> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.memoryplugin.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# How do I turn on Smart Memory?

> Organize a bucket into categories so the AI loads only what a conversation needs

export const ArticleInfo = ({author, lastUpdated}) => {
  const authorAvatar = author === 'Alara' ? '/images/author-alara.jpg' : author === 'asad' ? '/images/author-alara.jpg' : null;
  const formatDate = dateInput => {
    if (!dateInput) return '';
    if (typeof dateInput === 'string' && !dateInput.match(/^\d{4}-\d{2}-\d{2}/)) {
      return dateInput;
    }
    try {
      const date = new Date(dateInput);
      const now = new Date();
      const diffTime = Math.abs(now - date);
      const diffDays = Math.floor(diffTime / (1000 * 60 * 60 * 24));
      if (diffDays === 0) return 'today';
      if (diffDays === 1) return '1 day ago';
      if (diffDays < 7) return `${diffDays} days ago`;
      if (diffDays < 30) return `${Math.ceil(diffDays / 7)} week${Math.ceil(diffDays / 7) > 1 ? 's' : ''} ago`;
      if (diffDays < 365) return `${Math.ceil(diffDays / 30)} month${Math.ceil(diffDays / 30) > 1 ? 's' : ''} ago`;
      return `${Math.ceil(diffDays / 365)} year${Math.ceil(diffDays / 365) > 1 ? 's' : ''} ago`;
    } catch {
      return dateInput;
    }
  };
  return <div style={{
    display: "flex",
    alignItems: "center",
    gap: "8px",
    marginBottom: "16px",
    padding: "8px 12px",
    backgroundColor: "var(--ifm-color-emphasis-100)",
    borderRadius: "6px",
    fontSize: "14px",
    color: "var(--ifm-color-content-secondary)",
    border: "1px solid var(--ifm-color-emphasis-200)",
    opacity: "0.8"
  }}>
      <div style={{
    width: "40px",
    height: "40px",
    borderRadius: "50%",
    background: authorAvatar || "linear-gradient(45deg, #4F46E5, #7C3AED)",
    display: "flex",
    alignItems: "center",
    justifyContent: "center",
    color: "white",
    fontWeight: "bold",
    fontSize: "18px"
  }}>
        {authorAvatar ? <img src={authorAvatar} alt={author} style={{
    width: "100%",
    height: "100%",
    borderRadius: "50%"
  }} /> : author?.[0]?.toUpperCase()}
      </div>
      <div>
        <div style={{
    fontWeight: "400",
    fontSize: "14px"
  }}>Written by <span style={{
    fontWeight: "600"
  }}>{author}</span></div>
        <div style={{
    fontSize: "14px"
  }}>Last updated <span style={{
    fontWeight: "600"
  }}>{formatDate(lastUpdated)}</span></div>
      </div>
    </div>;
};

<ArticleInfo author="Alara" lastUpdated="2026-07-12" />

In the dashboard, select the bucket you want and click **Organize with AI** in the **Smart Categories** panel. Once the categories are built, flip on **Smart Mode** in the extension panel to use them in chat. Dashboard and extension use different names (**Smart Categories** vs **Smart Mode**) for the same feature.

## Before you start

* The bucket needs at least **30 memories** before categories can be built.
* Smart Memory works on a **specific bucket**, not on **All Memories**.
* It's included on all paid plans, including Core.

## Steps

<Steps>
  <Step title="Build the categories">
    In the [dashboard](https://memoryplugin.com/dashboard), select your bucket and click **Organize with AI** in the Smart Categories panel. It usually takes a few minutes; you'll see a progress percentage.
  </Step>

  <Step title="(Optional) name your own categories first">
    Before the first run, the gear icon opens **Custom Categories (Optional)** where you can enter 2 to 10 category names. Leave it empty to let the AI decide.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Turn on Smart Mode in chat">
    In the extension panel, select that bucket and flip the **Smart Mode** toggle in the bucket row. The AI now loads category summaries first and pulls full memories only from the categories the conversation needs.
  </Step>
</Steps>

New memories added to the bucket are assigned to categories automatically from then on. Re-run **Organize with AI** any time to recategorize.

## Related

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Smart Memory" icon="brain" href="/features/smart-memory">
    How selective loading works, limits, and resetting categories
  </Card>

  <Card title="Memory Buckets" icon="folder" href="/features/memory-buckets">
    Split large collections into focused buckets
  </Card>
</CardGroup>