Quick Start - Continue

How to Use It

Plan mode provides a safe environment for understanding and constructing plans without making changes. It equips the Chat model with read-only tools, allowing you to explore, analyze, and plan modifications before executing them.

Use Plan

You can switch to Plan in the mode selector below the chat input box.

<Info> If Plan is disabled with a `Not Supported` message, the selected model or provider doesn't support tools. See [Model Setup](/ide-extensions/agent/model-setup) for more information. </Info>

Chat with Plan

Plan mode lives within the same interface as Chat mode and Agent mode, so the same input is used to send messages and you can still use the same manual methods of providing context, such as @ context providers or adding highlighted code from the editor.

What Makes Plan Different

Unlike Agent mode, Plan mode:

Only uses read-only tools (file reading, searching, analysis)
Cannot modify, create, or delete files
Focuses on understanding and planning rather than execution
Provides a safe environment for exploration

Common Use Cases

Plan mode is ideal for:

Code exploration: Understanding how a codebase works
Planning refactors: Analyzing impact before making changes
Debugging: Investigating issues without modifying code
Architecture review: Understanding system design and dependencies
Pre-implementation planning: Thinking through changes before executing

Example Workflow

Start in Plan mode to explore and understand the task
Develop a plan with the model's help
Switch to Agent mode when ready to implement changes

For example, you might say:

Help me understand how the authentication system works and plan improvements to add OAuth support

Plan mode will analyze the existing code, understand the current implementation, and help you create a detailed plan—all without making any changes.

Switching to Execution

When you're ready to implement your plan, simply switch to Agent mode using the mode selector or keyboard shortcut (Cmd/Ctrl + .). The conversation context carries over, so Agent mode can immediately start implementing the plan you developed.

<Tip> Use the keyboard shortcut `Cmd/Ctrl + .` to quickly cycle between Agent, Chat, and Plan modes. </Tip>