ChatGPT privacy: how to stop it using your chats for training
Step by step: turn off “Improve the model for everyone”, use temporary chat, export your data and delete your account in ChatGPT, according to OpenAI’s official help centre.
Three settings worth knowing
| Setting | What it does according to OpenAI |
|---|---|
| Improve the model for everyone (off) | New conversations aren’t used for training. They stay in history. When signed in, it applies on all your devices. |
| Temporary chat | Doesn’t appear in history, doesn’t create or update memories and isn’t used for training. It may be kept for up to 30 days for safety. |
| Export data / delete account | On Free, Go, Plus and Pro it’s done from settings. Deleting the account is permanent. |
Step by step on the web
- Open your account menu and go to Settings.
- Go to Data controls.
- Select Improve the model for everyone, turn it off and confirm.
On mobile, open the sidebar, tap your profile icon and follow the same path. If you use ChatGPT without signing in, the setting is saved only in that browser.
Temporary chat, for one-offs
Before typing, tap Temporary in a new chat. You can choose whether it’s personalised (uses your instructions and memories) or not. If you save it later, it becomes a normal chat and follows your usual settings.
What these settings don’t do
- They don’t delete what’s already saved; archiving a chat changes nothing either.
- They don’t give you permission to paste customer, patient or student data. Read what data never to paste.
- In company accounts (Business, Enterprise, Edu), OpenAI doesn’t train on their content by default, but your organisation’s policy comes first.
Your rights
As a user in the EU you can exercise your data protection rights. Spain’s AEPD explains what they are and how to complain if you get no answer. More in your rights with an AI.
Frequently asked questions
If I turn off training, are my chats deleted?
No. According to OpenAI, turning it off doesn’t delete or hide saved chats. To remove content, delete the chat or the account separately.
Is temporary chat fully private?
It isn’t saved in history or used for training, but OpenAI may keep a copy for up to 30 days for safety purposes.
Does giving a thumbs up count?
Yes. OpenAI says that if you send feedback (thumbs up or down), the whole associated conversation may be used for training, even if you turned the option off.
Glossary · Safety and good use
Keep reading
Sources
- Data controls in ChatGPT — OpenAI (Help Center)
- Temporary chat in ChatGPT — OpenAI (Help Center)
- Conoce tus derechos — Agencia Española de Protección de Datos
Change log
- : First published with the menus from OpenAI’s help centre as checked that day.
Educational content, prepared with the help of AI tools, with sources cited. It is not a substitute for professional advice. Tools change fast: if you spot something out of date, write to us at contacto@cognenza.com. How we work.