ChatGPT Privacy Cleanup Checklist

Deleting one chat does not cover every place related information may exist. Use this checklist to review saved memories, chats, Library files, connected-app conversations, training controls, and account deletion separately.

What this helps you do

Remove information you no longer want saved and understand which controls change future use rather than delete old material.

Before you start

Sign into the correct personal or work account. Export anything you need to keep. Deleted chats cannot be restored through the interface.

Terms to know

• Archive: hides a chat but keeps it in the account.
• Saved memory: information stored separately for use in later chats.
• Data Controls: settings that include chat deletion and model-improvement choices.

Step-by-step

1. Open Settings → Personalization → Manage memories and remove unwanted memories.
2. Delete the chats that contain the information. Archiving is not deletion.
3. Review Library files separately. OpenAI says chats and Library files are managed separately.
4. Delete conversations that used connected-app data if you want retained copies in those chats removed.
5. Open Settings → Data Controls and turn off Improve the model for everyone if you do not want new personal-workspace chats used for training.
6. Review shared links and revoke any you no longer want accessible.
7. Use Temporary Chat for a one-off conversation you do not want saved in normal history or used to build memories. Check the current retention terms before sharing sensitive data.
8. Use account deletion only if you intend to delete the entire account.

Read OpenAI's current pages on memory, chat deletion and archiving, chat and file retention, and model-training controls.

Copy this

PRIVACY CLEANUP LOG
Account or workspace checked: [NAME]
Saved memories reviewed: [YES/NO]
Chats deleted or kept: [LIST]
Library files reviewed: [YES/NO]
Connected-app conversations reviewed: [YES/NO]
Improve the model for everyone setting: [ON/OFF]
Account deletion requested: [YES/NO]

Things to know

Turning off model improvement changes how new personal-workspace conversations are used. It is not the same action as deleting existing chats. Retention rules and business-account defaults differ, so use the current policy for your plan.

If something goes wrong

If a chat seems missing, check Archived Chats and confirm the account or workspace. If you need a legal privacy request, use the official OpenAI Privacy Portal rather than relying on a chat instruction.

Final check

You pass when each row in the cleanup log has an explicit answer and you can explain which items were deleted versus only hidden or disabled for future use.