer reports pulled from multiple sources.
  • Code execution — run Python, see output, and download created files.
  • Memories — Claude learns your preferences from chat history with your approval.

What's Next

Formatting & Response Style — Markdown output, length, and formats like JSON and bullet lists.