← Back to all guidesUpdated Sep 28, 2026
Claude's memory is the structured list of facts and preferences it has learned about you over time. It is bundled into the standard Claude data export as of 2026, but you can also view, edit, and copy individual entries from the Settings UI at any time. This guide covers how to review what Claude remembers, keep a readable backup of just the memory entries, and remove anything you would rather not have stored.
Written by Charles
Export at a glance
Request method
In-product settings
Archive format
JSON, HTML, ZIP
Sensitivity
Medium: communications, purchase records
Primary use
Backup: preserve a copy for yourself
Archive file map
Top-level structure of the export. Each entry is a file or directory with its format badge and what it contains.
conversations.jsonJSONFull chat history with timestamps, message roles, and attachments index
memory.jsonJSONStructured memory entries: the facts and preferences Claude has learned about you
user.jsonJSONAccount metadata: email, account creation date, plan, preferences
projects/JSONProject files: per-project instructions, attached files, and conversation history
claude-memory-YYYY-MM.txtTXTManual memory snapshot copied from Settings > Memory > View and edit (plain-text readable)
What Claude memory actually is
Claude's memory is a structured list of facts and patterns it has learned about you over time. It is separate from your conversation history in the UI, even though both ship together in the standard data export.
- Personal details: name, role, interests, and context you have shared
- Long-running projects and recurring topics you have discussed
- Preferences about tone, style, and format of responses
- Corrections you have made that Claude tries to remember going forward
- Anything you have explicitly asked Claude to remember using /remember or the memory settings
Why review and back up your memory
Memory entries can quietly accumulate over months of use. Some will be outdated, inaccurate, or things you would rather not have on file. Reviewing gives you a chance to delete what is no longer relevant, and copying your memory out gives you a compact readable snapshot you can back up or move to another tool.
- See exactly what Claude has stored about you. The Settings UI shows every entry as plain text
- Edit or delete anything wrong, outdated, or sensitive
- Copy the full memory into a local .txt or .md file as a portable backup
- Use that backup as a starting profile if you switch to a different AI tool
Step-by-step: view and copy your memory from Settings
Claude offers a built-in way to see its memory in one place and copy it out. This gives you a human-readable snapshot you can save as a backup, independent of the full data export.
- Open Claude in a desktop browser or desktop app and sign in.
- Click your profile icon or initials in the lower-left corner of the screen.
- Choose Settings from the menu.
- Open the Memory section (or Capabilities > Memory in the legacy UI).
- Click View and edit your memory.
- Scroll through the entries: review what Claude has stored about you.
- Select all the visible memory text and copy it into a plain-text or Markdown file on your computer.
- Save the file in a clearly labeled folder, e.g. Claude-memory-2026-09.
What about the full Claude data export?
The standard data export (Settings > Privacy > Export Data) gives you a ZIP containing your conversation history. As of 2026, memory entries are included in that export too. So the full export is a complete backup of both conversations and memory in one file.
- Full data export: ZIP with conversations and memory entries bundled together
- Memory-only view in Settings: human-readable, easy to edit, easy to copy as plain text
- Both are worth doing: the full export for the long-term archive, the Settings copy for periodic review
Edit or delete entries you do not want to keep
You are not stuck with what Claude has learned. Settings > Memory gives you direct edit and delete controls for every entry.
- Delete any entry that is outdated, inaccurate, or sensitive
- Edit an entry in place to update wording or scope
- Use "Clear all memories" if you want to reset memory entirely
- These edits affect what Claude uses to shape future responses. Not the contents of past chats
Ask Claude to summarise its memory
If you want a more portable format than the Settings UI provides, you can ask Claude directly inside a chat to write out what it remembers.
- Start a new chat with Claude.
- Ask Claude to list everything it currently remembers about you, formatted one entry per line or as a Markdown code block for easy copying.
- When Claude responds, review the contents carefully.
- Copy the entire response and paste it into a local file (.txt or .md) and save it somewhere safe.
Storing your Claude memory safely
Your memory entries can contain very sensitive information: personal details, project notes, and ongoing context. Treat them like any other sensitive document.
- Save them in a private folder on your computer or in an encrypted cloud storage location
- Avoid uploading them to random tools or public cloud drives
- Store them alongside your other Digital Takeout Day exports. Email, fitness, social-media data
- ProtonDrive (ProtonDrive) is a good fit for encrypted off-site storage
- pCloud (pCloud) is useful for long-term archive storage
Using your Claude memory in other AI tools
Claude's memory import feature is designed to make it easier to bring history from other AI tools into Claude. The reverse also works: a Claude memory export is a portable plain-text profile you can hand to any other AI assistant.
- Give a new AI assistant a concise "about me" document so it responds in a familiar way
- Re-create long-term project context or preferences in another AI without re-explaining everything manually
- When pasting your memory into another tool, be mindful that you are effectively seeding that service with your personal profile. Only do so with tools you trust
Quick version
If you want the short checklist instead of the full guide, use the service page.
FAQ
Is my memory included in the standard Claude data export?
Yes. As of 2026, memory entries are bundled into the standard export (Settings > Privacy > Export Data). You can also view and copy them separately from Settings > Memory.
Is my memory export the same as my conversation history?
No. Conversations are a full record of your chats. Memory is a curated list of facts and preferences Claude has learned about you. They live in the same ZIP in the full export, but the Settings UI presents them separately.
Can I edit what Claude remembers?
Yes. In Settings > Memory > View and edit your memory, you can edit or delete any entry, or clear all memories at once.
How often should I review my Claude memory?
Every six months, aligned with Digital Takeout Day on May 8th and November 8th. Memory entries can become outdated, so a periodic review and a fresh backup is worthwhile.
Is the memory export human-readable?
Yes. The Settings UI shows your memory as plain text entries that are easy to read and copy. The prompt-based method lets you control the format further.
Can I import my Claude memory into another AI tool?
Yes. Your memory export is a plain text or Markdown file that you can paste into any AI tool as a starting profile. Only do this with tools you trust.
What is the difference between Claude memory and Projects?
Memory is a general list of facts and preferences that apply across all conversations. Projects are individual workspaces with their own instructions, context, and files. Both should be reviewed periodically; both are bundled into the standard data export as of 2026.
Last verified: Sep 3, 2026. Steps checked against support.claude.com. Report an outdated step →