Claude is testing a brand-new "dual-mode memory system" — possibly the largest architectural upgrade since Claude's memory capabilities launched. The new system has two core components: Memory Files and Dreams, alongside an always-on Agent platform called Claude Conway that runs 24/7.

If you often use Claude for long-horizon projects, this upgrade directly solves the core pain of "it forgets mid-conversation."

The Old Problems with Claude's Memory System

Claude's existing "classic memory" is essentially an ever-rolling sticky note. It compresses everything it learns about you into a single summary.

The problem is obvious: once the information piles up, the summary starts to "overflow." The old gets overwritten by the new; the important drowns under the trivial. Claude remembers the coffee order you placed yesterday but forgets the product architecture you spent three hours discussing with it last month.

Memory Files: A Built-In Personal Wiki

Memory Files is the heart of this upgrade. Anthropic has built Claude a built-in "personal Wiki."

As it chats with you, Claude automatically writes and organizes structured documents by topic, project, or context. When a future conversation touches on a related subject, it doesn't cram all its memories into the context window in one go — it selectively reads the corresponding files.

The Three Big Advantages of Memory Files

1. No capacity limit

File-system-based memory management can, in theory, scale without limit — no longer bottlenecked by the length of a single summary.

2. Precise On-Demand Retrieval

When you talk code, it pulls only the technical documents; when you talk travel, only your travel preferences. Not the brute-force flooding of "full memory," but the precise feeding of "retrieval on demand."

3. User Control

Like editing Wiki entries, you can browse, modify, or delete any of Claude's memory files at any time. Don't want it remembering something? Just delete that file.

Dreams: An Auto-Organizer for Memory

Dreams is a memory consolidation mechanism. Its job is to keep the memories in Memory Files "fresh over time and neatly ordered."

An analogy: if Memory Files are your filing cabinet, Dreams is the assistant who comes regularly to tidy it up. It automatically merges duplicate memories, archives outdated information, and updates preferences that have changed.

Claude Conway: A 24/7 Agent Platform

Debuting alongside the memory upgrade is Claude Conway — an Agent platform that never goes offline, running 24/7.

Memory Files provide persistent structured memory, and Dreams keeps those memories in order — these two core capabilities form Conway's foundation.

This means Conway can keep working while you're offline and seamlessly pick up the previous context in your next conversation.

Switching Between the Dual Memory Systems

Once it officially launches, users will be able to switch freely between "classic memory" and "file memory" modes. That gives you a transition period — no need to abandon the workflow you're used to right away.

Launch Status

Claude's dual memory system is still in testing and was first revealed by the AI tracking platform TestingCatalog. Anthropic hasn't announced an official launch date yet, but judging by the completeness of the exposed features, an official release shouldn't be far off.

Application Scenarios

• Long-horizon project management: project context is no longer lost when a conversation breaks off
• Personal knowledge management: Claude automatically maintains a structured document of your preferences and requirements
• Continuous Agent tasks: the Conway platform lets Agents run 24/7, fitting monitoring, research, and similar scenarios