OpenAI is rolling out locked chats in ChatGPT, a way to hide selected conversations behind a 4-digit account PIN. OpenAI announced the feature in its ChatGPT release notes on October 20, 2026, and its help page lists it on ChatGPT Free, Go, Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise and Edu. Resetting the PIN permanently deletes every locked chat.

#What changed?

"Locked chats let you keep selected conversations in your account while hiding them from your regular chat history, pinned chats, and regular conversation search," OpenAI's help page says. "This can help keep sensitive conversations out of view when you share your screen or use a shared device."

TechCrunch reported that OpenAI designed it for situations where users "might be discussing something personal or planning a surprise" and hand their device to friends or family.

#How do you lock and unlock a chat?

"To lock a chat, open a chat’s more options menu (•••) and select Lock chat," the release notes say. OpenAI's help page says, "You can find your locked chats under Projects > Locked chats."

Platform

How you unlock, per OpenAI

Web

4-digit account PIN

Desktop app for macOS or Windows

4-digit account PIN

Supported mobile devices

PIN, Face ID, Touch ID or device unlock

OpenAI's post on X describes "a protected space you can unlock with a PIN on web and desktop, or a PIN, Face ID, Touch ID, or device unlock on supported mobile devices." The help page says device authentication "is optional and applies only to the device where you enable it," and "Your account PIN is tied to your OpenAI account, not to a specific workspace."

"After too many incorrect attempts, ChatGPT temporarily disables access," OpenAI says. Access also ends "after 1 minute away from a locked chat or the Locked chats area, or after 1 minute in the background."

#What does locking not do?

"Locking a chat changes where the conversation appears and how you open it," OpenAI says. According to the help page, it does not:

  • "create end-to-end encryption or a separate encrypted vault"
  • "change how long OpenAI retains the chat"
  • "change your Improve the model for everyone setting"
  • "remove information that ChatGPT remembered before you locked the chat"
  • "override applicable workspace policies, safety requirements, or legal and compliance obligations"

OpenAI also says, "Anyone who can open a locked chat can still copy its contents." TechCrunch added its own view: "Of course, while locking a chat can limit access, it doesn’t address concerns about how sensitive information is stored or handled."

#What happens if you reset your PIN?

"Resetting your account PIN permanently deletes all locked chats, remembered information stored only within locked chats, and files or other content protected only by your previous PIN. This cannot be undone, and OpenAI Support cannot recover the deleted content," the help page says. "Changing the PIN does not delete locked chats," and "Forgetting your PIN does not by itself delete your locked chats or files."

#What about workspaces and admins?

"Workspace administrators can’t disable locked chats through a workspace setting or role-based access control (RBAC) permission," OpenAI says, and they "cannot unlock your chats or reset your account PIN." In Enterprise and Edu, locked chats "are still included in conversation message logs available through the OpenAI Compliance Platform."

#Who can use it and when?

"Locked chats are available on ChatGPT Free, Go, Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise, and Edu," the help page says, and "Locked chats are rolling out gradually." They are "not available on ChatGPT for Healthcare." The release notes list fewer plans: they say locked chats are rolling out to "Free, Go, Plus, and Pro users on the web, in the iOS and Android apps, and in the new ChatGPT desktop app for macOS and Windows." OpenAI's X post and TechCrunch list the same seven plans as the help page.

#What are the limits?

  • Chats that can't be locked: temporary, archived and group chats, chats in the earlier Health experience, chats created from a shared link, and chats with scheduled tasks, meeting recordings, background tasks or responses saved as project sources. "Codex conversations, including cloud Codex conversations, and local Work conversations can’t be locked."
  • Actions: "You cannot archive, pin, move, or share a locked chat," and "You cannot search across all locked chats."
  • Shared links: locking a chat "does not delete the link."
  • Projects: a locked chat "leaves that project and no longer uses its instructions, files, or memory."
  • Voice: "Voice isn’t available in locked chats in the desktop app."
  • Android screenshots: they "may appear blank or black because the app hides protected content in screenshots."
  • Ads: "If ads are available for your account, they may also appear in locked chats."
  • Memory: "Locked chats can use relevant information from regular Memory," but "Information remembered only within locked chats does not carry into regular chats."

#How does it compare?

For another ChatGPT feature update, see our coverage of real-time collaboration in ChatGPT Slides. For how OpenAI handles privacy and admin settings for its always-on agents, see our guide to OpenAI Dots privacy, security and admin controls. More coverage is in the Privacy and Security hub.

#What is still unclear?

  • Business, Enterprise and Edu timing. The help page lists them, but the release notes list only Free, Go, Plus and Pro. OpenAI has not explained the difference.
  • Open devices. OpenAI says other devices "may continue to show the chat title until their conversation lists refresh."
  • Regions. None of the sources mention regional limits.