AI WORLDHow to Use Perplexity Spaces to Organise Your Digital Research
Group your online searches, upload your own files, and keep all your project findings in one tidy, AI-powered folder.
Hook: Imagine having a personal research assistant who reads dozens of web pages for you, files them away in neat folders, and answers your questions based only on those sources. By the end of this guide, you will know how to use Perplexity Spaces to group your searches, upload files, and keep your projects beautifully organised.
- Get an account: You will need a free or paid account on Perplexity.
- Choose a topic: Have a research project in mind—like planning a family holiday, studying a topic, or researching competitors for work.
Create your first Space
To keep your research from getting cluttered, you need to create a dedicated folder. In Perplexity, these folders are called Spaces (formerly known as Collections).
Think of a Space as a physical ring-binder. Instead of having fifty open browser tabs cluttering your screen, you put all your notes and web searches inside this single binder.
- Open Perplexity on your computer or phone.
- Look at the left-hand navigation panel and click on Library (or look for a plus icon next to the word Spaces).
- Click the button to create a new Space.
- Give your Space a clear name (for example, "Backyard Veggie Garden Plan") and write a brief description.
Set the ground rules with instructions
One of the best features of a Space is the ability to give it "AI Instructions". This is a prompt (the plain-language instructions you write to tell the AI how to behave).
By setting these instructions, you do not have to repeat yourself every time you ask a question inside this Space.
- Find the section in your new Space labelled AI Instructions or How should the AI respond?.
- Type a simple, direct guideline.
"You are an expert horticulturalist helping a beginner. When I ask questions, please keep your answers simple, focus on organic methods, and always suggest plants that grow well in warm, coastal climates."
Add your own sources
Sometimes the best information is not on the public internet—it is sitting on your hard drive. You can upload files directly into your Space.
A source is any document, web link, or file that you feed to the AI. Once uploaded, the AI will read these files and use them to answer your questions.
- Open your newly created Space.
- Look for an attachment icon (it usually looks like a paperclip or a button that says Add Files).
- Upload documents like PDFs, text files, or even spreadsheets.
Search and ask questions
Now that your Space is set up, you can start searching. Every search you perform inside this Space will remember your instructions and look through any files you uploaded.
- Locate the search bar at the top of your Space page.
- Type your question naturally, just as if you were talking to a colleague.
- Read the generated response, which will neatly cite the sources it used.
- Searching in the wrong place: It is easy to accidentally type your query into the main Perplexity home page instead of inside your specific Space. If you do this, the AI will not use your uploaded files or custom instructions. Always make sure you click into your Space first.
- Writing overly complex instructions: Keep your AI instructions simple and focused. If you give the AI twenty different rules to follow, it might get confused and ignore some of them. Stick to two or three clear guidelines.
Let's get you set up in the next two minutes:
- Open Perplexity and click on Library on the left.
- Create a Space called Weekend Getaways.
- Inside that Space, type this first question: *"What are three quiet, nature-focused weekend destinations within a two-hour drive of my current location?"
✦ Original step-by-step guide by AI World Co.'s AI editorial team. Written in plain language, reviewed for accuracy.
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