---
title: "Start a chat in Matilda"
summary: "Open a new chat, send your first message and keep a separate conversation for another task in Matilda on the web."
url: https://help.maincode.com/products/matilda/v1/en/chats/start-a-chat
product: "Matilda"
kind: how-to
version: v1
source: MaincodeHQ/matilda-apps@44e52b188d4d324371ee5fb4bb094dc1789ea478
---

# Start a chat in Matilda

Start a new chat to ask Matilda a question or work on a separate task.
These steps cover Matilda in a web browser.

## Before you start {#before-you-start}

Open [Matilda](https://matilda.com) and sign in to your account.
Update any older bookmarks to use matilda.com.
Use sample text while learning the controls. Check your organisation's rules
before adding confidential information.

For company access, follow [company sign-in](https://help.maincode.com/products/matilda/v1/en/authentication/sign-in-with-your-company). If
your organisation is available under **Chat as** in the account menu, select it
before sending an organisation message. Opening organisation Settings does not
select that Chat context.

## Send your first message {#send-your-first-message}

1. Select **New chat** in the sidebar. On a narrow screen, select **Open sidebar**
   first to reveal it.
2. Enter your question or task in the message box. Include the result you want
   and any context Matilda needs. For example, “Help me draft an agenda for a
   30-minute project meeting.”
3. Select **Send message**. Matilda's reply appears in the conversation.
4. To refine the result, send a follow-up in the same chat. For example,
   “Allow five minutes for questions.”

Use the message box to describe your task. This example uses sample text.

![The Matilda message box containing a sample meeting-agenda request, with the Send message control ready.](https://help.maincode.com/media/matilda/v1/en/111ba8e0d62f39a87bdae246d05f7e4af674f52ca7f927958c2c3022eafd0035.png)

## Start a separate task {#start-a-separate-task}

Select **New chat** again when you want a separate conversation. To return to an
existing conversation, open the sidebar and select its title.

On a narrow screen, the sidebar opens over the chat so you can choose a
conversation or start another one.

![The Matilda sidebar on a narrow screen, with the New chat control above the conversation list.](https://help.maincode.com/media/matilda/v1/en/d5f500d3a7e9658af8e17bbe340073973bebe2e1dc64ebb29cc91d19e34c09dd.png)

## If the reply stops early {#if-the-reply-stops-early}

Read the notice below the answer before resending your question.
[Recover an incomplete answer](https://help.maincode.com/products/matilda/v1/en/chats/recover-an-incomplete-answer#s-choose-the-next-action)
explains when to use **Continue** or **Retry**.