On October 20, 2026, OpenAI announced locked chats for ChatGPT Business. Selected conversations can be removed from regular history, pinned chats and search without deletion. Opening them requires a four-digit account PIN or supported device authentication.
The rollout is gradual across the web, iOS, Android and the new desktop app for macOS and Windows. Look for Lock chat in an eligible conversation’s menu; a subscription alone does not confirm access in a particular account.
Who may find it useful
An owner or manager sharing a working screen with a client. Our takeaway: before the next presentation, check what the viewer can actually see rather than relying on the feature’s name.
Protection limits
According to OpenAI’s guide, locking adds no end-to-end encryption and does not change model-training settings. Existing workspace and retention rules remain.
Previous shared links retain access to content already shared. Other open devices may display previously loaded information until refreshed.
Resetting the PIN irreversibly deletes locked chats and content protected only by the old PIN. Changing a known PIN preserves chats.
A small pre-presentation check
This is an editorial suggestion, not a test we performed:
- Create a trial conversation about a fictional order, without customer data.
- If available, check the result of locking in the exact window you intend to share.
- Separately inspect other open tabs and devices. Close unnecessary ones before presenting.
- Review links previously sent to colleagues or clients. Do not treat locking as confirmation that access was revoked.
If visibility cannot be verified, prepare a separate demonstration using dummy data. Decide permission to use real documents separately: how to set data boundaries.
Nadali has not tested the feature in a work account. Sources checked on October 21, 2026.
Cover: an original AI-generated illustration for Nadali, not an interface screenshot or evidence of testing.
