How to use Perplexity: search, Pro Search, files and Projects

To use Perplexity, type a question in plain language into the search bar and read the answer, which comes with links to the sources behind each part. Follow-up questions stay in the same session, so you can refine the answer instead of starting over. This guide covers the steps in Perplexity's help center, as of November 5, 2026.

By the end you will know how to ask a good question, use Pro Search, upload a file, and keep your work together in a Project. Whether you need a paid plan is a separate question: see our article on whether Perplexity is free and the price of Perplexity Pro.

How to run your first search

1. Open Perplexity in a web browser or in the iOS or Android app.
2. Select Search and type your question. Use a full sentence when context matters, or two or three keywords for a quick answer. The help center's own examples include "What are the best headphones for running?" and "Create an introduction to Python with example syntax and fundamentals."
3. Read the answer and check the sources linked in it. Perplexity searches the web, summarizes what it finds and shows where each part came from.
4. Ask a follow-up in the same session. Each question starts a session, and follow-ups keep the earlier context.

How to use Pro Search

Pro Search is the in-depth mode. It draws on many sources instead of one or two, and links to each. It takes longer than a basic search, so it suits research, analysis and complex questions. Basic search suits quick facts.

It is no longer a separate toggle. When you select Search, Perplexity applies Pro Search automatically if your plan includes it, up to your plan's usage limit. On the web and in Comet, Perplexity's browser, you can pick a specific AI model or leave it on Best. For a longer, report-style answer, choose Deep Research from the Search menu. The mobile apps work the same way.

The help center gives these example prompts for Pro Search:

• Plan a 5-day trip to Paris that includes the Louvre and Versailles.
• Summarize recent peer-reviewed research on sleep and memory consolidation.
• Give me a balanced briefing on today's top news stories from multiple sources.

Pro Search also includes a code interpreter, which can run code, analyze data and help debug. The help center advises checking the linked sources, because accuracy still depends on you verifying them.

How to write a better prompt

Perplexity's tips page says a strong prompt can include five parts:

• Instruction: what you want done.
• Context: background that helps with the task.
• Input: the specific data or text to work from.
• Keywords: terms that focus the answer.
• Output format: how you want the response structured.

Start with a clear goal and plain language, and refine as you go. The page warns against vague requests, asking for too much at once and leaving out key context. One of its examples asks for a 7-day gluten-free meal plan under 2,000 calories a day, with high protein, recipes and a weekly shopping list. That prompt has an instruction, constraints and an output format.

How to upload a file and ask about it

1. Start a new session.
2. Click Attach in the search bar, or drag and drop files or folders into it.
3. Ask your question. Uploaded files stay available in that session for follow-ups, and you can search the web in the same session.

Perplexity reads text files, code, PDFs and images. It also accepts audio (MP3, MPEG, WAV, AIFF, OGG, FLAC) and video (MP4, MPEG, MOV, AVI, FLV, MPG, WebM, WMV, 3GPP), and transcribes the speech. Only spoken content in video is searchable, not the visuals.

Limits, as of November 5, 2026:

How to keep your work in Projects

A Project is a shared workspace for your searches, files, instructions and connected tools.

1. Open Projects in the left sidebar and select New project.
2. Enter a title of up to 50 characters. A description, icon and color are optional.
3. Open the Project's settings to add instructions of up to 8,000 characters.
4. Choose who can access it. Projects are private by default.

You can also create a Project from an existing session, and Perplexity will suggest a title, description and instructions. A Project holds up to 10,000 files and 5 GB, with a maximum of 100 MB per file. Without a paid organization account, a Project allows up to 5 contributors.

Sharing and privacy

Sessions and Projects are private by default. To share a session, select Share. In Settings you can set your language, output format and tone so answers fit you.

Where to get help

Open Help and choose Contact Support. Pro subscribers can use live chat in Settings. Perplexity's help center also has separate collections on features, billing, troubleshooting and its Comet browser. What each plan includes changes often, so check the help center for your plan's current limits.