OpenAI has introduced a new privacy feature for ChatGPT that allows users to lock individual conversations behind a four-digit PIN, Face ID, Touch ID, or device authentication, making it easier to keep sensitive chats hidden from others who may access their devices.
Locked conversations are removed from regular chat history, pinned chats and standard search results, and are instead stored in a dedicated Locked Chats area, according to OpenAI. The feature, called Locked Chats is being rolled out gradually across ChatGPT plans, including Free, Go, Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise, and Edu. It is not available on ChatGPT for Healthcare. Users must authenticate with a four-digit account PIN or supported biometric methods to access them.
OpenAI says the deletion cannot be undone and that its support team cannot recover the content. When ChatGPT’s Memory feature is on, locked chats get a memory of their own. Locked chats can draw on a user’s regular memories, but information picked up inside them stays out of regular chats. Resetting a forgotten PIN permanently deletes all locked chats, along with anything remembered only within them and the files protected by the old PIN. Changing a PIN, by contrast, keeps the chats, but requires the current PIN.
Locking a chat does not erase anything ChatGPT remembered before the chat was locked.