chatgpt-privacy-data-controls-temporary-chat
Module 1 · Lesson 3 of 26
Privacy, Data Controls and Temporary Chat
Understand what your privacy choices do, decide what information is suitable to share and choose between a normal conversation, archived chat, deleted chat and Temporary Chat.
- Beginner
- About 12 minutes
- Privacy checklist
- 4-question check
Learning Objectives
What you will learn
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:
- Find ChatGPT Data Controls and understand “Improve the model for everyone”.
- Explain the difference between training choice, chat history, archiving and deletion.
- Describe what Temporary Chat changes—and what it does not guarantee.
- Classify information before sharing it with an AI service.
- Choose an appropriate chat type for common everyday scenarios.
The Essential Principle
Share only what the task genuinely needs
Privacy controls help, but good judgement begins before you type or upload anything.
Remove unnecessary identifying details
Ask whether ChatGPT needs a real name, address, account number, health detail, customer record or confidential document to complete the task. Often it does not.
Replace identifying details with neutral placeholders such as [customer], [town], [amount] or [project]. Summarise a document when the full file is unnecessary.
Good privacy habit: pause, remove unnecessary detail, choose the appropriate chat type, then review your message before sending.
Your Account Choices
Review Data Controls step by step
Labels and positions may change. Follow the current controls visible in your account.
Open Settings
Open your profile menu in ChatGPT and select Settings.
Select Data Controls
Open Data Controls to view options for model improvement, archived chats, exporting data and account deletion.
Review model improvement
Choose whether new conversations may be used to improve OpenAI models. Turning this off applies across your account and devices.
Understand what stays
Turning off model improvement does not remove ordinary chats from history. They remain visible unless you delete them.
Manage archived chats
Archived conversations are hidden from the normal sidebar but remain saved in your account.
Export before major changes
If you need a personal record, review the data-export option before deleting chats or the account.
Feedback is a separate choice
OpenAI notes that if you submit thumbs-up or thumbs-down feedback, the conversation associated with that feedback may be used to improve models even when you previously opted out of training.
Know the Difference
History, training, archiving, deletion and Temporary Chat
| Choice | Appears in history? | Used for model training? | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ordinary chat with model improvement on | Yes | May be used for eligible consumer services | Saved to your account until you delete it. |
| Ordinary chat with model improvement off | Yes | No for new conversations | The training choice is separate from keeping history. |
| Archived chat | Hidden from the main sidebar | Follows the applicable account setting | Still saved in your account; archiving is not deletion. |
| Deleted chat | No | Removed from view immediately | Scheduled for permanent deletion within 30 days, subject to stated legal, security or de-identification exceptions; it cannot be restored. |
| Temporary Chat | No | No | Does not create memories; a safety copy may be kept for up to 30 days. |
Temporary Chat
A blank-slate conversation with different retention behaviour
Temporary Chat is useful when you do not want a conversation in normal history or used to create memories.
Temporary Chats:
- Do not appear in your chat history.
- Are not used to train OpenAI models.
- Do not access or create memories for personalisation.
- May still follow enabled Custom Instructions.
- May still use limited safety-relevant context in rare high-risk situations.
- May have a copy retained for up to 30 days for safety purposes.
- Start a new conversation in ChatGPT.
- Select the Temporary Chat option visible in your interface.
- Confirm that the temporary-chat indicator is active before entering information.
- Share only the minimum information required for the task.
- Save any result you need before closing because the conversation will not appear in normal history.
- Do not treat Temporary Chat as permission to enter passwords, secrets or prohibited confidential information.
Temporary does not mean consequence-free
Your organisation’s rules, professional duties, copyright obligations and the sensitivity of the information still apply. If information should not leave a protected system, do not enter it into ChatGPT without proper authorisation.
Information Traffic Light
Pause before you paste or upload
This practical classification is conservative by design. Workplace policies may be stricter.
Green — generally low risk
- Public information
- Fictional examples
- Generic brainstorming
- Your own non-sensitive writing
- Anonymised learning exercises
Amber — remove detail first
- Draft business material
- Internal procedures
- Customer scenarios
- Unpublished creative work
- Documents containing names or metadata
Red — do not enter casually
- Passwords or authentication codes
- Banking and payment details
- Private health or legal records
- Confidential client or staff data
- Restricted workplace or safety information
Practical Activity
Complete your privacy check
Review your own settings and habits. Progress is stored only in this browser.
Choose Wisely
Which approach fits the task?
Brainstorming public event ideas
Good choice: an ordinary chat. Keep personal attendee details out of the prompt.
Testing a one-off writing style
Possible choice: Temporary Chat when you do not need the conversation saved or remembered.
Hiding an old project from the sidebar
Good choice: archive it. Remember that the chat remains stored.
Removing a conversation you no longer need
Good choice: delete it after saving any result you require. Deleted chats cannot be restored.
Summarising confidential customer records
Pause: follow organisational policy and authorisation. Remove identifiers or use an approved protected system.
Asking ChatGPT to store a password
Do not do this: use an appropriate password manager instead.
Knowledge Check
Check your understanding
Select one answer for each question.
Finish the Lesson
Record your progress
Official References
Learn more from OpenAI
This lesson was checked against current official OpenAI Help Centre guidance.