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ChatGPT Locked Chats

ChatGPT introduced Locked Chats in its 20 October 2026 release notes: a four-digit PIN or device biometrics seals an individual conversation, which then disappears from regular history and search and lives in its own Project - though anything already captured in memory or shared via a link is explicitly not covered by the lock

Tool Interface

Interactive tool will be available soon

Features

  • ✓ Lock a single conversation behind a four-digit PIN or device biometrics via Lock Chat in the three-dot menu
  • ✓ Locked conversations vanish from regular chat history and search results until you authenticate
  • ✓ ChatGPT creates a separate new Project to hold locked chats, apart from your everyday conversations
  • ✓ New messages sent inside a locked chat do not update the memory used by your regular chats
  • ✓ Resetting a forgotten PIN permanently deletes every locked chat and file protected by the old PIN

How to Use

  1. On mobile, open the target conversation and tap the three-dot menu in the upper right
  2. Choose Lock Chat and confirm
  3. Set a four-digit PIN if you have not already, or link it to your device face or fingerprint unlock
  4. The conversation only reappears after you pass the PIN or biometric check

FAQ

Can someone else still find a locked conversation?

No. Once locked it drops out of regular history and search results and only reappears after PIN or biometric verification, so casual browsers cannot reach it.

What happens if I forget the PIN?

You can change the PIN, but if you forget it and go through a reset, every locked chat and file protected by the old PIN is permanently deleted. Worth remembering.

Does locking a chat make it private?

Not entirely. Details already written into ChatGPT memory before you lock stay in regular memory and keep influencing later answers until you remove them in the memory section. Only memory created after locking is kept separate.

What about links I already shared?

Shared links keep working regardless of the lock. Locking only restricts access inside your account, so closing that gap means deleting the shared link.

Do locked chats affect everyday memory?

Not the other way. Memory created after locking is separated from ordinary memory and can be used inside other locked conversations without leaking into your normal chats.