Change or clear the default Sidekick

Change or clear the default Sidekick in Cortex Chat: practical steps, setting explanations, result checks and troubleshooting.

An explicit assistant selection can override the default for the current context. Changing the default is useful for future app openings; it does not mean every existing conversation or running task has moved to another agent.

Before you start

The Sidekick identity, role description, runtime and tool policy describe different things. Name and artwork identify the assistant. Skills and job tell it how to approach work. Sessions determines whether its runtime is available, and saved tool settings determine the operations it can use. An assistant can therefore have a clear job but still be offline or lack a required app permission. Diagnose the specific layer before restarting or replacing it. In particular, removal is not a harmless refresh: the confirmation explains that the transcript is permanently deleted. Preserve the work you need through an appropriate authorised artifact before a destructive action.

Step-by-step

1. Open the settings for the assistant that should become default, or the existing default to clear it.
2. Change the Default Sidekick switch and wait for a confirmed account save.
3. Open the intended app and inspect the assistant name before starting work.

What the settings mean

Check the result

New implicit selections use the intended preference without changing unrelated conversation history.

If it does not work

If the old assistant remains visible, check for an explicit current selection. Confirm the default save before assuming cross-device synchronisation failed.

Continue with the right context

Return to the Cortex Chat guide index to choose another task. Keep the current account, assistant and conversation in view when following the next guide. To use the product, open Cortex Chat.

• Create a specialist Sidekick
• Write a clear Skills and job description
• Read a Sidekick runtime status

Last updated 2026-11-05