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To get ChatGPT to remember a preference, open Settings > Personalization > Memory and check which memory controls are available in your account. When supported, you can also tell ChatGPT directly, “Remember that I prefer concise answers.” Use custom instructions for standing directions, saved memories for particular details, and Reference chat history for relevant context from earlier conversations. The controls and labels can vary by plan, region, platform, and workspace.
Choose the right way to personalize ChatGPT
ChatGPT has several personalization mechanisms, and they do different jobs. The appropriate controls may not all appear in every account.
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| Control | Best for | What to keep in mind |
|---|---|---|
| Saved memories | A particular fact or preference you want ChatGPT to keep in mind | Saved separately from chat history, so deleting the conversation where it came from may not delete the memory. |
| Reference chat history | Letting relevant context from past conversations inform future answers | ChatGPT does not retain every detail, and what it considers useful can change. |
| Custom instructions | Direct, explicit guidance about what ChatGPT should know or how it should respond | These are separate from automatically developed memories. |
| Temporary Chat with Unpersonalized selected | A session that does not use existing memories or custom instructions for personalization | Select this when starting the chat; the choice cannot be changed after the Temporary Chat starts. |
OpenAI explains the Memory controls and the distinction between saved memories, past-chat context, and custom instructions in its Memory in ChatGPT guidance.
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How to get ChatGPT to remember a preference
- Open Settings > Personalization > Memory. Look at the controls shown in your account; names and availability can differ.
- Enable the relevant memory options if you want ChatGPT to use personalization across conversations.
- For a preference you want retained, state it plainly—for example, “Remember that I prefer concise answers.” ChatGPT may support saving a stated preference, but that does not mean every detail from every conversation will be saved.
- For ongoing response directions, use custom instructions where available. For context that ChatGPT can draw from past conversations, use Reference chat history if your account offers it.
How to see what ChatGPT remembers about you
Review the memory summary or saved-memory controls in Settings > Personalization > Memory when they are available. You can also ask ChatGPT what it remembers about you. Treat a summary as a high-level view, not a complete inventory: OpenAI notes that it may omit details or their sources.
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If a memory is editable and inaccurate or out of date, correct or remove it using the available controls. For context that may have come from an earlier conversation, check the relevant chat as well as the saved-memory controls.
How to delete a ChatGPT memory
- Open Settings > Personalization > Memory and use the available controls to delete the saved memory. If those controls are not visible, follow the options shown in your account or ask ChatGPT about the memory.
- Consider deleting the chat or other source where the information originated. Deleting a chat alone may leave a separately saved memory in place.
- Check relevant Library files or connected apps if the information could have come from them, and remove the source there where appropriate.
Turning Memory off is not the same as deleting saved information, and it does not delete chat history. OpenAI says deletion or updates can take time to propagate; logs of deleted saved memories may be retained for up to 30 days for safety and debugging. These details are described in the OpenAI Memory guidance.
How to chat without memory or personalization
Start a Temporary Chat for a one-off conversation that does not create or update memories while it remains temporary. OpenAI’s Temporary Chat FAQ explains that a Temporary Chat can still use existing personalization if it is personalized. If you also want to avoid using existing memories and custom instructions in that session, choose Unpersonalized when starting the Temporary Chat. That selection cannot be changed after the chat begins.
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If your concern is whether chats may be used to improve models, check Settings > Data Controls for Improve the model for everyone. OpenAI says personal-account users can manage this separately from Memory. Turning it off does not erase chats, so review Memory, chat history, and Data Controls according to what you want to change.
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