# OpenAI Introduces PIN-Protected Locked Chats for Privacy New security feature allows users to secure sensitive ChatGPT conversations with biometric authentication. - **Source:** [TechCrunch](https://techcrunch.com) - **Published:** 2026-10-20 - **Topic:** [Data & AI](https://brifing.si/c/data-ai) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/2a3c010b-c082-49f1-80c8-c4b40302d2b7 ## New Privacy Layer Added OpenAI has officially launched a locked chats feature for ChatGPT, enabling users to secure specific conversations behind a four-digit PIN or biometric authentication like Face ID and Touch ID. This update addresses privacy concerns when sharing devices with friends or family, ensuring sensitive interactions remain hidden from casual observers or unauthorized users. ## Distinction From Temporary Chats Unlike temporary sessions that vanish from history, locked chats persist and remain accessible to the user. Once secured, these conversations are moved to a dedicated section, effectively isolating them from standard chat history, pinned items, and search results. This provides a persistent yet protected space for ongoing personal or sensitive project planning. ## Memory Isolation Mechanics Locked chats utilize a separate memory instance, preventing information shared within these protected threads from leaking into regular conversations. While new messages can update the memory specifically assigned to the locked section, they do not influence the broader model memory. This ensures that sensitive context remains contained within the secure environment. ## Security Scope and Limitations OpenAI clarifies that this feature does not implement end-to-end encryption or create an encrypted vault. It does not alter data retention policies, remove previously remembered information, or change model improvement settings. Users must understand that locking a chat primarily restricts physical access rather than providing comprehensive data encryption for backend storage. ## PIN Reset Consequences Users should exercise caution when managing their security credentials, as resetting the four-digit PIN results in the permanent deletion of all locked chats, files, and associated content. This mechanism acts as a hard security reset, ensuring that if a PIN is forgotten, the protected data cannot be recovered by the user. ## Feature Availability Constraints The locked chats functionality is unavailable for temporary chats, archived threads, group chats, shared links, scheduled tasks, and recordings. Furthermore, the feature is excluded from ChatGPT for Healthcare plans, though it is rolling out across Free, Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise, and Edu tiers. Users should verify their specific plan status for access. ## Operational Deployment Strategy The rollout began on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, and is being distributed globally across supported devices. Because the deployment is phased, some users may experience a delay before the feature appears in their interface. It is designed specifically for mobile and desktop environments where device sharing is a common user behavior. ## Strategic Privacy Implications By introducing granular access controls, OpenAI acknowledges the shift toward using AI for deeply personal tasks. While this feature improves physical device security, it highlights the ongoing challenge of balancing user convenience with data privacy. Future iterations may need to address deeper encryption concerns to satisfy users handling highly sensitive professional information. ## Sources covering this story - https://techcrunch.com/2026/10/20/chatgpt-now-lets-you-lock-your-chats/ — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._