OpenAI introduced a new feature on Tuesday allowing ChatGPT users to lock conversations to keep sensitive chats private. Users can secure locked chats with a four-digit PIN or biometric authentication such as Face ID or Touch ID on supported devices. Unlike Temporary Chats, Locked Chats remain accessible anytime but are separated from regular chat history, enhancing privacy for personal or confidential discussions, according to techcrunch.com.
The locking feature is designed for scenarios where users might share their device with others but want to keep certain conversations hidden, such as planning surprises or discussing personal matters. Once locked, chats move to a dedicated section called “Locked Chats,” which is separate from pinned conversations and search results. The feature does not provide end-to-end encryption or alter data retention policies, nor does it affect how ChatGPT uses chat data to improve its models, techcrunch.com reported.
This addition reflects OpenAI’s response to the growing use of ChatGPT for personal communication, addressing privacy concerns without changing the underlying data handling framework. While it limits access on shared devices, it does not encrypt conversations or remove previously stored information. The feature’s separation of locked chats from regular history and its own memory scope within the app mark a notable step in user privacy controls compared to earlier chat management options.
Locked Chats also maintain their own memory shared across conversations within the section when Memory is enabled. The update was announced on October 20, 2026, by OpenAI, marking a new privacy layer in ChatGPT’s evolving feature set, techcrunch.com stated.