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The chat area is the main CC GUI surface. Here you see how the assistant thinks, which tools it called, which files it changed, and how much context this turn used.
Chat with tool callsChat with tool calls

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Empty sessions and the welcome screen

When a new session has no messages, the middle shows a welcome screen: the current provider’s logo, version, and “Send a message to …”. Click the version to open the changelog. After the SDK is installed and a provider is enabled, the input box is ready. If it says the SDK is not installed, click Go to install to jump to SDK dependencies.

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What a message can contain

Assistant messages are usually several blocks: A spinner shows while a tool call is running. It should stop after a multi-step task ends. If it keeps spinning, see FAQ. Click a message to roll back to before that turn. See Sessions, tabs, and history.

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Streaming and stop

Streaming is on by default: text and tool blocks appear as they are generated. Turn it off in Settings → General → Behavior to receive each reply as a whole. While generating, the input button becomes Stop. Click it to interrupt the current turn:
  • Claude / Codex: end the current request
  • Grok / Kimi / OpenCode / Pi: also end the matching child process
If you stop it yourself, the completion toast and sound do not play.

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Search in the chat

Press Cmd+F (Windows / Linux: Ctrl+F) to search inside the conversation.
  • Enter / Shift+Enter: next / previous
  • Alt+C: match case
  • Alt+W: whole word
  • Alt+R: regular expression
  • Esc: close
If early messages are collapsed, search expands them first, then jumps to the match. In-chat search

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Context usage

The context indicator near the input box shows how much of the current window is used. Click it for a finer breakdown. When you are close to the limit you can:
  • Send /compact so the model summarizes earlier turns
  • Start a new session and keep only the files you need
  • Avoid pasting large logs. Mention files with @ instead
Context usage After /compact, you can expand or collapse the summary node. Messages before the summary stay in history. They are just collapsed by default.

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Status panel

On longer tasks, a status panel appears on the right or at the bottom: Status panel Undoing a file change cannot be undone again. Review the list before you confirm.

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Permissions, questions, and Plan

When the model needs to edit a file, run a command, or ask you a multiple-choice question, a dialog appears. Set the timeout in Settings → General → Behavior, from 30–3600 seconds. After timeout the dialog closes and the model continues with the current policy. In plan mode, the model first gives a read-only plan and waits for your approval before it edits code. See Modes and permissions.

Input box

@, /, #, !, attachments, and send shortcuts.

Sessions and history

Tabs, stars, export, and rollback.