Hiding conversations with a 4-digit PIN
OpenAI announced on ChatGPT's official X account on Oct. 20 (Oct. 21 Japan time) that it has launched "Locked Chats," which hides specific ChatGPT conversations behind a 4-digit PIN. When a user selects "Lock chat" from a conversation's menu, they are asked to create a PIN the first time. Hidden conversations no longer appear in regular history, pinned items or conversation search, and are grouped under "Locked chats" in "Projects."
The feature covers the free tier, "Go," "Plus" and "Pro," the business plans "Business" and "Enterprise," and "Edu" for educational institutions, but not plans for health care. It is rolling out gradually on the web, the iPhone and Android apps, and the Mac and Windows apps. On smartphones, conversations can also be opened with face or fingerprint authentication instead of the PIN. On smartphones, they lock again one minute after the user leaves the conversation or sends the app to the background.
Built for screen sharing and shared devices
OpenAI described the feature as a way to keep private conversations out of view when sharing a screen or using a device with other people. It does not strengthen encryption or move conversations to a separate storage location. Data retention periods and the setting for whether conversations are used to improve models also do not change.
What ChatGPT remembered before a conversation was locked stays in memory. New exchanges in a locked conversation are used in other locked conversations, but are not carried into regular conversations. Under business and education contracts, locked conversations remain subject to records kept for regulatory compliance. Administrators cannot reset the PIN or open the conversations.
Resetting the PIN deletes conversations permanently
The biggest caveat is forgetting the PIN. Resetting the PIN deletes all locked conversations, along with any memories and files that exist only within them, and OpenAI support cannot recover them. If the user knows the current PIN, changing the number in settings keeps the conversations. Entering the wrong number repeatedly blocks access for a while.
Temporary chats, group chats, conversations started from shared links and Codex conversations cannot be locked. Locking a conversation inside a project removes it from the project, and it can no longer use the project's instructions or files.
