OpenAI has introduced a new ChatGPT feature called “Locked Chats”, designed to give users greater control over the privacy of their conversations. The feature allows users to protect selected chats with a four-digit PIN or biometric authentication, making them less accessible to other people who may use the same device.
The new option provides an additional layer of privacy for users who share their computers or smartphones with others or access ChatGPT in public places. By moving selected conversations into a separate protected space, users can keep sensitive discussions out of their regular chat history and away from the usual browsing experience.
However, OpenAI emphasizes that the feature is intended to restrict access through the ChatGPT interface, rather than provide complete encryption or change how the company handles user data.
How ChatGPT’s Locked Chats Feature Works
Locked Chats allows users to move individual conversations into a dedicated section that is separate from the standard chat list.
Once a conversation is locked, it no longer appears in the regular chat history, pinned conversations list, or search results. Access requires entering a four-digit PIN or, on supported devices, using biometric authentication such as Face ID or Touch ID.
This approach can help users prevent others with access to their device from casually opening private conversations. It also makes selected chats less visible when someone browses the user’s ChatGPT account.
The feature may be particularly useful for people who use ChatGPT to discuss personal matters, work-related information, or other topics they do not want readily visible to others.
Locked Chats Does Not Mean End-to-End Encryption
Despite the additional privacy controls, Locked Chats does not create a separate encrypted environment.
OpenAI clarifies that locking a conversation does not provide end-to-end encryption. It also does not change how long conversations are retained by the company or affect the settings governing whether user data may be used to improve its AI models.
In other words, the feature adds an access barrier within ChatGPT, but it should not be confused with a private vault that prevents the service itself from processing or retaining information under its existing policies.
Users who want to manage how their information is handled should continue to review their data controls and privacy settings separately.
Forgetting Your PIN Could Permanently Delete Locked Chats
One of the most important details concerns what happens when a user forgets their PIN.
If a user chooses to reset the PIN, all conversations locked under the previous code will be permanently deleted. Information stored exclusively within those conversations and files protected by the previous PIN will also be lost.
The deletion cannot be reversed, and OpenAI support cannot restore the affected data.
This makes it important for users to understand the consequences before resetting their PIN. Anyone storing valuable information or files in locked conversations should take particular care before proceeding with a reset.
Which ChatGPT Users Can Access Locked Chats?
According to OpenAI’s official information, the feature is being rolled out gradually across ChatGPT’s subscription tiers.
Availability includes users on the Free, Go, Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise, and Edu plans. The feature is supported on the web, iOS and Android applications, and the newer ChatGPT desktop applications for macOS and Windows.
The gradual rollout means that access may depend on when the feature reaches an individual account.
Users can also use voice conversations within locked chats on the web and mobile applications, wherever voice functionality is available. However, conversations in Codex and local Work conversations cannot be locked through this feature.
How Locked Chats Differs From Regular Chat History
Regular ChatGPT conversations are generally accessible through the chat history, making it easier for users to revisit previous discussions. Locked Chats adds an extra access restriction for selected conversations, helping keep them out of the ordinary chat list and search results.
This distinction is particularly relevant for people who share devices or want to prevent private discussions from being easily discovered by someone browsing their account. Rather than changing how ChatGPT works, the feature provides another way to manage the visibility of individual conversations.
However, users should remember that hiding a conversation from the regular interface does not necessarily mean that its contents are excluded from OpenAI’s data-retention policies or other applicable requirements.
What Locked Chats Means for ChatGPT Privacy
Locked Chats provides an additional layer of privacy by making selected conversations harder for other people to access through the regular ChatGPT interface. However, it does not offer end-to-end encryption or change OpenAI’s data-retention policies.
Users should also remember that resetting a forgotten PIN can permanently delete locked conversations and associated files. Understanding these limitations can help users make better decisions about protecting their private discussions.
