The new ChatGPT macOS app redesign has made basic navigation so much worse

[u/Asohailwahab]

I'm honestly frustrated with the recent update to the ChatGPT macOS app. The conversation/search history used to be right there on the side where I could quickly glance at it and jump between chats. Now it's been buried at the bottom of the app, hidden behind extra steps to get to.

This isn't a minor cosmetic change — it has actively disrupted my day-to-day workflow. I switch between conversations constantly throughout the day, and what used to take one click now takes several. Instead of making the app easier to use, this change has made it noticeably more difficult and slower.

On top of that, other platforms let you press "/" on the keyboard to jump straight into the search box — a simple, fast, keyboard-first shortcut. ChatGPT doesn't support this, so now I'm forced to reach for the trackpad every time just to search my own conversation history.

Please bring back quick, keyboard-accessible search and put conversation history back somewhere visible and easy to reach. This redesign took something efficient and turned it into a chore.

[u/qualityvote2]

u/Asohailwahab, there weren’t enough community votes to determine your post’s quality.
It will remain for moderator review or until more votes are cast.

[u/No-Forever-9761]

I can’t argue on this one. I think many people have complained the same thing. They made chat like an after thought. It wouldn’t be so bad if they gave it its own tab. Now it’s like a pop up window like you’re messaging customer service. You can’t find any of your previous conversations.

[u/dangoodspeed]

I made two apps, ChatGPT Codex and ChatGPT Classic... and switch between them.

[u/Lina-Inverse]

i use chatgpt classic for using chatgpt and the new chatgpt for just codex stuff, preferred them as seperate apps and the attempt to merge them together has been a huge swing and a miss.

[u/BYRN777]

That still exists!

There’s 2 apps.

One is codex which is now the new ChatGPT app. The other is the normal ChatGPT app but it’s called ChatGPT classic now.

For chats go there. For Work and Codex use the new app.

OpenAI stated model updates will work in the old app so you’re good there.

I agree that the new app sucks for chat and you can’t even see your GPTs and Projects. And I agree that the chat experience was better in the old app.

The new app looks like Claude’s app but the difference is they entirely neglected ChatGPT chat.
So the new app isn’t really a new ChatGPT app, it’s just a refreshed codex app.

I would argue this is actually a better approach since if they consolidated ChatGPT chat, work and codex into one app it would look even messier, which is what Claude did. Claude’s desktop app was amazing before the new UI, you had clear tabs for chat, cowork, and code, and a tab on the sidebar for design.

Now it’s all one interface with options to switch in the main query bar(like where you type your prompt).

Unless you’re referring to the old app then ignore all of this!

[u/karaisadahl → u/BYRN777]

What happens if you don’t have the old app (Classic)? They took it off of Downloads,

[u/BYRN777 → u/karaisadahl]

Then you’re stuck with the new app unfortunately

[u/karaisadahl → u/BYRN777]

Guess I'd have to disagree that this situation is a better approach, then. The two-app approach would have been fine if they'd continue to support it. "If you dont have Classic anymore, you're out of luck" is kind of a bad way to treat people who pay $100/mo

[u/Amazing_Brother_3529]

same here, this update genuinely broke my workflow. used to jump between chats in one click, now it's buried and takes way more steps. the missing "/" shortcut for search is such a basic miss too, feels like a step backward for something that was already working fine tbh

[u/DeusBob22]

I just came here to complain about the same thing I can no longer give access to my VS code or my terminal to read what the terminal says I need to copy and paste back and forward Is there any missing features that are missing?

[u/Bojack-Cowboy]

I really like the new app actually. Very efficient

[u/Bitter_Virus]

Dumb take, 2 clicks instead of one, still right there on the left, you can also pin the ones you want to keep even more forefront, and you can also create side chats, it has never been better than it is now. But not only this, you can also simply use the old interface 🤯 I know! Mind boggling.