> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://phidatainc.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Session State Manual Update

> Modify session state between runs with get_session_state() and update_session_state().

Session State Manual Update.

```python session_state_manual_update.py theme={null}
"""
Session State Manual Update
=============================

Session State Manual Update.
"""

from agno.agent import Agent
from agno.db.sqlite import SqliteDb
from agno.models.openai import OpenAIResponses
from agno.run import RunContext


def add_item(run_context: RunContext, item: str) -> str:
    """Add an item to the shopping list."""
    if run_context.session_state is None:
        run_context.session_state = {}

    run_context.session_state["shopping_list"].append(item)  # type: ignore
    return f"The shopping list is now {run_context.session_state['shopping_list']}"  # type: ignore


# Create an Agent that maintains state
# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
# Create Agent
# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
agent = Agent(
    model=OpenAIResponses(id="gpt-5-mini"),
    # Initialize the session state with an empty shopping list (this is the default session state for all users)
    session_state={"shopping_list": []},
    db=SqliteDb(db_file="tmp/agents.db"),
    tools=[add_item],
    # You can use variables from the session state in the instructions
    instructions="Current state (shopping list) is: {shopping_list}",
    markdown=True,
)

# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
# Run Agent
# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
if __name__ == "__main__":
    # Example usage
    agent.print_response("Add milk, eggs, and bread to the shopping list", stream=True)

    current_session_state = agent.get_session_state()
    current_session_state["shopping_list"].append("chocolate")
    agent.update_session_state(current_session_state)

    agent.print_response("What's on my list?", stream=True, debug_mode=True)

    print(f"Final session state: {agent.get_session_state()}")
```

## Run the Example

<Steps>
  <Snippet file="create-venv-step.mdx" />

  <Step title="Install dependencies">
    ```bash theme={null}
    uv pip install -U agno openai sqlalchemy
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Export your OpenAI API key">
    <CodeGroup>
      ```bash Mac/Linux theme={null}
      export OPENAI_API_KEY="your_openai_api_key_here"
      ```

      ```bash Windows theme={null}
      $Env:OPENAI_API_KEY="your_openai_api_key_here"
      ```
    </CodeGroup>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Run the example">
    Save the code above as `session_state_manual_update.py`, then run:

    ```bash theme={null}
    python session_state_manual_update.py
    ```
  </Step>
</Steps>

Full source: [cookbook/02\_agents/05\_state\_and\_session/session\_state\_manual\_update.py](https://github.com/agno-agi/agno/blob/main/cookbook/02_agents/05_state_and_session/session_state_manual_update.py)