ChatGPT Privacy Settings: The Complete Setup Guide

Using ChatGPT doesn't have to mean giving up your privacy. Here's exactly how to configure every privacy setting, what each one does, and our recommended setup for most users.

The Quick Privacy Setup (2 Minutes)

If you just want the essentials:

1. Settings > Data Controls > Turn OFF "Chat history & training"
2. Use Temporary Chat for anything sensitive
3. Never share passwords, SSN, financial details, or confidential work info

That's the 80/20 of ChatGPT privacy. Read on for the full guide.

Understanding What ChatGPT Collects

By Default, OpenAI Collects:

• Every conversation you have (stored on their servers)
• Account information (email, name, payment info if Plus)
• Device data (IP address, browser, device type)
• Usage patterns (when and how you use ChatGPT)

How Your Data May Be Used:

• Training and improving AI models
• Safety and abuse prevention (human reviewers may see conversations)
• Product development
• Legal compliance

Use our [ChatGPT Privacy Checker](/tools/chatgpt-privacy-checker) to get personalized privacy recommendations.

Privacy Settings Walkthrough

1. Chat History & Training

Where: Settings > Data Controls > Chat history & training

What it does when ON (default):

• Saves all conversations
• May use your conversations to train future models
• Human reviewers may see your chats for safety

What it does when OFF:

• New conversations not saved
• Not used for training
• You lose conversation history feature
• 30-day retention for safety only

Our recommendation: Turn OFF for most users. The convenience of history isn't worth the privacy trade-off.

2. Temporary Chat

Where: Click "Temporary Chat" when starting a new conversation

What it does:

• Conversation not saved to history
• Not used for training
• Deleted after you close it
• Perfect for sensitive one-off questions

Our recommendation: Use for anything you wouldn't want on record.

3. Data Export

Where: Settings > Data Controls > Export data

What it does:

• Download everything OpenAI has stored
• See your full conversation history
• Review what data they've collected

Our recommendation: Export occasionally to see what's stored. Good for auditing before deletion.

4. Delete All Chats

Where: Settings > Data Controls > Delete all chats

What it does:

• Removes all conversations from your account
• Data may be retained up to 30 days for safety
• Cannot be undone

Our recommendation: Do this periodically, especially if you've shared anything sensitive.

5. Memory Feature

Where: Settings > Personalization > Memory

What it does when ON:

• ChatGPT remembers information across conversations
• Builds a profile of your preferences
• More personalized responses

What it does when OFF:

• Each conversation starts fresh
• No information carried over
• Less personalized but more private

Our recommendation: Turn OFF for privacy. The personalization isn't worth ChatGPT building a profile of you.

6. Custom Instructions

Where: Settings > Personalization > Custom instructions

What it does:

• Information you provide is used in all conversations
• Be careful what you put here

Our recommendation: Use generic instructions. Don't include identifying personal information.

Account Types and Privacy

Free Account

• Data used for training by default
• Basic privacy controls
• Good enough for casual use with settings adjusted

ChatGPT Plus ($20/month)

• Same privacy defaults as free
• Same controls available
• Paying doesn't automatically improve privacy

ChatGPT Team

• Better data handling
• Not used for training by default
• Good for professional use

ChatGPT Enterprise

• Best privacy protections
• SOC 2 compliant
• No training on your data
• More admin controls
• Required for sensitive business use

The API vs. Consumer Product

ChatGPT API has better privacy defaults:

• Data not used for training (unless you opt in)
• Shorter retention periods available
• More programmatic control
• Better for developers and businesses

If you're doing anything privacy-sensitive at scale, the API is better than the consumer product.

What to Never Put in ChatGPT

No matter your settings, never share:

Identity Information:

• Social Security number
• Driver's license number
• Passport information
• Full date of birth with name

Financial Data:

• Bank account numbers
• Credit card details
• Tax documents
• Investment accounts

Medical Information:

• Health records
• Diagnoses
• Prescriptions
• Insurance details

Work Confidential:

• Trade secrets
• Client data
• Proprietary code
• Internal documents
• Unreleased information

Credentials:

• Passwords
• API keys
• Security codes
• Private keys

Our Recommended Setup

For most users:

1. ✅ Turn OFF Chat history & training
2. ✅ Turn OFF Memory
3. ✅ Use Temporary Chat for sensitive topics
4. ✅ Delete history periodically
5. ✅ Export data occasionally to audit
6. ✅ Use generic custom instructions
7. ✅ Never share sensitive personal info
8. ✅ Use a non-primary email for your account

For work use:

• Consider ChatGPT Team or Enterprise
• Follow your company's AI policy
• Never share confidential info in personal accounts
• Use the API for production applications

The Bottom Line

ChatGPT is useful, but the default settings aren't privacy-friendly. Spend 2 minutes adjusting your settings, develop good habits about what you share, and you can use AI effectively without giving up more data than necessary.

The key insight: treat ChatGPT like a helpful coworker who might repeat things. Share what's useful, keep sensitive stuff to yourself.

Use our [ChatGPT Privacy Checker](/tools/chatgpt-privacy-checker) for a personalized privacy assessment based on how you use ChatGPT.