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Why branch a chat

Branching lets you try a different version of a turn without throwing away the first one. Re-ask a question a new way, explore a “what if,” or compare two approaches side by side — each path is kept, so you can switch between them and keep the one that works.

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Create a branch by editing a message

Chief: branch a chat — edit a message to create a branch
A branch is created when you edit one of your earlier messages: Chief keeps the original answer and generates a new one alongside it.
  1. Find one of your earlier messages in the thread and edit it.
  2. Change the wording, then send. Chief produces a fresh answer for the edited version while preserving the original.
  3. The turn now has more than one branch — the original and your new version both live in the thread.

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Move between branches

Chief: branch a chat — the branch navigator to move between versions
Where a turn has more than one version, a small branch navigator appears showing your position (for example, 2 of 3) with previous and next arrows. To switch versions:
  1. Locate the branch navigator on the branched turn.
  2. Click the previous (left) or next (right) arrow to step between versions.
  3. The thread below updates to follow the branch you selected.
A divider labeled with the branch count (for example, “3 branches”) marks where a turn splits, so you can see at a glance where the conversation forked.
ℹ️ Good to Know: In the prompt timeline, turns that contain alternatives are tagged Has branches, making it easy to find every fork in a long chat.

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FAQ

Branch switching is disabled while an answer is still streaming. Wait for the current response to finish, then use the previous and next arrows.
No. Editing a message creates a new branch alongside the original — both are kept. Use the branch navigator’s arrows to move back to the first version any time.
A branch stays inside the same chat and shares the context up to the point where it split, so you can compare alternatives in one place. A new chat starts fresh with no shared history.