ChatGPT Gets PIN and Face ID Lock for Private Chats

Users can keep conversations safe by using a special four-digit code. On devices that support it people can also use Face ID or Touch ID to unlock their messages.

How Locked Chats work

Once a conversation is locked it goes away from the chat history that shows up in the sidebar. It also stops showing up in pinned conversations or regular chat searches. Instead, the conversation is placed in a section called Locked Chats. This section is separate. The conversation stays there until the user decides to unlock it.

The feature is not the same as Temporary Chats. Temporary Chats are made for conversations that are not kept in the user’s history and eventually go away. Locked Chats are. Can be used again after the user signs in.

Private memory for locked conversations

OpenAI is also separating memory associated with locked conversations. If ChatGPT's Memory feature is enabled, information from Locked Chats is stored in a separate memory space shared only with other locked conversations.

Messages sent after a conversation is locked can therefore update this memory without affecting the user's regular ChatGPT memory. However, locking a conversation does not erase information that ChatGPT had already remembered before the chat was moved into the section.

Locking a chat does not mean encryption

Users should not mistake the new feature for an encrypted vault. OpenAI says locking a conversation does not provide end-to-end encryption or create a separately encrypted storage area.

The feature also does not change how long OpenAI retains chat data or alter the "Improve the model for everyone" training setting associated with an account.

There is another important warning: do not forget the PIN. If a user forgets the four-digit PIN and chooses to reset it, OpenAI will permanently delete the locked chats, hidden files and private memories associated with the old PIN. The company says this action cannot be reversed, and customer support cannot restore the deleted content.

Availability

Locked Chats are rolling out across the web, Mac and Windows desktop apps, as well as iOS and Android. The feature is expected to be available across most ChatGPT plans, including Free, Go, Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise and Edu.

However, it is not available on the ChatGPT, for healthcare plans. People also cannot lock Temporary Chats, archived chats, group conversations or chats created through links.

As the rollout began on Tuesday, some users may have to wait a few days before the option appears on their accounts.