How To Lock Chat In ChatGPT: Step-By-Step Guide To Keep Your Conversations Private
OpenAI has started introducing a new ChatGPT feature that lets users lock private chats. This feature is called Locked Chats. It can be especially useful for people who often share their devices with others or share their screens during meetings.
When you lock a chat, it no longer appears in your regular chat history, pinned chats, or normal search results. You can find it in a separate Locked Chats section by entering your account PIN. On supported smartphones, you can also unlock chats using Face ID, Touch ID, or your device's usual unlocking method. The feature is available to ChatGPT Free, Go, Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise, and Edu users. Here is how to lock and open ChatGPT chats.
How to Lock a Conversation in ChatGPT
- Open ChatGPT on your device.
- Go to your chat history and find the conversation you want to lock.
- Click the three-dot menu next to the conversation.
- Choose the Lock chat option.
- Click Lock chat again to confirm.
- If this is your first time using the feature, create a four-digit account PIN.
- Enter the PIN again to confirm it.
Once you finish these steps, the conversation will appear in the Locked Chats section.
How to Open Locked Chats in ChatGPT
You can open your locked chats whenever you need them.
- Open ChatGPT and select Projects.
- Click Locked chats.
- Enter your four-digit account PIN, or use Face ID, Touch ID, or your device's authentication method if available.
- Select the conversation you want to open.
You can also start a new private conversation directly from the Locked Chats section after setting up your account PIN. OpenAI has warned users to remember their PIN carefully. You can change your current PIN without losing your conversations. However, if you reset a forgotten PIN, all locked chats will be permanently deleted, along with any memories and files protected only by the old PIN.
You can reset your PIN by going to Settings > Security and login > Account PIN > Reset PIN. Once these conversations are deleted, they cannot be recovered, even with help from OpenAI Support.