ChatGPT adds locked chats, with visibility controls and clear retention limits

The feature hides selected conversations behind a PIN or supported device authentication; it does not create end-to-end encryption.

OpenAI began rolling out Locked Chats on October 20, adding a way to hide selected conversations from regular ChatGPT history, pinned chats and search. Protected conversations appear under Projects and require a four-digit account PIN; supported mobile devices can also use device authentication.

The current help documentation lists availability across Free, Go, Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise and Edu, while noting that rollout is gradual. Eligible cloud conversations can be locked, but Codex conversations and local Work chats cannot.

What the lock changes

The feature controls visibility and opening a conversation. OpenAI says it does not create end-to-end encryption, change retention, alter the account’s model-improvement setting or override workspace and compliance policies.

Enterprise and Edu conversations remain in the message logs available through the Compliance Platform. Information remembered before a chat was locked is not automatically removed.

Recovery has a consequence

Resetting a forgotten PIN permanently deletes the conversations and other content protected only by that previous PIN, according to OpenAI. Support cannot recover that deleted material.

These details make the feature useful to understand as a screen and account-access control rather than a new data-storage arrangement. Someone sharing a device may want fewer conversations visible, while an organisation still needs its existing retention and governance rules.

The practical decision is which conversations benefit from being hidden, with the recovery consequence understood before relying on the lock. Availability and device support should be checked in the account where it will be used.

Sources

- [Using locked chats in ChatGPT](https://help.openai.com/en/articles/20001411-using-locked-chats-in-chatgpt) — OpenAI - [ChatGPT Enterprise and Edu release notes — October20](https://help.openai.com/en/articles/10128477-chatgpt-enterprise-and-edu-release-notes) — OpenAI