The Messages API can now compact a conversation on demand on the Claude API, in beta with the…

Monday, 14 September 2026

AI summary

Written by AI from the official notes. Check them for exact details.

The Messages API now allows users to compact conversations on demand, and new thinking-binding controls have been added.

Why it matters: Developers using the Claude API should care for improved conversation management and tracking of thinking mismatches.

The Messages API can now compact a conversation on demand on the Claude API, in beta with the compact-2026-09-04 beta header. Send the top-level compaction parameter, and the API returns a signed compaction block that summarizes the messages you sent. On later requests, send that block first, in place of those messages. You choose when to compact, the request can run in the background, and you can keep recent turns word for word after the summary. On models with preserved thinking, the thinking in those kept turns can stay valid.
With the thinking-binding-controls-2026-08-01 beta header, the input_transformations response field gains a second entry type, thinking_mismatch_allowed. It names a thinking block that failed the prefix check on a request where the API doesn't enforce that check: on Claude Fable 5.1, for example, a request from an account created before August 31, 2026, with prefix_mismatch_behavior unset. The block still reaches the model unchanged. Log these entries to find history edits in production traffic before you opt into enforcement. See Set the mismatch behavior and read input_transformations.

Full release notes2 changes

The Messages API can now compact a conversation on demand on the Claude API, in beta with the compact-2026-09-04 beta header. Send the top-level compaction parameter, and the API returns a signed compaction block that summarizes the messages you sent. On later requests, send that block first, in place of those messages. You choose when to compact, the request can run in the background, and you can keep recent turns word for word after the summary. On models with preserved thinking, the thinking in those kept turns can stay valid.
With the thinking-binding-controls-2026-08-01 beta header, the input_transformations response field gains a second entry type, thinking_mismatch_allowed. It names a thinking block that failed the prefix check on a request where the API doesn't enforce that check: on Claude Fable 5.1, for example, a request from an account created before August 31, 2026, with prefix_mismatch_behavior unset. The block still reaches the model unchanged. Log these entries to find history edits in production traffic before you opt into enforcement. See Set the mismatch behavior and read input_transformations.