Sidebar AI Chat

Yes. Add each provider in the settings and choose the one you need for every chat. You can switch models without losing conversation history.

Chats are saved locally in your browser. Clearing your cache or uninstalling the extension removes them, so export important conversations first.

The extension is free. You only pay for usage charged by the API providers whose keys you connect.

No. Requests go directly from your browser to the provider or proxy you configure. Ensure HTTPS is enabled on any proxy you expose to the public internet.

1. Open chrome://extensions in your browser.
2. Enable Developer mode in the top-right corner.
3. Locate Sidebar AI Chat and copy the ID displayed beneath its title.

The extension adds a workspace where you can chat with AI assistants while keeping quick access to settings in a collapsible sidebar. It lets you create or select assistants, define reusable instructions, configure default models, review previous conversations, and attach files to messages.

All assistants, instructions, chat setups, conversation history, and uploaded files are stored locally in the browser using persistent storage. Your information stays on the device and is automatically restored the next time you open the extension.

1. Select the + button below the message composer.
2. Confirm that the workspace clears the current conversation.
3. Send your next message to begin a fresh thread.

1. Click the history icon beside the new chat button.
2. Browse the list of stored conversations.
3. Select a thread to load it back into the workspace.

Yes. Drag files, images, or other supported assets onto the window. They are uploaded into local storage, linked to the relevant conversation, and displayed alongside the associated messages.

1. Click the gear icon on the vertical toolbar.
2. Wait for the sidebar to slide into view.
3. Choose the section you want to manage from the sidebar navigation.

• Assistants for creating and managing provider connections.
• Instructions for reusable prompt templates.
• Chat Configs for bundling assistants, instructions, and defaults.

1. Open Settings → Assistants.
2. Select the + button at the bottom of the list.
3. Fill in the assistant name, provider or model family, and required credentials.
4. Save the form to make the assistant available for future chats.

1. Open the assistant list from Settings → Assistants.
2. Choose the delete control to remove an entry or open its detail view.
3. Adjust the fields as needed—the changes save immediately.

Instructions are reusable prompts that shape the behavior of your assistant. Navigate to Settings → Instructions to add, edit, or delete these templates. Once saved, instructions can be applied to any chat configuration.

Chat configurations bundle an assistant, a set of instructions, and other preferences into a reusable preset. Manage them under Settings → Chat Configs to quickly switch the workspace between different workflows.

1. Hover over the chat icons on the vertical toolbar to find the configuration you need.
2. Click a different icon to activate it.
3. Confirm that the highlighted state updates, indicating the new defaults are applied.

The extension supports multiple AI providers, including options such as OpenAI, Anthropic, xAI, and local runtimes. Each assistant can expose the models that are available for that provider, making it easy to compare responses across services.

When you open the message composer, the model selector presents the models from the currently active assistant or chat configuration. Switching configurations refreshes the list automatically so the selector stays in sync with your preferences.

When the settings panel is active, the chat input is temporarily disabled. This prevents accidental sends while you adjust configurations and clearly indicates that the workspace is in edit mode.