ChatGPT adds PIN- and device-protected locked chats
The new Locked Chats feature hides selected conversations from regular history, pinned chats, and search, then reopens them with an account PIN or supported device authentication.
AT A GLANCE
Key points
- Locked chats are hidden from regular history, pinned chats, and search
- They reopen with a four-digit PIN or supported device authentication
- Existing retention and model-improvement settings stay unchanged
What is changing?
OpenAI added Locked Chats to ChatGPT on October 20. Users can hide selected conversations from regular chat history, pinned chats, and search without deleting them. Those conversations reopen with a four-digit account PIN or supported device authentication.
The feature is rolling out gradually to Free, Go, Plus, and Pro users on the web, iOS, Android, and the new macOS and Windows desktop apps. OpenAI says locking a chat does not change existing retention or model-improvement settings. Rollout has also begun for Enterprise and Edu workspaces, where organizational retention and compliance policies continue to apply.
The update can make it easier to separate sensitive or surprise-related conversations from visible history on shared devices. Locking a chat, however, does not move the data into a separate security or retention policy, so users should still review their account and workspace settings.
Explore the original sources
Source date: 20 October 2026.
Published by AI Radar: 20 Oct 2026, 22:03 (Istanbul, UTC+3).
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