Opt Out of ChatGPT Training and Keep Chat History

You can stop new conversations from being used to improve ChatGPT while still keeping them in your chat history. The setting is called “Improve the model for everyone”; turning it off does not require switching to Temporary Chat or deleting your existing conversations. The exact menu layout can vary slightly by app or account type.

What You’ll Need

Access to the ChatGPT account whose data-use setting you want to change.
A web browser or the ChatGPT mobile app, signed in to that account.

Step-by-Step

Sign in to the right account. Open ChatGPT in a browser or launch the app. If you have more than one account or workspace, check which one is active before changing settings. Personal-account preferences may not control settings managed by an organization.
Open the settings menu. On the web, select your profile icon or name, usually near a corner of the page, then choose Settings. In the mobile app, open the side menu if needed, tap your profile or name, and select Settings. Menu placement may change as the interface is updated.
Find Data Controls. In Settings, select Data Controls. Look for the control labeled Improve the model for everyone. Depending on the interface, the control may be described as whether your content can be used to improve models.
Turn the model-improvement control off. Switch off Improve the model for everyone, or select the equivalent opt-out choice if it is presented as a menu rather than a toggle. If a confirmation appears, read it and confirm. This is the key step: do not select an option that says to delete chats if you want to retain them.
Verify the choice. Return to Data Controls and check that the switch is off or the opt-out choice is shown. If you use ChatGPT on multiple devices, reopen Settings there and check the status. Settings are generally tied to your account, but confirming in the places you use ChatGPT helps catch a different signed-in account or workspace.
Keep using ordinary chats. Start or continue regular conversations. They should remain available in your chat history unless you delete them or use a mode designed not to save them. You do not need to turn off chat history to opt out of model improvement.

Common Mistakes

Turning off chat history instead of model improvement. These are different choices. The model-improvement control is the one to change when you want to retain chats but opt out of using new conversations to improve models.
Using Temporary Chat for every conversation. Temporary Chat is intended for conversations that should not appear in ordinary chat history. It is not necessary for the setting described here, and it changes how the conversation is retained.
Assuming existing conversations are erased. Opting out is not the same as deleting past chats. Existing conversations can remain in your history; use the chat’s delete option separately if you want to remove a conversation from that history.
Changing settings in the wrong account. If you sign in with different accounts, or switch between a personal account and a managed workspace, check the active profile before assuming the preference applies.
Thinking the setting applies retroactively to everything. The choice controls future use as described in the account’s current Data Controls information. It does not necessarily undo model training or other processing that may already have occurred.

Tips

Check the label, not just the location. Interfaces change. Look for the wording about improving the model or using content to improve models, rather than relying on a particular icon or screen position.
Recheck after account changes. If you switch accounts, join a workspace, or reinstall the app, verify the setting in the active account instead of assuming it carried over.
Separate privacy choices from history choices. Decide independently whether you want a conversation retained in your history and whether your content may be used for model improvement. One does not automatically mean the other.
Review the current explanation in Settings. OpenAI may update controls and how they work. The wording shown in your account is the best guide to the effect of the current setting.
Use the appropriate control for a one-off private conversation. If you do not want a particular conversation saved in your regular history, consider Temporary Chat and read its on-screen explanation. Do not rely on it as a substitute for checking the account-wide model-improvement preference.

Troubleshooting

You cannot find Data Controls. Update the app if an update is available, or sign in through the ChatGPT website and open Settings there. Menu names and locations can differ by platform and may change over time. Search within Settings if that option is available.

The toggle is missing, unavailable, or will not stay off. Confirm that you are signed in and online, then reload the page or close and reopen the app. Check whether you are in a managed workspace; an organization may control some settings. If the setting still cannot be changed, consult the Help option in ChatGPT or contact support through the official help channel.

Your chats seem to have disappeared. First check the account and workspace, then look for the conversation in the history list. The model-improvement opt-out should not itself delete chats. If you used Temporary Chat, deleted the conversation, or changed a history-related setting, it may not appear as an ordinary saved chat.

You changed the setting but want to confirm it took effect. Reopen Data Controls and inspect the current state. If the interface still shows it enabled, turn it off again and complete any confirmation. Avoid sending sensitive information while you are unsure; no setting makes an online service equivalent to an offline private notebook.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my chats still appear in chat history?
Yes. Turning off “Improve the model for everyone” is separate from deleting chats or disabling ordinary chat history. Regular conversations can remain in your history.

Does opting out delete conversations I already have?
No. This setting is not a chat-deletion control. Delete individual conversations separately if you want them removed from your visible history.

Does the opt-out apply to future conversations?
It is intended to control whether your content is used to improve models going forward. Check the current wording in Data Controls for the scope and any exceptions that apply to your account.

Do I need to use Temporary Chat?
No, not to keep chat history while opting out of model improvement. Temporary Chat is a separate mode for conversations that are not kept in ordinary history.

Will this change apply on my phone and computer?
It is associated with the account setting, but make sure both devices are signed in to the same account. Recheck Data Controls if the status appears different.

Can a work or school workspace have different settings?
Yes. Workspace administrators may manage settings for a managed account. Check the active workspace and ask its administrator or use the official support channel if the control is unavailable.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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