# OpenAI adds lock feature to ChatGPT

Digest AI · Agents & Tools · published 2026-10-20T18:36:53Z

Canonical: https://digestai.news/story/openai-adds-lock-feature-to-chatgpt

## Summary

OpenAI announced on Tuesday that users can now lock individual ChatGPT conversations. A locked chat can be secured with a four‑digit PIN, Face ID or Touch ID on supported devices. The feature creates a separate “Locked Chats” section that is kept out of regular chat history, pinned chats and search results, and it has its own memory that does not mix with the main Memory.

OpenAI says the lock does not add end‑to‑end encryption, change data retention, or affect the “Improve the model for everyone” setting. Resetting the PIN permanently deletes all locked chats, files and other protected content. The option is unavailable for temporary chats, archived chats, group chats, chats from shared links, scheduled‑task chats, and chats with meeting recordings. Locked Chats roll out to Free, Go, Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise and Edu plans, but not to ChatGPT for Healthcare. The rollout began on Tuesday, so it may not be live for every user yet.

## Key points

- Users can lock chats with a 4‑digit PIN, Face ID or Touch ID.
- Locked chats live in a separate section with independent memory from regular chats.
- Feature rolls out to all ChatGPT plans except Healthcare and may not be live for all users yet.

## Why it matters

Provides a practical privacy layer for personal or sensitive conversations in ChatGPT, helping users protect data when sharing devices, though it does not encrypt stored content.

## Sources

1. [ChatGPT now lets you lock your chats](https://techcrunch.com/2026/10/20/chatgpt-now-lets-you-lock-your-chats) (TechCrunch AI, 2026-10-20)

## Cite

Digest AI, "OpenAI adds lock feature to ChatGPT", 20 October 2026, https://digestai.news/story/openai-adds-lock-feature-to-chatgpt

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