Set your default Sidekick

Set your default Sidekick in Cortex Chat: practical steps, setting explanations, result checks and troubleshooting.

The default preference is used when opening an app or private assistant without an explicit choice. The settings distinguish a saved account preference from a cached device value, so the label matters when expecting another device to use the same assistant.

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 Settings for the intended Sidekick.
2. Turn on Default Sidekick and wait for the preference save to complete.
3. Read Saved to your account, then reopen an app without explicitly choosing another assistant.

What the settings mean

Check the result

The default points to the intended assistant and the save status is confirmed.

If it does not work

If saving fails, use Reload preference and compare the current account value before trying again. A cached device preference is not proof of server persistence.

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