Summary: Perplexity Spaces — previously called Collections — are folders for your AI threads with a superpower: you can attach custom instructions and files that every answer inside that Space follows. Instead of re-explaining what you want in every chat, you set the rules once. This guide shows you how to set up a Space, write instructions that actually work, and includes copy-paste templates for research, coding, studying, and market research.
What Is a Perplexity Space?
A Space is a container for related threads. Inside a Space you can:
- Group threads on one topic so your research stays organised
- Add custom instructions — persistent directions the AI follows for every answer in that Space
- Attach files the AI can reference when answering
- Share the Space with others so they can ask questions inside it with the same context
Think of it this way: a normal Perplexity thread starts from zero every time. A Space starts from your instructions every time.
Note: Perplexity renamed Collections to Spaces, so older guides that say “Collections” mean the same feature. Menu labels can shift between updates — if a button has moved, look for “Spaces” in the sidebar or Library.
How to Set Up a Space (Step by Step)
Step 1: Create the Space
Open Perplexity, go to your Library or the Spaces section in the sidebar, and create a new Space. Give it a clear, specific name — “AI Video Tools Research” beats “Research” — because the name reminds you (and collaborators) what belongs inside it.
Step 2: Write a short description
Add one or two lines describing what the Space is for. This is mostly for you and your collaborators, but a clear description keeps the Space focused over time.
Step 3: Add custom instructions
This is the important step. Custom instructions are a short block of text that tells the AI how to behave in this Space: what role to take, what format to use, what to prioritise, and what to avoid. Keep them specific and short — a tight paragraph beats a long essay the model will half-follow.
Step 4: Attach reference files (optional)
If you have documents the AI should use — a brief, a spec sheet, a set of notes — attach them to the Space. Answers inside the Space can then draw on those files instead of only on the web.
Step 5: Start threads inside the Space
New threads created inside the Space inherit its instructions automatically. Threads you started elsewhere do not pick up the Space’s instructions if you move them later — when in doubt, start fresh inside the Space.
How to Write Custom Instructions That Actually Work
Good instructions share four traits:
- A role: “You are a research assistant for a tech blog” tells the model what job it is doing.
- An output format: “Answer with a short summary first, then bullet points” prevents walls of text.
- A quality rule: “Cite sources for factual claims” or “Flag anything you are unsure about instead of guessing.”
- A boundary: “Do not recommend paid tools unless the free option genuinely cannot do the job.”
Bad instructions are vague (“be helpful”), contradictory (“be brief but cover everything”), or so long that the model ignores half of them. Aim for 4–8 lines.
Copy-Paste Instruction Templates
Template 1: Research Assistant
You are a research assistant for a technology blog. For every question, start with a 2–3 sentence summary, then give the key facts as bullet points with sources. Separate confirmed facts from rumours or leaks, and label them clearly. If sources disagree, say so and explain both sides. Keep the tone plain and practical. Do not hype products.
Template 2: Coding Helper
You are a coding assistant. Give working code first, then a short explanation of how it works. Prefer simple, readable solutions over clever ones. When a question has multiple valid approaches, show the simplest one and mention the alternative in one line. If code could fail (missing dependency, version issue), say so explicitly.
Template 3: Study Notes
You are a study tutor. Explain concepts in plain language with one concrete example each. After each explanation, add a one-line “remember this” summary. Ask me one quick check question at the end of each answer so I can test myself. Do not dump textbook definitions without examples.
Template 4: Market / Product Research
You are a market research assistant. Compare options in a table with price, key features, and honest limitations. Always include the free or cheapest viable option. Flag when a claim comes from the vendor’s own marketing rather than independent testing. End with a one-line bottom-line recommendation and who it is NOT for.
Honest Limits: What Spaces Can’t Do
- Instructions are guidance, not guarantees. The model can still drift, especially on long threads. If an answer ignores your instructions, restate the key rule in that thread.
- A Space doesn’t change the underlying model. Custom instructions shape style and format; they don’t give the AI new knowledge or make it browse differently than usual.
- Old threads don’t inherit new instructions automatically. If you rewrite a Space’s instructions, start a new thread to feel the full effect.
- Features and plan limits change. Some Space features (like collaboration or file limits) differ between free and paid plans, and Perplexity updates them over time. If a button or limit looks different from this guide, check Perplexity’s current plan page rather than assuming the guide is wrong.
A Practical Workflow: Spaces for a Research Project
- Create one Space per project, not one Space per question.
- Write the instructions once, using a template above as a starting point.
- Attach the 2–3 documents that matter most — not your entire hard drive.
- Run your first 3–4 threads inside the Space and check whether answers actually follow the instructions. If not, tighten the instructions.
- When the project ends, leave the Space as-is. It becomes a searchable archive of that project’s research.
Bottom Line
Perplexity Spaces are worth setting up the moment you ask more than two or three questions on the same topic. Ten minutes spent writing good custom instructions saves you from re-explaining yourself in every thread — and the copy-paste templates above give you a starting point you can adapt in minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Spaces and Collections the same thing?
Yes. Perplexity renamed Collections to Spaces. Older guides that mention Collections refer to the same feature.
Do custom instructions apply to old threads?
Threads started inside the Space follow its instructions. Threads started outside it don’t automatically pick them up — start a new thread inside the Space to be safe.
Can I share a Space with someone else?
Yes, Spaces can be shared so collaborators can ask questions with the same instructions and files. Exactly who can join and what they can edit depends on your plan.
Do Spaces make answers more accurate?
They make answers more consistent and better formatted, and attached files ground answers in your own documents. They don’t make the model infallible — always verify important facts, especially prices, dates, and specifications.
