ChatGPT free users finally have access to this really helpful feature

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Imagine every time you had to talk to your friends or family, you had to re-explain your entire backstory. While this reality is a great plot for a rom-com like 50 First Dates, it wouldn't be efficient for everyday communication. That is why ChatGPT has a Memory feature -- and now you can access it for free. 

Memory for ChatGPT

On Tuesday, OpenAI announced it was rolling out a lightweight version of memory improvements to free users. The update expands ChatGPT's ability to remember some information about you, now allowing it to reference all your recent conversations. This can be used as content for more personalized responses. 

(Disclosure: Ziff Davis, ZDNET's parent company, filed an April 2025 lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.)

OpenAI originally launched the Memory feature for ChatGPT in April. At the time, it was only available to paying subscribers, including Plus, Pro, Team, Enterprise, and Edu users -- making this update a big win for free users. 

Although the feature may seem simple, as OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said at launch, "this is a surprisingly great feature." It saves time on explaining what you have already told the assistant and ensures you get responses that are more tailored to you. 

Also: How to use ChatGPT freely without giving up your privacy - with one simple trick

For example, if you explain to it once the diet you are on, the pets you have, the projects you are working on, your trips, and your hobbies, in the future, you don't have to share those details again. You can just ask questions like: "What fruit can I give my dog as a treat? "What should I make for dinner?" "Can we roleplay the interview for that job I am applying to again?" 

While there are some clear advantages to using the updated Memory feature, some might be hesitant about OpenAI storing their personal and prior conversation data. To address those concerns, OpenAI offers two solutions. 

Turning it off (permanently or temporarily) 

If you would prefer to use ChatGPT without the Memory feature, you still have the option. You can turn it off entirely within Settings by clicking on Personalization and then toggling the "Reference saved memories" feature off. For a more temporary solution in instances that you don't want it to remember a specific, perhaps more personal or sensitive prompt, you can also turn on Temporary Chat. 

In the same way you click on Incognito mode in Google Chrome or Private Window in Safari when you want privacy, you can turn on Temporary Chat in ChatGPT. The button is located at the top-right corner of the home page, and once you click it, the new chat interface immediately appears. I often default to this feature for the added peace of mind. 

How to access

Screenshot by Sabrina Ortiz/ZDNET

You can turn on the feature in the same place where you can turn it off, simply by sliding the toggle. If you are a free user and still don't see the option, it is likely because it hasn't rolled out to you yet. At the time of writing this article, I was granted the feature from my free account and was alerted by the pop-up seen above. 

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