To review or remove what ChatGPT remembers, open Settings > Personalization > Memory. From there, inspect the memory summary or saved memories, correct or delete items where those controls are available, and remove the chats or other sources that contain the information if you want it gone from those places too. Memory controls and labels vary by plan, region, platform, and workspace.
Where to find ChatGPT’s memory controls
- Open ChatGPT and select Settings.
- Choose Personalization, then Memory.
- Use the controls shown in your account. Depending on your setup, you may see labels such as Reference saved memories, Reference chat history, Memory summary, Manage, or Saved memories.
OpenAI says availability can vary by plan, region, platform, and workspace. If a control described here is not visible, it may not be available in your account or may be presented under a different label. See OpenAI’s Memory FAQ and Memory in ChatGPT for current product guidance.
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How to see what ChatGPT remembers about you
Review the memory summary or saved memories shown under Memory. OpenAI describes the summary this way: “The memory summary is a high-level view of information that ChatGPT may use to personalize responses.” It may not show every detail ChatGPT can use or identify where each detail came from, so do not treat it as a complete inventory of every mention in your chats or files. OpenAI Help Center: Memory in ChatGPT.
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How to edit or correct a ChatGPT memory
If your account offers editable saved memories or a memory summary, use the relevant edit or manage control to correct the information. In some experiences, you can highlight text or enter a correction. These editing options are not universal. You can also tell ChatGPT directly that a detail is wrong or out of date; that can help guide future responses, but check the memory controls afterward rather than assuming the stored item has been changed. OpenAI’s Memory FAQ.
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How to delete a ChatGPT memory completely
First identify where the information may be stored. A saved memory and the chat that supplied it are separate: deleting one does not necessarily delete the other. For a more complete removal, delete the saved memory and delete the chat where you shared it, then check other places the same information may exist.
- Saved memories: Use the available Manage or saved-memory controls to remove the relevant item.
- Chats: Delete the conversation containing the information. Check both regular and archived chats.
- Files and connected apps: If the information appears in Library files or connected apps, remove it from those sources as appropriate.
- Memory summary: If a summary or other memory view is available, review it after making changes; updates may take time to propagate.
Deleting a saved memory stops its use for future personalization, but it does not erase the information from past chats. Likewise, deleting a chat does not necessarily remove a separately stored saved memory. OpenAI’s guidance on memory management and deleting and archiving chats explains these distinct controls.
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What happens if you turn Memory off?
Turning Memory off is not the same as deleting past chats. Existing conversations remain unless you delete them separately. If you turn off Reference chat history, information remembered from past chats is scheduled for deletion within 30 days; the original chats are not deleted. OpenAI also says logs of deleted saved memories may be retained for up to 30 days for safety and debugging. These are service behaviors described by OpenAI, not a guarantee that every visible change happens immediately. OpenAI Memory FAQ.
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When to use Temporary Chat
Temporary Chat does not create or update memories. At the start, you choose whether it is personalized: a personalized temporary chat may use existing memories, while an unpersonalized one does not use memory or custom instructions. That choice cannot be changed after the chat begins. Temporary Chat is therefore useful when you do not want a conversation to add to memory, but choose the unpersonalized option if you also do not want existing memories used. OpenAI’s Temporary Chat FAQ.
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Which control should you use?
| Information source | Can it personalize responses? | How to remove or prevent use |
|---|---|---|
| Saved memories | Yes, when memory is available and enabled. | Delete the relevant saved memory in Memory settings. Remove the source chat separately if you also want that conversation deleted. |
| Reference to chat history | Yes, when the feature is available and enabled. | Turn off Reference chat history to schedule remembered information from past chats for deletion within 30 days; delete the original chats separately if desired. |
| Source chats, files, or connected apps | They may supply information used for personalization, depending on the feature and setup. | Delete the relevant chats, including archived conversations, and remove relevant files or app data through their respective controls. |
| Temporary Chat | It does not create or update memories. If started as personalized, it can use existing memories. | Choose the unpersonalized option at the start to avoid using memory and custom instructions; the choice cannot be changed after the chat starts. |
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