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How to Delete ChatGPT Chat History (One Chat or All)

Delete one ChatGPT chat or all of them in a few taps, on a phone or computer. Plus why Archive is not delete, Temporary Chat, memories, and shared links.

Quick answer: To delete one chat, open the ••• menu next to it in your chat list and choose Delete, then confirm. To delete everything, go to Settings → Data controls → Delete all chats. Deleting cannot be undone. Archive only hides a chat; it does not delete it. For chats you never want saved, start a Temporary Chat.

Maybe you asked ChatGPT about a health worry, a money question, or a gift for someone who shares your computer. Whatever the reason, tidying up your history is a normal, healthy habit. Here is how to do it calmly, step by step.

Delete one chat

On a computer (chatgpt.com):

  1. Find the chat in your chat list on the left side of the screen.
  2. Hover over it and click the three dots (•••) next to its name.
  3. Choose Delete.
  4. Confirm when ChatGPT asks.

On a phone (ChatGPT app):

  1. Open the sidebar (the menu at the top left).
  2. Press and hold the chat you want to remove, or tap its ••• menu.
  3. Tap Delete and confirm.

The chat disappears from your list right away.

Delete all chats at once

  1. Open Settings. On a computer, click your name or profile picture. On a phone, open the sidebar and tap your profile icon.
  2. Choose Data controls.
  3. Choose Delete all chats.
  4. Read the message and confirm.

This removes every chat in the account you are signed in to, including chats inside projects. It cannot be undone, and OpenAI support cannot bring the chats back. If there is anything you want to keep, copy it somewhere safe first, or use Export data (also in Data controls) to get a copy by email.

Archive is not the same as delete

Next to Delete you will see Archive. Archiving moves a chat out of your main list so it feels cleaner, but the chat is still saved in your account and still shows up in search.

  • To find archived chats: Settings → Data controls → Archived chats (on some devices it says Manage or View archived chats).
  • From there you can Unarchive a chat or Delete it for real.

There is also an Archive all chats button right next to Delete all chats. Read carefully before you tap; they sit side by side.

What happens after you delete

According to OpenAI's help pages, a deleted chat:

  • disappears from your account right away, and
  • is scheduled to be permanently deleted from OpenAI's systems within 30 days, unless it was already made anonymous or OpenAI has to keep it longer for security or legal reasons.

Two things a deleted chat does not take with it:

  • Saved memories. ChatGPT can remember details about you separately from your chats. Deleting a chat does not delete a memory made from it. To remove memories, go to Settings → Personalization and manage your memories there, or simply ask ChatGPT to forget something.
  • Files in your Library. Files saved separately in the Library stay until you delete them there.

Delete ChatGPT image and photo history

Pictures you make in ChatGPT are saved on its Images page, and photos you upload can also be kept in your Library. They are cleared in two different ways:

  • Pictures ChatGPT made: there is no delete button on the Images page. OpenAI says you remove a picture by deleting the chat it was made in. Tip: open the picture from Images and use its ••• menu to jump to that chat (look for Open chat), then delete the chat as shown above. Every picture made in that chat goes with it, so save the keepers first.
  • Photos and files you uploaded: open Library in the sidebar, pick the file, and choose Delete (or the trash icon). Deleting a chat does not delete a copy saved in Library. If you see Recently deleted, you can choose Delete forever there to remove it sooner.

Here is the full, picture-by-picture guide on how to delete ChatGPT image history, with the same steps for Gemini and Grok pictures too.

Don't want it saved in the first place? Use Temporary Chat

Temporary Chat is like a private notepad that tears itself out. Start a new chat and tap the Temporary button at the top of the screen.

While a chat stays temporary, OpenAI says it:

  • does not appear in your chat history,
  • does not create or update memories,
  • is not used to train OpenAI's models, and
  • may be kept for up to 30 days for safety reasons, then deleted.

This is a good choice for one-off questions you would rather not keep, like a medical worry or a surprise party plan on a shared computer.

Turn off training (this does not delete anything)

Deleting chats and stopping training are two separate switches. To stop your new chats from being used to train OpenAI's models, go to Settings → Data controls → Improve the model for everyone and turn it off. Your chat history stays exactly as it is. Do both if you want both.

Did you share a link to a chat?

If you ever used Share to send someone a link to a conversation, deleting that chat also removes the shared link. You can also see and delete all your links at Settings → Data controls → Shared links → Manage. If the other person already saved a copy into their own ChatGPT, deleting your link does not remove their copy.

ChatGPT updates its menus often. If a button name does not match your screen, look for the three-dot menu next to a chat or the Data controls section in Settings, or check the official OpenAI Help Center.

Deleting is not a time machine

Deleting tidies your history. It does not undo something you already shared. If you pasted a password, change it. If you pasted a bank or card number, call your bank. Next time, check our What never to paste list first.

Can't find these settings at all? You may be in a lookalike app rather than the real ChatGPT. Here's how to spot fake ChatGPT apps.

Other AI apps

If you would not post it on a public bulletin board, do not type it into an AI chat.

Frequently asked questions

How do I delete all my ChatGPT chats at once?

Open Settings, choose Data controls, then choose Delete all chats and confirm. This removes every chat in the account, including chats in projects, and cannot be undone.

Does archiving a ChatGPT chat delete it?

No. Archiving only moves the chat out of your main list. It is still saved and searchable. Find it in Settings, Data controls, Archived chats, where you can unarchive or delete it.

Can I get a deleted ChatGPT chat back?

No. OpenAI says deleted chats cannot be restored, not even by its support team. Copy anything you want to keep, or export your data, before you delete.

Does OpenAI keep my chats after I delete them?

OpenAI says deleted chats are removed from your account right away and scheduled for permanent deletion from its systems within 30 days, unless they were already made anonymous or must be kept longer for security or legal reasons.

Does deleting a chat delete what ChatGPT remembers about me?

Not always. Saved memories are stored separately from chats. Delete them in Settings, Personalization, or ask ChatGPT to forget something, and also delete the chat where you shared it.

How do I delete ChatGPT image history?

Delete the chat where the picture was made. ChatGPT has no delete button on the Images page, so open the picture, jump to its chat, and delete that chat. Photos you uploaded may also be saved in Library; delete them there too.

What is Temporary Chat in ChatGPT?

A chat that does not appear in your history, does not create memories, and is not used for training. OpenAI may keep a copy for up to 30 days for safety reasons.

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