ChatGPT introduces locked chats for sensitive conversations

New feature allows users to secure private chats with a PIN or biometrics, keeping them separate from the main history

By LineZotpaper

Published20 October 2026

Read Time2 min

Sources2 outlets

OpenAI has begun rolling out a chat locking feature for ChatGPT, enabling users to protect sensitive conversations with a four-digit PIN or biometric authentication. Unlike the app's existing Temporary Chats, locked chats are persistent and can be returned to, but are kept separated from the primary chat history and have their own distinct memory.

OpenAI announced on Tuesday that ChatGPT is gaining a chat locking feature, designed to help users keep sensitive conversations private when sharing access to their screen or device.

Once enabled, users can secure individual chats with a four-digit PIN, Face ID, or Touch ID on supported devices. Locked chats are moved to a dedicated 'Locked Chats' section, separate from regular history, pinned conversations, and search results. Unlike Temporary Chats, which create a disposable session, locked chats remain accessible to the user.

OpenAI stated the feature is intended for scenarios where users are discussing personal matters or planning surprises and want to prevent those conversations from being seen by others who might borrow their device.

For users with Memory enabled, locked chats have their own separate memory. New information added within a locked chat will not leak into the regular memory used across standard conversations. The company also clarified that locking a chat does not introduce end-to-end encryption, create a separate encrypted vault, change how long it retains the chat, or alter the 'Improve the model for everyone' setting. Resetting a PIN permanently deletes all content protected by the previous code.

The Locked Chats feature is not available for temporary chats, archived chats, group chats, shared links, scheduled tasks, meeting recordings, or for ChatGPT for Healthcare users. It will be available across Free, Go, Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise, and Edu plans, and started rolling out on Tuesday.

Analysis

Why This Matters

Adds a practical layer of privacy for the growing number of users who rely on ChatGPT for personal conversations on shared devices.
Addresses a gap between temporary, ephemeral chats and a persistent history, giving users more granular control over their data visibility.
Highlights the ongoing tension between user privacy expectations and the platform's data handling and AI training practices.

Background

ChatGPT has long offered Temporary Chats, which are not saved to history. The new Locked Chats feature bridges a gap between full visibility and total ephemerality, offering persistent storage behind an access barrier. The feature is part of a broader trend among AI providers to add privacy controls as the technology integrates deeper into daily personal and professional life.

Key Perspectives

Users: Gain a persistent option for keeping sensitive chats out of plain sight, though the feature does not fundamentally alter how OpenAI stores or processes data. Privacy Experts: Likely view the feature as a useful usability improvement for shared-device contexts, but may note that the lack of end-to-end encryption means data protection still relies on OpenAI's security posture. OpenAI: Delivers a requested feature while carefully managing expectations about what the locking mechanism does and does not secure, clearly delineating the technical limitations.

What to Watch

Whether the feature expands to support end-to-end encryption for truly sensitive conversations.
User adoption rates and feedback on the separate locked memory system and its practical impact.
How competitors like Google Gemini and Anthropic's Claude respond with similar granular privacy controls.

Sources

ChatGPT now lets you lock your chats · TechCrunch
ChatGPT now lets you lock your chats · AI News & Artificial Intelligence | TechCrunch

Checked

12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 10 supported.

Show each claim

SupportedChatGPT is introducing locked chats for sensitive conversations.TechCrunch: “OpenAI announced on Tuesday that users can now lock ChatGPT conversations to keep sensitive chats private when others may have access to their screen or device.”
SupportedUsers can secure chats with a PIN or biometrics and keep them separate from regular chat history.TechCrunch: “Users can secure their locked chats with a four-digit PIN, or use Face ID or Touch ID on supported devices.”
SupportedOpenAI has begun rolling out the feature, starting on Tuesday.TechCrunch: “The feature is starting to roll out on Tuesday, so it may not be live yet for all users.”
SupportedUsers can lock chats with a four-digit PIN, Face ID or Touch ID on supported devices.TechCrunch: “Users can secure their locked chats with a four-digit PIN, or use Face ID or Touch ID on supported devices.”
Partly supportedLocked chats are persistent, unlike Temporary Chats, which create a disposable session.TechCrunch: “Unlike the app’s Temporary Chats, which provide a separate session that doesn’t appear in chat history, users can return to Locked Chats at any time.”
SupportedLocked chats are moved to a dedicated section separate from regular history, pinned conversations and search results.TechCrunch: “Once users lock a chat, it moves to a dedicated “Locked Chats” section, where it’s kept separate from regular chat history, pinned conversations, and chat search results.”
SupportedOpenAI says the feature is intended for personal conversations or planning surprises that users want to keep private when others use their device.TechCrunch: “The company says the feature is designed for situations where users might be discussing something personal or planning a surprise and want to keep those conversations private when handing their device to friends or family to show them something in another chat.”
Partly supportedLocked chats have their own distinct memory.TechCrunch: “With Memory enabled, Locked Chats has its own separate memory shared across conversations within the section.”
SupportedWith Memory enabled, new information in a locked chat does not update regular Memory.TechCrunch: “New messages sent after locking a chat can update that memory, but don’t update regular Memory.”
SupportedLocking a chat does not add end-to-end encryption or a separate encrypted vault, change chat retention, or change the “Improve the model for everyone” setting.TechCrunch: “OpenAI notes that locking a chat doesn’t create end-to-end encryption or a separate encrypted vault, change how long it retains the chat, remove information that ChatGPT remembered before a chat was locked, or change the “Improve the model for everyone” setting.”
SupportedResetting a PIN permanently deletes all content protected by the previous PIN.TechCrunch: “OpenAI says resetting a PIN permanently deletes all locked chats, files, and other content protected by the previous PIN.”
SupportedLocked Chats is unavailable for the listed chat types and for ChatGPT for Healthcare users, and will be available on the listed plans.TechCrunch: “Additionally, the Locked Chats option isn’t available for temporary chats, archived chats, group chats, chats created from a shared link, chats with scheduled tasks, and chats with meeting recordings. Locked Chats will be available to users on ChatGPT Free, Go, Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise, and Edu plans. The company notes that the feature is not available on ChatGPT for Healthcare.”