OpenAI has started rolling out locked chats in ChatGPT, a feature that hides selected conversations behind a 4-digit PIN or your phone’s Face ID or fingerprint unlock. Announced on October 20, 2026, it is available on the Free, Go, Plus and Pro plans, as well as Business, Enterprise and Edu, on the web, the iOS and Android apps and the new desktop app. A locked chat disappears from your regular history, pinned chats and search until you unlock it. OpenAI is clear about the limits: locking is an access control, not end-to-end encryption, and resetting a forgotten PIN permanently deletes every locked chat.
What are locked chats in ChatGPT?
Locked chats let you keep a conversation in your account without anyone who picks up your phone or laptop seeing it. Once locked, a chat moves to a new Locked chats area under Projects and no longer shows up in:
- Your regular chat history in the sidebar
- Pinned chats
- ChatGPT’s conversation search
To open one, you enter your account PIN or use device authentication on a supported phone. It is aimed at the kind of conversations many people now have with AI: health questions, money worries, job searches or personal problems on a shared device.
Who can use it?
| Detail | What OpenAI says |
|---|---|
| Plans | Free, Go, Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise and Edu (not ChatGPT for Healthcare) |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android and the new ChatGPT app for Mac and Windows |
| Unlock methods | 4-digit account PIN; Face ID or Touch ID on iPhone; device unlock on Android |
| Voice mode | Works in locked chats on web, iOS and Android, not in the desktop app |
| Rollout | Gradual, so the option may take a few days to appear |
How do you lock a chat in ChatGPT?
- Open the more options menu (the three dots) next to the conversation.
- Select Lock chat, then confirm with Lock chat again.
- The first time, create a 4-digit PIN when prompted. After that, enter it to confirm.
- On iPhone, you can turn on Use Face ID or Use Touch ID in the Account PIN settings. On Android, choose Use device unlock when asked.
To start a new private conversation directly, go to Projects, open Locked chats, unlock it and type your first message. To read a locked chat later, return to the same place and enter your PIN. Access ends automatically: on phones after about one minute away from the chat, and on the web when you refresh or close the tab. You can also select Lock now.
What locked chats do not do
This is the part worth reading twice. According to OpenAI’s help page, locking a chat does not:
- Encrypt it end to end. It hides the chat in the app; it does not create a separate encrypted vault.
- Change how long OpenAI keeps it or your Improve the model for everyone training setting.
- Erase memories ChatGPT saved before you locked the chat.
- Override work rules. On Enterprise and Edu plans, locked chats are still included in the compliance logs that administrators can access.
Some chats cannot be locked at all, including temporary chats, archived chats, group chats, chats created from a shared link and chats with scheduled tasks.
Warning: a forgotten PIN means lost chats
Your PIN is tied to your OpenAI account and works on every device you are signed in to. If you forget it, you can reset it in Settings > Security and login > Account PIN, but the reset permanently deletes all your locked chats, plus memories and files that existed only inside them. OpenAI says its support team cannot recover them, and workplace admins cannot reset your PIN either.
So pick a PIN you will remember but others cannot guess. Avoid 1234, 0000, your birth year or the same code you use to unlock your phone. Our guide to creating a strong password covers the same principles. Also protect the account itself with two-factor authentication, because a PIN does not help if someone signs in to your account from their own device.
A new Privacy Center, too
Alongside locked chats, OpenAI is rolling out a Privacy Center that gathers privacy options in one place: memory, personalized ads, temporary chats, locked chats, connected apps, multi-factor authentication, model training and data export. On the web, find it under your account menu, then Help > Privacy center. On iPhone and Android, it is in Settings. It explains your options and links to the controls; opening it does not change anything by itself.
Our take
Locked chats solve a real, everyday problem: a partner, child or coworker scrolling through your ChatGPT history on a shared or unlocked device. Messaging apps like WhatsApp already offer a similar chat lock, so this was overdue. But it is privacy from people around you, not from OpenAI. If you would not want a conversation stored on a server at all, use a temporary chat instead, and review the settings in our guide to AI chatbot privacy settings. New to the app? Start with how to use ChatGPT.
If ChatGPT will not load at all, follow our guide on fixing ChatGPT when it is not working.
Frequently asked questions
Is the locked chats feature free?
Yes. It is available on the free ChatGPT plan as well as paid plans.
Can OpenAI still see my locked chats?
Yes. Locking is not end-to-end encryption. Your normal retention and training settings still apply.
Why don’t I see the Lock chat option?
The feature is rolling out gradually, so it can take a few days to reach every account. Update the app and check again.
What is the difference between a locked chat and a temporary chat?
A locked chat is saved but hidden behind a PIN. A temporary chat is not saved to your history and does not use or create memories. Temporary chats cannot be locked.
Sources
- OpenAI Help Center: Using locked chats in ChatGPT
- OpenAI Help Center: Privacy Center in ChatGPT
- Engadget: ChatGPT now lets you lock sensitive chats behind a PIN
- TechCrunch: ChatGPT now lets you lock your chats
This article is based on the official documentation and reporting listed in the sources above, checked on October 22, 2026. Features and prices change, so confirm details on the official pages before you buy. ShokokoTech does not accept payment for coverage. Read our editorial policy.
