To get ChatGPT to remember a preference, open Settings > Personalization > Memory and check which memory controls are available on your account. If supported, turn on the relevant option and ask ChatGPT directly—for example, “Remember that I prefer concise answers.” Use Custom Instructions for standing guidance you want to state explicitly, and review or remove remembered information through the controls shown in your account. Labels and availability can vary by plan, region, platform, and workspace.
Choose the right personalization control
ChatGPT’s personalization features do different jobs. Choose based on whether you want it to retain a particular detail, draw on relevant earlier conversations, or follow instructions you provide directly.
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| Control | Best for | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Saved memories | A particular fact or preference you want ChatGPT to keep in mind | Stored separately from chat history. Deleting the conversation where a memory originated may not delete the saved memory. |
| Reference chat history | Using relevant context from past conversations in future chats | ChatGPT does not retain every detail, and what it draws from history may change over time. |
| Custom Instructions | Explicit, standing guidance about what ChatGPT should know or how it should respond | Separate from saved memories and context drawn from chat history. |
| Temporary Chat with Unpersonalized selected | A session that does not use existing memories or Custom Instructions | Choose this when starting the chat. The choice cannot be changed after the Temporary Chat starts. |
OpenAI describes the memory summary as a high-level view, not a complete inventory of every detail or source that may inform personalization. See OpenAI’s Memory in ChatGPT guidance for its description of memory, chat history, and Custom Instructions.
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Turn on memory and tell ChatGPT what to remember
- Open Settings > Personalization > Memory. Review the controls actually displayed in your account; names and availability may differ, and some options may not be available to you.
- If you want continuity, enable the relevant memory option or options shown there.
- State a preference plainly in a chat, such as “Remember that I prefer concise answers,” if the feature is available. You can also ask ChatGPT what it remembers about you.
A request to remember something does not mean every detail from every conversation will be saved. For guidance you want to specify directly and consistently, use Custom Instructions where available; use saved memories for particular details or preferences, and Reference chat history when you want relevant past-conversation context to inform replies.
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See what ChatGPT remembers and correct it
Check the memory summary or saved-memory controls under Settings > Personalization > Memory when they are available. You can also ask ChatGPT what it remembers about you. Treat the summary as a useful overview rather than a full record: it may omit details or their sources. If something is inaccurate or outdated, correct it in chat and use the editing controls if your account offers them.
Delete a memory and its source
Turning Memory off, deleting a conversation, and deleting a saved memory are separate actions. If you want information removed, delete the saved memory through the available memory controls and consider deleting the chat or other source where it came from. Also check relevant Library files or connected apps if they supplied the information. Deleting only a chat may leave a separately saved memory in place.
OpenAI says deletion or update propagation can take time. Its Help Center guidance says logs of deleted saved memories may be retained for up to 30 days for safety and debugging; this is a limited retention detail, not a guarantee that all related data disappears immediately. See OpenAI’s Memory in ChatGPT guidance for the stated deletion details.
Start a chat without memory
Start a Temporary Chat for a session that does not create or update memories while it remains temporary. If you also want to prevent that session from using existing memories and Custom Instructions, select Unpersonalized when starting it. You cannot change that choice after the Temporary Chat begins. A Temporary Chat without that selection can still draw on existing personalization. OpenAI explains these behaviors in its Temporary Chat FAQ.
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Keep model-training settings separate
Memory controls personalization; they are not the same as model-improvement settings. Personal-account users can manage Improve the model for everyone separately under Settings > Data Controls. Turning that setting off does not erase chats. If your concern is whether chats can be used to improve models, review Data Controls as well as Memory.
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