OpenAI has introduced a new privacy feature called Locked Chats in ChatGPT, allowing users to protect selected conversations with an additional access check. The feature is designed for people who want to keep personal discussions, sensitive information or private plans out of view when someone else uses their device or looks at their screen.
Announced on October 20, 2026, the feature allows users to lock individual conversations with a four-digit account PIN. On supported devices, users can also use authentication methods such as Face ID, Touch ID or device unlock.
Once a conversation is locked, it disappears from regular chat history, pinned conversations and standard chat search results. Instead, it is moved to a dedicated Locked Chats section, where users can open it after authentication.
The feature is being rolled out gradually across supported ChatGPT platforms. Its availability may vary depending on the user's account, device and application version.
What Is the Locked Chats Feature?
Locked Chats provides an additional layer of access control for selected ChatGPT conversations. It is intended for situations in which users want to retain a conversation but prevent it from being immediately visible in their normal chat list.
For example, a user might want to protect a conversation containing personal notes, confidential work discussions or plans for a surprise. Locking the chat keeps it separate from the regular conversation list without requiring the user to delete it.
The feature is different from deleting or archiving a conversation. A locked chat remains available in the dedicated section and can be opened again using the account PIN or a supported authentication method.
Locked Chats also has separate memory behaviour when Memory is enabled. Information from conversations inside the locked section can update memory associated with those chats without updating regular ChatGPT Memory. This helps keep information from locked conversations separate from ordinary chats.
However, users should understand that this feature is intended to control access and visibility within ChatGPT. It does not create a separate encrypted vault or provide end-to-end encryption.
How to Lock a Chat in ChatGPT
Users can follow these steps to protect an eligible conversation.
Step 1: Open ChatGPT
Open ChatGPT on the web, in the mobile application or in a supported desktop application. Sign in to the account containing the conversation you want to protect.
Step 2: Select the Conversation
Find the conversation in your regular chat history and open its options menu. On supported interfaces, this menu is represented by three dots beside the chat.
Step 3: Choose Lock Chat
Select the Lock chat option from the menu. If the feature is available for that conversation, ChatGPT will begin the locking process.
Some conversation types cannot be locked, including temporary chats, archived chats, group chats, chats created from shared links and certain chats associated with scheduled tasks or meeting recordings.
Step 4: Create a Four-Digit PIN
The first time you lock a chat or open the Locked Chats section, ChatGPT may ask you to create an account PIN.
Enter a four-digit PIN and enter it again to confirm. This PIN can be used across supported devices when you are signed in to the same OpenAI account.
Choose a PIN that is difficult for other people to guess, and avoid using an obvious combination such as your birth date.
Step 5: Enable Device Authentication if Available
On supported devices, users can enable Face ID, Touch ID or device unlock for easier access. Availability depends on the device and platform.
Device authentication is configured separately on each supported device. Users can still use their account PIN if the biometric option is unavailable.
Step 6: Confirm That the Chat Is Locked
After locking the conversation, check the dedicated Locked Chats section. The conversation should no longer appear in regular chat history or standard chat search.
The exact location of the section may differ slightly across supported platforms as the feature rolls out.
How to Open a Locked Chat
Opening a locked conversation is straightforward.
First, open the Locked Chats section in ChatGPT. Select the conversation you want to view and enter your four-digit PIN or use the supported device authentication method.
Once authentication succeeds, the conversation becomes accessible within the locked section. Opening it does not automatically return it to regular chat history.
Locked conversations cannot be found through the usual chat search, so users should access them through the dedicated section instead.
How to Unlock a Chat
Users can permanently unlock a conversation when they no longer need the additional access restriction.
Open the Locked Chats section and select the conversation. Open its options menu and choose Unlock chat or the equivalent option displayed by the application. Confirm the action when prompted.
The conversation will return to regular chat history. Depending on the platform, it may take some time to appear in standard search results again.
Users should remember that unlocking a chat changes its visibility and access controls. Information in the conversation may become available to regular Memory processing, subject to the user's settings and workspace policies.
What Happens If You Forget Your PIN?
The PIN is an important part of the Locked Chats security process. Users should keep it somewhere secure and avoid relying on memory alone if they are likely to forget it.
According to OpenAI's guidance, resetting a forgotten account PIN permanently deletes all locked chats, memories stored only within those chats, and files or other content protected only by the previous PIN. This action cannot be undone.
This is different from changing a PIN when the current PIN is still known. Changing the PIN using the existing one does not delete locked conversations.
Before confirming a PIN reset, users should carefully read the warning displayed by ChatGPT. They should not reset the PIN unless they understand that the protected content will be permanently deleted.
Does Locking a Chat Make It Completely Private?
Locked Chats adds a layer of privacy by hiding selected conversations from the regular chat list, pinned chats and standard search results. It can be useful when sharing a device or showing someone another conversation.
However, it should not be treated as a guarantee of complete confidentiality. Locking a chat does not create end-to-end encryption, change how long ChatGPT retains the conversation or automatically change the user's model-improvement settings.
Users should continue to review their privacy and data controls separately. They should avoid entering passwords, payment card details or other highly sensitive information unless necessary and appropriate.
In managed Business, Enterprise or Edu workspaces, organisational policies and authorised compliance tools may also affect how conversation data is handled. Locking a conversation does not necessarily exclude it from applicable organisational compliance records.
Who Can Use Locked Chats?
OpenAI says Locked Chats is rolling out gradually to users on supported ChatGPT plans, including Free, Go, Plus and Pro, as well as eligible Business, Enterprise and Edu environments. Availability may vary by platform, workspace and account.
The feature is being introduced on the web, iOS and Android applications and supported desktop applications. Users who do not yet see the Lock chat option may need to wait for the rollout to reach their account or update their application.
Some types of conversations are not eligible for locking. If the option does not appear, users should check the latest ChatGPT help documentation to confirm whether their conversation type and platform are supported.
Final Takeaway
ChatGPT's Locked Chats feature gives users a practical way to keep selected conversations separate from their regular chat history. A four-digit PIN or supported device authentication can help prevent casual access when someone else uses the same device.
However, the feature is an access-control measure rather than a replacement for broader privacy and security settings. Users should remember their PIN, understand the consequences of resetting it and review their data controls separately.
