Many people use ChatGPT every day without knowing what happens to their conversations. Does ChatGPT save your data? The short answer is yes. OpenAI stores your chats, prompts, and uploaded files by default. But you have options to control this.
This guide explains exactly what data ChatGPT collects, how long it keeps your information, and what you can do to protect your privacy.
What Data Does ChatGPT Save?
ChatGPT collects several types of information when you use the service:
Account Information
- Names, email addresses, and login credentials
- Payment details and transaction history for paid accounts (Plus, Enterprise)
- Contact information you provide
Conversations
- Every prompt you send is stored by default
- All ChatGPT responses are saved
- Any files you upload are kept
- All data is saved indefinitely unless you manually delete it
Technical and Usage Data
- IP addresses and approximate location
- Browser type and device information
- Operating system details
- Timestamps of when you use the service
- Cookies for session preferences
Communications
- Support emails you send
- Forum posts and social media interactions with OpenAI
How Long Does ChatGPT Keep Your Data?
Data retention depends on your account type and settings. Here is a breakdown:
Free and Plus Accounts (Default Settings)
- Data is kept indefinitely
- Your conversations are used for AI training
- You can turn off history or delete chats manually
History Disabled
- Conversations are deleted after 30 days
- Data is not used for model training
- Deletion happens automatically
Training Opt-Out
- Data is kept for 30 days for abuse monitoring only
- Not used for AI training
- You must opt out manually in settings
Enterprise and Business Accounts
- Custom data retention policies available
- Conversations are not used for training by default
- Full control over data with auto-delete options
Key Statistics About ChatGPT Data
Here are some important numbers to know:
- 63% of ChatGPT outputs contained personally identifiable information
- Only 22% of users were aware of data-sharing settings
- No major data breaches have occurred to date, though minor incidents happened (like a chat title visibility bug and a billing info leak)
Who Can Access Your ChatGPT Data?
OpenAI Staff and Contractors
Authorized personnel at OpenAI can access and review your chats. They use this access for safety monitoring and training improvements. All staff are bound by confidentiality agreements.
Third-Party Service Providers
OpenAI shares data with vendors for cloud hosting. Microsoft Azure handles much of this infrastructure. All third parties must follow confidentiality and security requirements.
Other Users
Other ChatGPT users cannot see your conversations. Your chats are private unless you choose to share them.
How ChatGPT Protects Your Data
OpenAI uses industry-standard security measures:
- Data is encrypted in transit using HTTPS and TLS
- Data is encrypted at rest using AES-256 encryption
- Hosted on Microsoft Azure with SOC 2 and ISO 27001 compliance
- ChatGPT Enterprise has achieved SOC 2 Type II certification
Privacy Controls You Can Use
ChatGPT gives you several ways to control your data:
Turn Off Chat History
- Go to Settings
- Click on Data Controls
- Toggle off chat history
When you do this, your conversations automatically delete after 30 days. They are not used for model training.
Opt Out of Model Training
- Go to Settings
- Click on Data Controls
- Find the option called Improve the model for everyone
- Toggle it OFF
This excludes your future chats from being used to train OpenAI models.
Delete Individual Conversations
Click the trash icon next to any conversation in your sidebar. Note that complete removal from backups can take up to 30 days.
Clear All History
Go to Settings, then Data Controls for a bulk deletion option. This action is permanent and cannot be undone.
Export Your Data
Go to Settings, then Data Controls, and click Export. You will receive a downloadable file via email within a few hours.
Delete Your Account
Complete account deletion removes all your personal data. The deletion is permanent after 30 days.
What You Should Never Share With ChatGPT
To protect yourself, avoid sharing these types of information:
- Full names, addresses, and phone numbers
- Passwords or API keys
- Medical or patient data
- Company proprietary information
- Credit card numbers or financial data
- Social Security numbers
Real Example: The Samsung Data Leak
In early 2023, Samsung employees assumed their ChatGPT conversations were private. They shared sensitive company code with ChatGPT. The result was serious. Samsung banned internal ChatGPT usage because of the risk to confidential data. This shows why you should never assume AI chat tools are completely private.
GDPR Compliance and User Rights
OpenAI updated its policies after facing scrutiny in 2023. Italy temporarily banned the service until changes were made. Today, users have these rights under GDPR:
- Right to access your data
- Right to correct inaccurate information
- Right to delete your data
- Right to object to data processing
EU user data is stored on EEA servers by default. Business customers can request Data Processing Addendums for compliance.
Does OpenAI Sell Your Data?
No. OpenAI explicitly does not sell user data to third parties. Your data is not used for advertising. OpenAI makes money from subscriptions and usage fees, not from selling data.
