ChatGPT now lets you lock private chats with a PIN or Face ID

OpenAI has launched Locked Chats for ChatGPT. You can now protect a conversation with a four-digit PIN or, on supported devices, Face ID or Touch ID. It is aimed at people who share a phone, laptop or screen with family or coworkers and do not want certain chats seen.

What it does

Once you lock a conversation, it moves to its own "Locked Chats" section. It disappears from your regular chat history, your pinned chats and search results. Someone glancing through your chats will not stumble on it.

This is different from Temporary Chats, which never show up in your history at all. Locked Chats stay available to you whenever you want them. OpenAI says the feature suits personal topics or planning a surprise.

If you use ChatGPT's Memory feature, Locked Chats get their own separate memory space. New messages in that section update that memory without touching your regular ChatGPT Memory.

What it does not do

The lock hides chats from other people using your device. It does not hide them from the company. OpenAI says it is not end-to-end encryption and does not create a separate encrypted vault.

• It does not change how long OpenAI keeps your data.
• It does not erase anything ChatGPT remembered before you locked the chat.
• It does not change the "Improve the model for everyone" setting.

One big warning

If you reset your PIN, all locked chats, files and other content protected by the old PIN are permanently deleted. Pick a PIN you will remember, because there is no way back after a reset.

Who gets it

Locked Chats are rolling out to Free, Go, Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise and Edu plans. OpenAI says it is not available in ChatGPT for Healthcare. The material does not mention any extra cost.

Some conversation types cannot be locked yet:

• Temporary Chats
• Archived conversations
• Group chats
• Chats shared by link
• Chats with scheduled tasks or meeting recordings

What to do

The rollout is gradual, so the option may not show up for everyone yet. Check your ChatGPT settings as it expands. Use it to keep a screen from giving away a surprise or a personal question, but do not treat it as a promise that the company cannot access your data.