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OpenAI has introduced a new Locked Chats feature in ChatGPT that lets users protect sensitive conversations from anyone who may access their device. The feature adds an extra layer of privacy by allowing users to secure individual chats with a four-digit PIN, Face ID, or Touch ID on supported devices.
Announced on October 20, 2026, the feature is for users who want to keep personal discussions private while sharing their phones or computers with friends, family, or colleagues.
ChatGPT Introduces Locked Chats to Keep Private Conversations Secure
For example, users can lock a conversation about a personal matter or a surprise gift before handing their device to someone else. They can then unlock the conversation whenever they need it.
Unlike Temporary Chats, which do not appear in regular chat history, Locked Chats remain available for users to access later.
How ChatGPT Locked Chats Work
Once users lock a conversation, ChatGPT moves it to a separate section called “Locked Chats.” These conversations remain separate from regular chat history, pinned conversations, and search results.
Users can protect their locked conversations with a four-digit PIN or biometric authentication, depending on the device and available security options.
The feature allows users to maintain access to important conversations without keeping them visible alongside their regular chats.
OpenAI says the feature is intended to provide additional privacy when someone else might use or view a user’s device.
Locked Chats Have a Separate Memory
The new feature also includes a separate memory system for users who have Memory enabled in ChatGPT.
According to OpenAI, Locked Chats can maintain their own shared memory across conversations within the locked section. New messages sent in these chats can update that separate memory but will not update the user’s regular ChatGPT Memory.
This separation is designed to prevent information shared in locked conversations from influencing regular chats through the standard Memory feature.
However, locking a conversation does not remove information that ChatGPT remembered before the user locked the chat. Users should keep this distinction in mind when discussing sensitive information.
Locked Chats Do Not Offer End-to-End Encryption
OpenAI has clarified that Locked Chats are not a separate encrypted vault and do not provide end-to-end encryption.
The feature also does not change how long ChatGPT retains conversations or modify the user’s “Improve the model for everyone” data setting.
This means the feature primarily helps restrict access to conversations within the app. It does not change the underlying data storage and privacy policies that apply to ChatGPT.
Users who want to manage how their conversations may be used to improve OpenAI’s models will still need to review their existing data controls separately.
Resetting the PIN Permanently Deletes Locked Chats
OpenAI has also outlined an important restriction related to PIN recovery.
Resetting a PIN permanently deletes all locked chats, files, and other content protected by the previous PIN. Users should therefore take care when managing their security settings to avoid losing conversations and associated files.
The Locked Chats option is also unavailable for certain conversation types, including Temporary Chats, archived chats, group chats, conversations created through shared links, chats with scheduled tasks, and chats containing meeting recordings.
ChatGPT Locked Chats Availability
OpenAI is rolling out Locked Chats across ChatGPT Free, Go, Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise, and Edu plans. The feature is not available on ChatGPT for Healthcare.
The rollout began on October 20, 2026, but it may take time to reach all eligible users.
With this addition, OpenAI is giving users more control over who can access their personal conversations on a shared device. However, users should understand that locking a chat provides an additional access restriction rather than a replacement for broader data privacy and security measures.
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