ChatGPT now includes a new way to keep certain conversations out of sight when a device is being shared. OpenAI has introduced a locked chats feature that adds a PIN-based layer of protection to selected conversations, making them harder for other people to open casually.
This update is aimed at users who want a simple privacy option without changing how they use the rest of the app. Rather than asking people to keep all conversations private or move sensitive exchanges somewhere else, the feature gives them a way to set aside individual chats that deserve extra protection.
What the new feature does
The locked chats feature is designed for conversations that users may want to keep private. According to the reporting, it is meant for situations where someone might be discussing something personal or planning a surprise, then handing their device to a friend or family member to show something in a different chat. In those cases, the locked chats option gives users a way to separate sensitive conversations from the rest of their ChatGPT history.
The feature is straightforward in purpose: it helps protect specific chats rather than changing how all of ChatGPT works. That makes it useful for people who do not need to hide every conversation, but do want added privacy for a few select threads.
In practice, that focus is part of what makes the feature easy to understand. Users are not being asked to manage a different app or rethink how they organize everything they say to ChatGPT. Instead, they can apply a PIN-based safeguard only where they think it is needed.
Why it matters for shared devices
Sharing a phone, tablet, or laptop often creates a small privacy problem. A user may want to show a single answer or exchange, but doing so can expose other conversations nearby. Locked chats aims to address that situation by making selected chats harder to access without the PIN.
That design is especially relevant for everyday use, where people may casually hand over a device for a quick look. Instead of relying on users to remember to avoid sensitive topics entirely, the feature gives them a built-in option for protecting specific discussions.
The value here is not limited to dramatic or unusual circumstances. Many people use shared devices in ordinary settings, and even brief access by someone else can reveal more than intended. Locked chats adds a direct solution for those moments, helping users reduce the chance that a private exchange is visible at the wrong time.
How it fits into ChatGPT
The new feature adds privacy control without requiring users to abandon the app for a separate tool. Because it sits inside ChatGPT itself, the locked chats option is part of the same environment where people already talk to the chatbot, save threads, and return to previous exchanges.
That approach matters because it keeps the privacy step close to the conversation. Users can decide which chats should be locked based on context, rather than managing their history somewhere else. In practice, that could make the feature easier to use for personal or situational privacy needs.
It also means the feature can fit into the way people already work with ChatGPT. If a conversation becomes sensitive, the user can treat it differently from the rest of their history without changing their overall habits. The feature is therefore less about complexity and more about convenience.
A focused privacy tool, not a broader redesign
The sources describe locked chats as a targeted feature rather than a major overhaul of ChatGPT. It is intended for a specific use case: private conversations that should stay out of easy view when someone else has temporary access to the device. That makes the feature relatively simple, but also practical.
For many people, privacy tools are most useful when they solve a narrow problem well. Locked chats appears to do exactly that by adding a PIN to selected threads instead of changing the entire chat experience. The result is a more controlled way to manage sensitive exchanges without affecting the rest of the app.
Because it is focused on individual chats, the feature avoids making the rest of ChatGPT feel more complicated. Users who do not need the extra layer can continue using the app as usual, while those who do can apply it only where the added protection is needed.
What users can take away from it
The addition of locked chats shows that ChatGPT is being shaped to handle everyday privacy concerns, not just general AI conversations. If a user wants to keep a discussion personal, or preserve the surprise in a plan they are working on, the feature offers a simple safeguard.
It also reflects a broader pattern in software design: privacy features often become more useful when they are practical and specific. Rather than asking users to work around a device-sharing moment, ChatGPT now gives them a direct way to protect the chat itself.
For users, that means there is now a built-in option for managing certain exchanges differently from the rest of their chat history. The feature does not attempt to solve every privacy concern at once, but it does address a common one in a direct way.
Conclusion
With locked chats, ChatGPT adds a small but useful privacy tool for people who want to keep selected conversations behind a PIN. The feature is built for common situations like sharing a device or planning something private, and it focuses on protecting individual chats rather than the whole app. For users who want more control over what others can see, it offers a simple and direct option.