# Thread List

> Guide for multi-thread management in assistant-ui. Use when implementing thread lists, switching threads, or managing conversation history.

- Skill: `chonsong/thread-list` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 3 files)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add chonsong/thread-list`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/chonsong/thread-list/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- License: MIT
- Author: chonsong (https://skillmd.com/u/chonsong)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/chonsong/thread-list

---


# assistant-ui Thread List

**Always consult [assistant-ui.com/llms.txt](https://assistant-ui.com/llms.txt) for latest API.**

Manage multiple chat threads with built-in or custom UI.

## References

- [./references/management.md](./references/management.md) -- Thread CRUD operations
- [./references/custom-ui.md](./references/custom-ui.md) -- Custom thread list UI

## Quick Start

Thread list is available with `useChatRuntime` + cloud:

```tsx
import { AssistantCloud } from "assistant-cloud";
import { useChatRuntime, AssistantChatTransport } from "@assistant-ui/react-ai-sdk";
import { AssistantRuntimeProvider, Thread, ThreadList } from "@assistant-ui/react";

const cloud = new AssistantCloud({
  baseUrl: process.env.NEXT_PUBLIC_ASSISTANT_BASE_URL,
  authToken: async () => getAuthToken(),
});

function Chat() {
  const runtime = useChatRuntime({
    transport: new AssistantChatTransport({ api: "/api/chat" }),
    cloud,
  });

  return (
    <AssistantRuntimeProvider runtime={runtime}>
      <div className="flex h-screen">
        <ThreadList className="w-64 border-r" />
        <Thread className="flex-1" />
      </div>
    </AssistantRuntimeProvider>
  );
}
```

## Thread Operations

```tsx
import { useAssistantApi, useAssistantState } from "@assistant-ui/react";

const api = useAssistantApi();
const { threads, mainThreadId } = useAssistantState(s => s.threadList);

// Switch to thread
api.threads().switchToThread(threadId);

// Create new thread
api.threads().switchToNewThread();

// Thread item operations
const item = api.threads().item({ id: threadId });
await item.rename("New Title");
await item.archive();
await item.delete();
```

## Custom Thread List

```tsx
import { ThreadListPrimitive, ThreadListItemPrimitive } from "@assistant-ui/react";

function CustomThreadList() {
  return (
    <ThreadListPrimitive.Root className="w-64">
      <ThreadListPrimitive.New className="w-full p-2 bg-blue-500 text-white">
        + New Chat
      </ThreadListPrimitive.New>

      <ThreadListPrimitive.Items>
        <ThreadListItemPrimitive.Root className="flex p-2 hover:bg-gray-100">
          <ThreadListItemPrimitive.Trigger className="flex-1">
            <ThreadListItemPrimitive.Title />
          </ThreadListItemPrimitive.Trigger>
          <ThreadListItemPrimitive.Archive>Archive</ThreadListItemPrimitive.Archive>
          <ThreadListItemPrimitive.Delete>Delete</ThreadListItemPrimitive.Delete>
        </ThreadListItemPrimitive.Root>
      </ThreadListPrimitive.Items>
    </ThreadListPrimitive.Root>
  );
}
```

## Without Cloud (Local)

```tsx
import { useRemoteThreadListRuntime, InMemoryThreadListAdapter } from "@assistant-ui/react";

const runtime = useRemoteThreadListRuntime({
  adapter: new InMemoryThreadListAdapter(),
  runtimeHook: () => useLocalRuntime({ model: myModel }),
});
```

## Common Gotchas

**ThreadList not showing**
- Pass `cloud` to runtime
- Check authentication

**Threads not persisting**
- Verify cloud connection
- Check network requests