How to start a new conversation on ChatGPT

beginner 8 min read Updated 2026-03-18

Quick Answer

Starting a new conversation on ChatGPT is simple: click the New chat button in the sidebar or use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Shift+O. This creates a fresh conversation thread where you can ask questions or give prompts without any previous context affecting the responses.

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Prerequisites

Active internet connection
ChatGPT account (free or paid)
Web browser or ChatGPT mobile app
Basic understanding of text input

Step-by-Step Instructions

Access ChatGPT

Navigate to chat.openai.com in your web browser or open the ChatGPT mobile app. Log in to your account if you haven't already. You'll see the main ChatGPT interface with a sidebar on the left and the conversation area on the right.

Bookmark the ChatGPT URL for quick access in the future.

Locate the New Chat Button

In the left sidebar, look for the New chat button. It's typically located at the top of the sidebar and may appear as a button with a plus icon or pencil icon next to the text New chat.

You can also use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Shift+O (or Cmd+Shift+O on Mac) to quickly start a new chat.

Click New Chat

Click the New chat button. The interface will refresh and you'll see a clean conversation area with no previous messages. The sidebar will show your new conversation at the top of your chat history.

Choose Your Model (If Applicable)

If you have a ChatGPT Plus or Team subscription, you may see model options like GPT-4 or GPT-3.5 at the top of the conversation. Select your preferred model by clicking on it before starting your conversation.

GPT-4 generally provides more accurate responses but has usage limits for paid users.

Type Your First Message

Click in the text input box at the bottom of the screen where it says Message ChatGPT... or similar placeholder text. Type your question, request, or prompt clearly and specifically.

Be specific and clear in your prompts for better responses. Include context and details about what you're looking for.

Send Your Message

Press Enter on your keyboard or click the Send button (usually an arrow icon) to submit your message. ChatGPT will begin generating a response immediately.

Use Shift+Enter to create line breaks in your message without sending it.

Review and Continue the Conversation

Wait for ChatGPT to generate its response. Once complete, you can continue the conversation by typing follow-up questions or requests in the same chat. Each message builds on the previous context within this conversation thread.

You can stop generation at any time by clicking the stop button if the response is taking too long.

Common Issues & Troubleshooting

New chat button is not visible or clickable

Try refreshing the page with F5 or Ctrl+R. If using a mobile device, close and reopen the app. Check if you're properly logged in to your account.

Getting error messages when trying to start a new conversation

Clear your browser cache and cookies for ChatGPT. Try using an incognito/private browsing window. If the issue persists, check OpenAI's status page for service outages.

Cannot type in the message input box

Click directly in the input area to ensure it's focused. Disable browser extensions that might interfere with the interface. Try using a different browser or device to isolate the issue.

Previous conversation context is still affecting responses in new chat

Ensure you clicked New chat and not just scrolled to the bottom of an existing conversation. Look for the conversation title in the sidebar to confirm you're in a fresh thread. Try refreshing the page and starting a new chat again.

Prices mentioned in this guide are pulled from current plan data and may change. Always verify on the official ChatGPT website before purchasing.

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