How to delete your ChatGPT history, and what deleting doesn't remove
Step by step: delete one chat, all chats or your whole ChatGPT account, plus the memories, files and copies that deleting leaves behind.
Table of contents
- Short answer
- How do you delete one ChatGPT chat?
- How do you delete all your ChatGPT chats?
- How do you delete your ChatGPT account?
- How long until deleted chats are really gone?
- What does deleting a chat not remove?
- How do you stop ChatGPT remembering things?
- A quicker checklist
- Is there a way to avoid this in the first place?
- Common questions
- Sources
Short answer
In ChatGPT, open a chat's menu and choose Delete, or go to Settings, Data controls, Delete all chats. OpenAI then removes deleted chats from its systems within 30 days. Deleting a chat does not delete memories made from it, files in your Library, or data already used for training.
How do you delete one ChatGPT chat?
Open your chat history, click the ••• menu next to the chat, choose Delete and confirm [1]. A deleted chat cannot be restored. If you only want it out of sight, choose Archive instead, which hides it without deleting it.
How do you delete all your ChatGPT chats?
Go to Settings, then Data controls, then Delete all chats, and confirm [1]. This also deletes chats inside projects, and it cannot be undone.
How do you delete your ChatGPT account?
On the web, go to Settings, then Account, then Delete. Enter your email or phone number, type DELETE, and choose Permanently delete my account [4]. If you can't sign in, OpenAI's Privacy Portal accepts a deletion request instead. If you pay through Apple, cancel that subscription separately: deleting the account doesn't cancel it.
How long until deleted chats are really gone?
Up to 30 days. OpenAI schedules deleted chats for permanent deletion from its systems within 30 days [2], and deletes account data within 30 days of an account deletion [4]. Both have exceptions for security and legal obligations.
What does deleting a chat not remove?
Deleting a chat is not the same as deleting everything connected to it.
| Deleting a chat does not remove | What to do |
|---|---|
| Saved memories made from that chat | Delete them in Settings, Personalization, Memory [3] |
| Files saved in your Library | Delete them from the Library [1] |
| Data in connected apps, such as your email | Delete it in that app [1] |
| Content already de-identified for training | It can't be removed [5] |
| Copies kept for security or legal reasons | Nothing you can do [2] |
How do you stop ChatGPT remembering things?
Go to Settings, then Personalization, then Memory. You can delete single memories, turn off Reference chat history, or use Delete and turn off memory to clear the summary and stop new memories [3]. Turning Memory off does not delete your past chats, and OpenAI may keep logs of deleted memories for up to 30 days [3].
A quicker checklist
- Delete the memories you don't want kept.
- Delete the chats, one by one or all at once.
- Delete files in your Library.
- Turn off Improve the model for everyone so new chats aren't used for training.
- If you're leaving, delete the account.
Is there a way to avoid this in the first place?
Yes: use an AI chat that never holds your history in readable form. In Prino, your chats and memories are encrypted on your device, so deleting them on your device deletes the only readable copy. Without an account, clearing your browser data removes them for good.
Common questions
- How long does OpenAI keep deleted ChatGPT chats?
- OpenAI says it schedules deleted chats for permanent deletion within 30 days, unless they were already de-identified or must be kept longer for security or legal reasons.
- Does deleting a chat delete ChatGPT's memory of it?
- No. A saved memory is separate from the chat it came from. Delete the memory in Settings, Personalization, Memory as well as the chat.
- Can I get a deleted ChatGPT chat back?
- No. OpenAI says deleted chats cannot be restored. Archiving is the option that hides a chat without deleting it.
- Does deleting my account remove everything?
- OpenAI says it deletes your data within 30 days, but it may keep a limited set where the law requires or permits. Content already de-identified for training is not removed.
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