ChatGPT is rolling out a Locked Chats feature for conversations a user wants to keep out of ordinary on-screen history. TechCrunch’s October 20 report describes protection with a four-digit PIN or Face ID or Touch ID on supported devices. The feature addresses access by someone using the screen or device, with important limits on what the lock changes.
A separate section users can revisit
According to Aisha Malik’s report, a locked conversation moves into a dedicated section, separate from regular history, pinned conversations and chat search results. Users can return to it later.
That makes the workflow different from a temporary conversation that does not appear in ordinary history. It can be useful when handing a device to someone else without exposing a personal discussion in the usual list.
Locking does not change every data control
The report says a lock does not create end-to-end encryption or a separate encrypted vault. It also does not change retention, the “Improve the model for everyone” setting or information remembered before the conversation was locked.
With Memory enabled, new messages in Locked Chats can update a separate memory shared within that section. The report describes this as distinct from regular Memory. Users should therefore review the lock and the underlying data settings as separate controls, rather than assume that enabling one also changes the others.
Rollout and recovery have boundaries
TechCrunch reports availability across several consumer, business and education plans, with ChatGPT for Healthcare excluded. The rollout began on October 20 and may not have reached every account immediately. Some conversation types, including temporary chats, scheduled-task chats and chats with meeting recordings, are excluded.
The report also says resetting a PIN permanently deletes the locked chats and protected content associated with the old PIN. That makes the recovery behavior important to understand before relying on the feature. This article describes the reported rollout and does not change any account’s settings.