# Understand Smart Context

> Learn how Smart Context retrieves relevant chat knowledge automatically.

- Canonical page: [https://www.summonworlds.com/guidebook/understand-smart-context/](https://www.summonworlds.com/guidebook/understand-smart-context/)
- Publisher: Summon Worlds by OpenForge LLC
- Last updated: 2026-07-20

Smart Context retrieves the knowledge most relevant to the current message. Use it when a chat should draw from connected lore without loading every possible fact into every response.

## How Smart Context works

1. **Send a message in a chat.** Smart Context evaluates the current message and conversation.
2. **Let Smart Context retrieve relevant knowledge.** Connected memories, lore, Characters, Equipment, and events can be selected automatically.
3. **Review the response.** Existing Worlds, Characters, memories, Instructions, and Custom Knowledge continue to work; retrieval is simply more selective.

> Important: Smart Context is active automatically. You do not need to enable every knowledge source for every message or manually optimize a context-size chart.

The current UI confirms this with: **Smart Context Active — We intelligently load only the context your message needs.**

## Use the remaining knowledge controls

The **Memories**, **Instructions**, and **World** controls in **Chat Settings** determine which kinds of information are eligible for the chat. Smart Context then chooses relevant information from the enabled sources. Turn a source off only when you do not want that kind of information used—not as a routine Mana-saving step.

## Understand Mana estimates

Selective retrieval is intended to make per-message context and Mana use more predictable. Review the current estimate shown in **Chat Settings** before sending when the exact cost matters; live configuration can change.

## Troubleshooting

### A response misses an important fact

Confirm that the relevant World, Character, Memory, Instructions, or Custom Knowledge is connected to the chat and enabled. State the fact clearly in your next message if it is immediately important.

### A response uses unwanted knowledge

Open **Chat Settings** and disable the source that should not participate, or correct the fact in the relevant Memory, Instructions, or World content.

> Troubleshooting: Temporary model or provider issues belong in Community Updates or the official Reddit, not in permanent Smart Context instructions.

## Related guides

- [Customize Chat Settings](/guidebook/5-customizing-chats/)
- [Manage Memories and Custom Knowledge](/guidebook/manage-memories-and-custom-knowledge/)
- [Start a Chat](/guidebook/4-ai-chats-with-characters/)