How to Use Perplexity Focus Mode in a Space

Perplexity Spaces let you organize searches and conversations around specific topics. When you work inside a Space, the default focus mode may not match the kind of answers you need. For example, a Space dedicated to academic research should return scholarly sources, not general web results. This article shows how to set and use Perplexity Focus Mode inside a Space so every search targets the right domain.

Focus Mode restricts the search source to one of six categories: All, Web, Academic, Writing, Math, or Video. When you apply Focus Mode inside a Space, it overrides the global default for that Space only. You can change the mode per search or set a permanent default for the Space.

The steps below cover both options and explain what each focus type does.

What Is Perplexity Focus Mode and How It Works in Spaces

Focus Mode is a search filter that tells Perplexity which source category to use when generating answers. Without a specific focus, Perplexity searches the entire web. With a focus applied, the system pulls results only from the selected domain.

The available focus types are:

• All: No filter. Searches all sources available to Perplexity.
• Web: General web pages, news sites, blogs, and forums.
• Academic: Research papers from arXiv, PubMed, Semantic Scholar, and other academic databases.
• Writing: Language-model-generated text and writing assistance tools.
• Math: Wolfram Alpha and other computational knowledge engines.
• Video: YouTube transcripts and video metadata.

When you create a new Space, the default focus is All. You can change this default for the entire Space or override it per search. The Space default persists across sessions and applies to all users who have access to that Space.

Steps to Set a Default Focus Mode for a Space

1. Open the Space
   Go to the Spaces sidebar on the left side of the Perplexity interface. Click the Space name you want to configure.
2. Access Space Settings
   Click the gear icon or the three-dot menu next to the Space name. Select Space Settings from the dropdown menu.
3. Locate the Default Focus option
   In the Space Settings panel, find the section labeled Default Focus. It lists the six focus types as radio buttons or a dropdown list.
4. Select your preferred focus type
   Click the focus type that matches the Space purpose. For a Space for academic citations, choose Academic. For a Space for step-by-step math problems, choose Math.
5. Save the setting
   Click Save or Apply at the bottom of the panel. The Space now uses this focus mode for every new query.

After saving, any search you type in the Space search bar will automatically use the selected focus. You can still override it temporarily for a single search.

Steps to Change Focus Mode for a Single Query in a Space

1. Open the Space
   Click the Space name in the sidebar to enter it.
2. Look at the search bar
   Directly to the left of the search input field, you see a small icon showing the current focus mode. It might show a globe icon for All, a book icon for Academic, or a calculator icon for Math.
3. Click the focus icon
   A dropdown list of all six focus types appears. Click the type you want for this query only.
4. Type your query and press Enter
   Perplexity runs the search with the temporary focus. The next query in the same Space will revert to the Space default focus.

This method is useful when you need a quick fact check from a different domain without changing the Space settings permanently.

Common Mistakes and Limitations When Using Focus Mode in Spaces

Focus Mode Does Not Change After Saving

If the focus mode does not switch after you save, close the Space and reopen it. The setting applies only after the Space reloads. Also check that you clicked Save and not just selected the radio button.

Academic Focus Returns Few or No Results

Academic focus searches scholarly databases. If your query covers a niche topic or uses informal language, the databases may not contain matching papers. Rephrase the query with formal academic terms or try the All focus to see if web sources exist for that topic.

Math Focus Does Not Show Step-by-Step Solutions

Math focus uses Wolfram Alpha which returns direct answers and formulas. For detailed step-by-step explanations, use the Writing focus with a prompt asking for step-by-step reasoning. The Math focus alone does not generate explanations.

Video Focus Only Searches YouTube Transcripts

Video focus pulls metadata and transcripts from YouTube. It does not search other video platforms like Vimeo or Dailymotion. If you need results from multiple video sources, use All focus and include the word “video” in your query.

Focus Mode Does Not Apply to Existing Conversations

Changing the default focus only affects new searches. Previous conversations in the Space retain their original focus. If you want a past conversation to use the new focus, start a new thread within the Space.

Perplexity Focus Types: What Each Mode Searches

Focus Type	Source	Best Used For
All	All available sources	General queries, when you want the widest range of results
Web	Public web pages, news, forums	Current events, product reviews, how-to articles
Academic	arXiv, PubMed, Semantic Scholar, etc	Research papers, citations, scientific data
Writing	Language model text generation	Drafting emails, reports, creative writing, summaries
Math	Wolfram Alpha	Calculations, equations, formulas, data plots
Video	YouTube transcripts and metadata	Video tutorials, lectures, product demos

You can now set a default focus mode for any Perplexity Space and override it per query when needed. Start by evaluating the main purpose of each Space and assign the matching focus type. For Spaces used for multiple tasks, leave the default as All and switch focus per search. To further refine results, combine Focus Mode with custom instructions in the Space settings to specify the tone, format, or depth of answers.