OpenAI has just unveiled a highly anticipated feature: the ability to branch conversations from any point in ChatGPT. This powerful functionality is now available on the web version of the service, enabling users to explore different conversational directions without losing the original context.
How It Works
To get started:
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Open ChatGPT in your browser and load any conversation.
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Hover over a message and click the three-dot menu ("More actions") located beneath each response.
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Select “Branch in new chat” to create a new thread starting from that point.
Each new branch opens in a separate browser tab. A horizontal line clearly marks the branching point for easy reference. The branched conversation receives an auto-generated title prefixed with "Branch", making it easy to locate in your sidebar history. BGRTech Times
Although branches don’t nest within the original conversation, they are managed as separate sessions. If you’re using the Projects feature, recently made available to most users, you can now group original chats and their branches under a single project for streamlined organization. The VergeTech Times
Currently, this branching feature is available only on the web version of ChatGPT—not yet supported in the mobile app. BGRmintAbsolute Geeks
Why This Matters
This update moves ChatGPT beyond linear conversation structure and addresses a long-standing user pain point. Previously, if you wanted to explore alternative ideas, you had two frustrating options:
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Overwrite the current conversation—risking loss of valuable content.
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Start a completely new chat—then you'd lose all context.
With branching, you can now preserve your original chat while experimenting with new directions—exactly like creating branches in version-control systems such as Git. Tech TimesTMCnet Blog
This feature is especially helpful for:
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Creative projects (e.g., branching different story or design concepts)
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Research or brainstorming (testing multiple hypotheses in parallel)
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Professional workflows (comparing alternate scripts, marketing drafts, or financial models side by side)
Community Reactions
On Reddit, many users expressed excitement:
“Oh damn that’s a good upgrade.”
“If it means we can now start new chats when the conversation begins to jam, it's probably one of the most requested features. … It even lags the typing itself— as in, the whole app jams.” Reddit+1
These comments highlight how much users valued the ability to avoid slowdowns and interruptions in long, complex chats.
Summary Table
| Aspect | Description |
|---|---|
| Feature | Branching conversations from any message in ChatGPT |
| How to Use | Click three-dot menu → “Branch in new chat” → opens in a new tab |
| Branch Navigation | Each branch labeled “Branch…” in history sidebar |
| Organization | Use Projects to group branches and original chats into one organized space |
| Platform Availability | Web version only; mobile apps not yet supported |
| Key Benefits | Enables experimentation without losing context, ideal for creative & work workflows |
Final Thoughts
This feature marks a notable shift—positioning ChatGPT not just as a conversational tool but as a workspace for branching ideas and structured exploration. By letting users create multiple paths from a single conversation, OpenAI empowers both casual users and professionals to think more flexibly and work more efficiently.
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