Beginner
How to create temporary chats on ChatGPT
Quick Answer
Temporary chats in ChatGPT allow you to have conversations that won't be saved to your chat history or used for model training. You can create them by enabling the temporary chat option in your settings or using incognito mode in your browser.
Prerequisites
- Active ChatGPT account
- Access to ChatGPT web interface or mobile app
- Understanding of basic chat functionality
- Familiarity with ChatGPT settings
1
Access ChatGPT Settings
Log into your ChatGPT account and click on your profile icon in the bottom-left corner of the interface. Select Settings from the dropdown menu to open your account preferences.
Tip
You can also access settings by clicking the three dots menu if using the mobile app
2
Navigate to Data Controls
In the Settings menu, look for the Data Controls section on the left sidebar. Click on it to access privacy and data management options including temporary chat settings.
3
Enable Temporary Chat Mode
Find the Temporary Chat option and toggle it ON. When enabled, a banner will appear at the top of your chat interface indicating that temporary mode is active and conversations won't be saved.
Tip
The temporary chat banner will be visible in orange or yellow to remind you the mode is active
4
Start Your Temporary Conversation
Click the New Chat button or use the
Ctrl+Shift+O keyboard shortcut to start a fresh temporary conversation. You'll see a notification confirming that this chat is temporary and won't be stored.Tip
Temporary chats will show a distinct icon or label in the chat list
5
Use Incognito Mode Alternative
Alternatively, open your browser's incognito/private mode by pressing
Ctrl+Shift+N (Chrome) or Ctrl+Shift+P (Firefox), then navigate to chat.openai.com and log in normally for automatic temporary sessions.Tip
Incognito mode ensures no local browser data is stored either
6
Verify Temporary Status
Look for the temporary chat indicator at the top of your conversation. It should display text like "Temporary chat - This conversation won't be saved" to confirm the mode is working correctly.
Tip
Take a screenshot if you need to remember important information from temporary chats
7
Exit Temporary Mode
To return to normal chat mode, go back to Settings > Data Controls and toggle Temporary Chat to OFF. Your next conversations will be saved normally to your chat history.
Tip
You can also close incognito browser windows and return to your regular browser session
Troubleshooting
Temporary chat option is not visible in settings
Ensure you're using the latest version of ChatGPT and try refreshing your browser or logging out and back in. Some accounts may need to wait for feature rollout.
Temporary chats are still appearing in chat history
Check that the temporary chat banner is visible at the top of your conversation. If not, disable and re-enable the setting, then start a new chat to ensure proper activation.
Cannot access temporary chat in mobile app
Update your ChatGPT mobile app to the latest version. If the feature isn't available, use your mobile browser in incognito mode to access temporary chats through the web interface.
Temporary chat mode keeps turning off automatically
This is normal behavior - temporary mode may reset between sessions for security. Simply re-enable it in settings when you need temporary chats, or bookmark an incognito session for quick access.
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