How to use ChatGPT

To start using ChatGPT, you’ll need a free OpenAI account. Head over to chat.openai.com and click Sign up. You can register with your email or simply continue with your Google or Microsoft account.

If you sign up using an email, OpenAI will ask you to verify your phone number to confirm that you’re an actual person (and not, fittingly, a bot).

Already have an account? Just hit Log in and you’re ready to start chatting.

Note: If you’re having trouble creating an account or signing in, try refreshing the page first. If that doesn’t work, visit OpenAI’s help center for detailed steps on how to fix common login problems.

How to upload and show images to ChatGPT

You can also share a picture directly in your chat and talk about it with ChatGPT.

How to upload images to ChatGPT from the web app

1. Click the plus icon in the message bar and choose Add photos or files. You can also drag and drop images or files from your computer into the message bar. To attach from Google Drive or OneDrive, connect your account first if needed.
2. Select the image or file you want to upload.
3. Type your accompanying prompt in the text box.
4. Press Enter to send it.

1. Tap the plus (+) button in the chat bar.
2. Choose how to add your image — either upload one from your device or snap a new photo or screenshot right inside the app.
3. Type your message or question that goes with the image.
4. Press Enter to send it.

How to upload images to ChatGPT from the mobile app

1. Tap the plus (+) button in the message bar.
2. Choose how you’d like to share an image — either upload one from your gallery or take a new photo.
3. If you want ChatGPT to focus on a specific detail, draw or mark that area on the image before sending.
4. Tap Next to confirm your selection.
5. Type your message or question, then tap Send to submit both together.

How to use ChatGPT’s non-chat features

Not everything inside ChatGPT is about simple back-and-forth chatting. Several tools sit alongside the chat window that can help you do much more with your AI assistant. Here’s how to make the most of these extra features. (Some options might only appear on certain subscription plans.)

How to use Projects in ChatGPT

Projects in ChatGPT let you organize your related conversations, memories, and custom instructions into focused groups. It’s like having separate workspaces where ChatGPT automatically adapts its context when you switch between them.

1. To create one, open the ChatGPT sidebar and select New Project.

2. Give your project a name, then click Create to set it up.

3. Once your project is ready, you’ll see several options for managing and customizing it according to your workflow.

• Start a conversation. Type your message in the chat box and begin interacting with ChatGPT just like you would in a normal conversation.
• Attach reference materials. Select Add files to upload any documents or data you’d like ChatGPT to use for that particular project.
• Set custom guidance. Click Add instructions, then enter any details or context specific to your project so ChatGPT can respond accordingly.

To see the history of a project, click its name in the sidebar. All related conversations will appear in the main workspace.

How to use ChatGPT scheduled tasks

To make the most of your AI assistant, you can have ChatGPT handle tasks automatically on a schedule. Here’s a quick rundown of how to set it up (you can read the full walkthrough in the guide on using ChatGPT scheduled tasks).

1. Open a new chat or use one of your existing conversations.
2. Clearly describe what you want ChatGPT to do and specify when it should run.
3. Once confirmed, your scheduled task will appear right inside the chat window.
4. If you ever want to update a scheduled task, click the three-dot menu (…) beside it in your chat.
5. Choose Edit, make your changes, and then hit Save to confirm.

Your tasks will still run automatically, even if you’re not online. When a task finishes, you’ll get a push notification and an email alert. To adjust how you’re notified, go to your ChatGPT settings → Notifications, and pick your preferred alert options.

ChatGPT Canvas is a focused workspace created directly from your chat. It opens in a side panel next to your main conversation, allowing you to refine and adjust your prompt without scrolling through earlier messages. It’s the quickest way to zero in on what you’re working on. (For a step-by-step guide with visuals, see the full tutorial on using ChatGPT Canvas.)

1. Enter your prompt just like you normally would, then ask ChatGPT to display the answer as a canvas or to “create a document.”
2. ChatGPT will generate the response inside a page view right on your screen.
3. To make changes, simply click Edit at the top of the page.
4. Your document will open on the right side of the screen, while your main chat remains visible on the left.
5. You can type edits directly in the canvas or highlight any section to refine specific parts of the text.

How to use ChatGPT Agent

ChatGPT Agent is an AI-powered assistant that can browse the internet and handle digital tasks for you. It can do things like fill out online forms, download files, or even create memes on command. That barely scratches the surface of what ChatGPT Agent can do, but you get the idea.

To try it, open your tools menu and choose Agent, or simply type /agent in the message bar. Then describe what you need done, and it will execute the task automatically.

The feature is still in beta testing, so hands-on access is limited for now. However, the demos showing ChatGPT Agent in action look impressive and suggest big potential once it’s fully released.

Can ChatGPT refuse to answer my prompts?

OpenAI has stated that its goal is to ensure AI remains safe and beneficial for everyone. To support that mission, it has built several guardrails into ChatGPT, such as refusing to answer prompts that are inappropriate, harmful, or break laws.

When I asked ChatGPT directly, “Are there any prompts you won’t respond to?” it explained the kinds of requests it’s designed to decline.

I will decline requests that:

1. Cause harm or danger. I will not provide instructions for making weapons, explosives, or other hazardous materials, nor assist with content that promotes self-harm, suicide, or violence.
2. Expose private or sensitive information I will not generate or reveal personal, confidential, or financial data (for example passwords or credit card numbers), nor fabricate or share private communications or impersonate real people.
3. Violate legal or ethical boundaries I will not help create deepfakes of real people without consent, produce plagiarized or copyrighted material in full (such as complete song lyrics or book chapters), or give advice that enables illegal activity (for example tax evasion or hacking).
4. Include explicit or abusive content I will not produce sexually explicit material involving real people, content that harasses or promotes hate, or graphic gore and violent depictions.
5. Be a misuse of my capabilities I will not continuously monitor files or accounts (I only see what you upload here), provide exhaustive lists of documents you have not shared, or pretend to be a licensed professional (for example a doctor or lawyer) when I am not.

Just to be clear, this isn’t a full list of everything ChatGPT might refuse. If you’re ever unsure about what it can or can’t do—like asking, “Can ChatGPT store my passwords?” (it can’t) or “Can it paint like Picasso?” (definitely not)—just try asking it directly. Just remember, its answers aren’t always perfect.

How to manage your data in ChatGPT 

There are several ways to control and manage your data in ChatGPT. The exact steps depend on your goal and the device you’re using. If you already know what you want to do, you can skip ahead to that section.

How to manage ChatGPT’s memory

ChatGPT’s memory feature works much like custom instructions, but with one big difference — you don’t need to spell everything out. Instead of manually telling ChatGPT what to remember or how to respond, it gradually learns your preferences on its own and adjusts its replies accordingly.

OpenAI notes that ChatGPT is designed to avoid storing or using sensitive information such as health or personal data. That’s why it’s always best to keep private details out of your chats. If you want extra control over what ChatGPT remembers, you can easily manage or clear its memory settings. The process is identical on both the web and mobile app.

1. Open your profile menu and select Settings.

2. Go to the Personalization tab.

3. Under Manage memories, choose Manage.

4. You’ll see two ways to control your saved memories:

• Remove individual memories: Click the trash can icon next to the memory you want ChatGPT to forget.
• Clear everything: Select Delete all to erase every stored memory in one go.

To completely disable ChatGPT’s memory, open your personalization settings and switch off the Reference saved memories option.

These preferences automatically sync to your account, so your changes apply on every device you use.

Important: Turning off memory and deleting old chats does not erase stored memories. The only way to fully remove them is to manually delete them in settings or ask ChatGPT directly to forget them. OpenAI may still keep temporary logs of deleted memories for up to 30 days for safety and debugging.

How to use temporary chats

If you ever want to chat without saving any memory or using stored context, you can switch to a temporary chat. This lets you talk freely without adding anything new to ChatGPT’s memory. However, your custom instructions will still apply during that session.

Here’s how to start one:

1. Begin a new chat.
2. Click the Temporary Chat icon — it looks like a small speech bubble in the top-right corner.
3. You’ll notice the message bar turns dark, showing that you’re now in temporary chat mode.

While temporary chats aren’t saved in your visible history, OpenAI may retain a backup for up to 30 days to ensure platform safety. If you use a GPT that performs actions or connects with external services, data shared through those actions may be stored for longer than 30 days and could be used by those third parties for their own purposes.

How to turn off model training

By default, OpenAI may use your chats and memory data to help make its models smarter. If you’d prefer not to share this information, you can easily disable it through your settings on the web or mobile app.

1. Click your profile icon, then choose Settings.
2. Go to Data controls.
3. Select Improve the model for everyone.
4. Turn off the switch next to Improve the model for everyone. You can also decide whether to include your audio or video recordings in training.
5. When finished, click Done to save your changes.

How to delete your ChatGPT conversations from a desktop

Here’s how to clear all your past chats in one go using ChatGPT’s web interface:

1. Click your profile icon in the lower-left corner.
2. Select Settings from the menu.
3. Go to Data controls, then choose Delete all.
4. When prompted, click Confirm deletion — remember, this action can’t be undone.

If you’d rather remove only certain chats instead of everything:

1. In the ChatGPT sidebar, hover your cursor over the conversation you want to remove.
2. Click the three-dot (⋯) Options icon.
3. Choose Delete from the dropdown.
4. When the confirmation window appears, click Delete again to finalize.

How to archive your ChatGPT conversations from a desktop

If you’d like your side panel to show only certain conversations while keeping the rest for later, you can archive chats instead of deleting them. This moves them out of view without losing any data, and you can bring them back whenever needed.

To archive a specific chat:

1. In the side panel, hover over the conversation you want to hide.
2. Click the three-dot Options icon (…).
3. Select Archive.

You can also archive all your conversations at once:

1. Click your profile picture, then open Settings.
2. Choose Data controls.
3. Under Archive all chats, select Archive all.
4. Click Confirm archive when prompted.

To see or restore archived chats later:

1. Return to Settings.

2. Next to Archived chats, click Manage.

3. From there, choose one of three available actions.

• View: Select the conversation name to open it. From there, you can choose to restore it directly if you’d like.
• Unarchive: Press the Unarchive icon, shown as an upward arrow, to move the chat back to your active list.
• Delete: Click the Delete icon, displayed as a trash can, to permanently remove the conversation.

How to delete your ChatGPT conversations from the mobile app

Here’s how you can remove all your previous chats at once on the mobile app:

1. Open the app and tap your profile icon to access settings.
2. Select Data Controls.
3. Choose Delete All Chats if you’re on iOS, or Clear Chat History if you’re on Android.
4. Confirm when prompted.

To delete only certain chats instead of everything:

1. In the ChatGPT menu, press and hold the conversation you want to remove.
2. Tap Delete.
3. Tap Delete again to confirm your choice.

How to archive your ChatGPT conversations from the mobile app

Here’s how to archive a single chat in ChatGPT.

1. Press and hold the conversation title you’d like to store.
2. Select Archive.
3. Confirm by tapping Archive once more.

And here’s how to archive all your chats at once.

1. Open your profile to access settings.
2. Choose Data Controls.
3. Tap Archive All Chats if you’re on iOS, or Archive Chat History on Android.

Here’s how to view or restore archived chats.

1. Go to your profile and open settings.
2. Select Archived Chats.
3. Choose the chat you want, then tap View or Unarchive. You can also tap Delete to remove it permanently.

How to use ChatGPT: FAQs

If still this article about ChatGPT still leave you curious, here are a few more answers to common questions people often ask.

What models does ChatGPT use?

At the time of writing, ChatGPT runs on several models, including GPT-5, GPT-5 Mini, and GPT-5 Nano. OpenAI updates these models frequently, so by the time you read this, a newer generation might already be available.

Is ChatGPT free?

Yes, you can sign up for an OpenAI account and use ChatGPT for free. However, the free version has limits — you may face message caps or reduced availability during high-traffic periods.

What’s the difference between free and paid ChatGPT subscriptions?

ChatGPT offers two paid plans for individual users: Plus ($20/month) and Pro ($200/month).

• Plus users get faster response times and access to premium models like GPT-5.
• Pro users enjoy priority access, advanced tools, and higher usage limits.

For a comparison of each, check out this article: Is ChatGPT Plus Worth It?

Can I search through my ChatGPT history?

Yes, ChatGPT includes a built-in chat search feature that helps you find past conversations quickly.

Here’s how to use it:

1. Click Search chats in the left sidebar.
2. Or use the shortcut: Command + K (Mac) or Ctrl + K (Windows).
3. Type your keyword in the search bar.
4. ChatGPT will show all conversations containing that term.
5. Click any result to jump directly to that chat.

Can ChatGPT create images?

It can. ChatGPT now includes image generation directly within the app. Simply describe what you want to see, and it will produce an AI-generated image.

If you prefer to use the DALL·E model for more control or artistic style, you can select the DALL·E GPT inside ChatGPT’s interface.

Does ChatGPT have internet access?

Yes. All current ChatGPT models can browse the web to retrieve real-time information. This means you can ask about current events, new research, or anything that requires up-to-date data.

How accurate is ChatGPT?

ChatGPT is highly capable, but it’s not perfect. It can sometimes generate incorrect or fictional information, known as a “hallucination.” These errors are much less frequent now, but they can still occur.

You can ask ChatGPT to cite its sources or explain where it found specific details, allowing you to verify accuracy when needed.

Does ChatGPT remember past conversations?

Yes. ChatGPT keeps context within your current chat to maintain natural, ongoing dialogue. It can also recall information from previous sessions to personalize responses, such as remembering your name or writing style.

If you’d rather not store that information, you can disable memory or clear past chats in your data settings at any time.