ChatGPT has introduced Locked Chats, a new privacy feature that allows users to protect individual conversations with a four-digit PIN or supported device authentication. The feature is designed to keep sensitive discussions out of regular chat history, pinned conversations, and search results, making them less visible to other people who may access the same device. Unlike a feature discovered in early app code, Locked Chats is now officially rolling out across ChatGPT. Users can keep selected conversations saved for future reference while adding an extra layer of access protection.
What is ChatGPT Chat Lock?
ChatGPT Chat Lock allows users to move individual conversations into a dedicated Locked Chats section instead of leaving them visible in regular chat history. Users can protect eligible conversations through the chat options menu and access them later using their account PIN or supported authentication methods. On the web and desktop, users can unlock protected conversations with a PIN. On supported mobile devices, options include Face ID, Touch ID, or device authentication.
Locked conversations no longer appear in regular chat history, pinned chats, or standard conversation search. This can help people who use ChatGPT for personal matters, work drafts, financial questions, or other sensitive topics keep those discussions away from casual view.
However, Chat Lock is an access-control feature rather than a complete encryption solution. It does not provide end-to-end encryption or change OpenAI’s data-retention policies and model-improvement settings.
How ChatGPT Chat Lock Differs From Temporary Chats
ChatGPT already offers Temporary Chats for conversations users do not want to keep in their regular chat history. Temporary Chats do not create or update memories and are generally deleted from OpenAI’s systems within 30 days, subject to applicable safety and legal requirements. Locked Chats serve a different purpose. They allow users to preserve conversations and return to them later while keeping them separate from regular chat history and search results.
This distinction makes Locked Chats useful for discussions that users want to retain without leaving them readily accessible to anyone using their device. Temporary Chats are better suited to conversations that users do not want added to their ongoing chat history.
ChatGPT Chat Lock and Memory
Locked Chats also introduce a separate approach to ChatGPT’s Memory feature. When Memory is enabled, locked conversations can use relevant information from regular Memory, but information remembered from new messages in Locked Chats does not carry over into regular conversations. Locked Chats can maintain memory shared across conversations within the locked section. This helps separate new information from sensitive discussions from the information ChatGPT uses in regular chats.
There are important limitations. Locking a conversation does not automatically remove information ChatGPT remembered before the chat was locked. Users should review their Memory settings if they want to manage previously saved information. Users should also remember their PIN. Resetting a forgotten account PIN permanently deletes locked chats and content protected only by the previous PIN, and the deleted content cannot be recovered.
Why ChatGPT Chat Lock Matters
As people increasingly use ChatGPT for personal conversations, professional tasks, and sensitive questions, the ability to protect individual chats offers more flexibility than relying solely on device locks or archiving. Archived conversations can still be accessed through the account, whereas Locked Chats adds an authentication step and removes eligible conversations from ordinary history and search. This makes it easier to keep selected discussions private when sharing a device or showing someone another conversation.
The feature does not replace strong account security or change how OpenAI handles stored data, but it provides another way to control access to conversations.
Availability
OpenAI began rolling out Locked Chats on October 20, 2026, across Free, Go, Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise, and Edu plans. The feature is available on the web, desktop applications for macOS and Windows, and mobile apps for iOS and Android, although availability may vary during the gradual rollout. To get started, users can open an eligible conversation’s three-dot menu and select Lock chat. Locked conversations can then be accessed from the dedicated Locked Chats section after authentication.
Some conversation types, including Temporary Chats, archived chats, group chats, and chats with scheduled tasks or meeting recordings, cannot be locked. Users who do not see the option immediately may need to wait for the feature to become available on their account.
Locked Chats gives ChatGPT users a practical way to keep selected conversations out of ordinary view while preserving them for future use. Its main benefit is added access protection, not complete encryption or a change to OpenAI’s data-handling policies.
