Claude Just Dropped 7 Updates (Here's Which 4 to Use)
Try split view, side chats, nested sessions, and a master session to manage Claude work without losing context.
- Use split view on Mac: Option-click a sidebar chat, or right-click and choose Open in Split View.
- Use `/btw` or Command+Semicolon to ask about a running chat without interrupting it; side chats aren’t saved.
- Run parallel tasks as nested sessions, then ask a master session which chats need your decision.
The feature rankings and practical setup steps are covered in the notes. · Best for: Claude Desktop users who juggle research, writing, and multiple parallel tasks.
The video ranks seven Claude Desktop updates. It recommends four for immediate use—split view, side chats, nested sessions, and a master session—while advising viewers to defer or skip the others. It also warns that parallel chats consume the same plan usage limit.
Mods and Projects0:00
- Mods change Claude’s appearance or behavior; create one by describing it to Claude, and install others with `/plugin install` in the desktop app’s code tab. Only install trusted mods.
- Projects can run larger jobs in Anthropic’s cloud after you close your laptop. The public beta is rolling out to Pro, Max, and Ultra; uploaded files go to Anthropic’s server and projects use plan limits faster.
- The creator says to skip mods for now and try Projects when you have a substantial job you can leave running.
Artifacts and related features2:36
- Docs, Slides, and Design are artifacts you build and edit in a panel beside chat. Slides can export to PowerPoint, PDF, or Google Slides.
- Dashboards connect to live data tools such as Salesforce and show the query behind each chart; they are in beta on paid plans.
- Claude Motion turns text, charts, and images into downloadable MP4 animations; the transcript says it is available on Team and Enterprise.
Split view and side chats4:24
- On Mac, Option-click a chat in the sidebar or right-click it and choose Open in Split View. Exit with Command+Control+W.
- Open a side chat with `/btw` or Command+Semicolon. It can read the main thread so far without interrupting the job, but side chats aren’t saved to disk.
Usage controls and nested sessions5:23
- Parallel chats share the plan’s usage limit. Check the usage ring before starting another chat.
- Skill Doctor reports how much memory each skill uses and how often it is used; the Adviser command lets Claude consult a stronger model at selected moments.
- Nested sessions start separate chats for parallel tasks, such as a script, thumbnail brief, and chaptered description. They appear in the sidebar and can be inspected or steered individually.
- Nested sessions run on your computer, so enable the setting that keeps it awake while Claude works.
Master session7:13
- Ask one chat to act as your master session, then ask which other chats are waiting for a decision.
- By default, it can see the 20 most recently active chats and skips archived chats unless asked; it cannot see chats started from terminal or VS Code, or chats running in Anthropic’s cloud.
- Use sidebar sections to group chats, for example by client.
Step by step
- For two simultaneous tasks, open the chats in split view on Mac using Option-click or the sidebar context menu.
- When a long task is running, use `/btw` or Command+Semicolon to ask for a progress recap without interrupting it.
- Before running parallel work, check the usage ring; consider disabling skills you rarely use with Skill Doctor’s information.
- Ask Claude in one message to create separate nested sessions for each task, and enable the keep-awake setting.
- Choose a chat as your master session and ask which other chats are waiting on your decision; group chats into sidebar sections if useful.
Tools & resources mentioned
- Claude Desktop — app where the discussed features are used.
- `/plugin install` — install a mod in the desktop app’s code tab.
- `/btw` and Command+Semicolon — open a side chat.
- Skill Doctor — inspect skill usage and memory footprint.
- Adviser command — have Claude consult a selected stronger model at key moments.
- Sonnet and Opus — models named as the speaker’s main model and adviser.
Notes are AI-generated from the video's transcript and may miss nuance.