How to create temporary chats on ChatGPT

beginner 8 min read Updated 2026-03-18

Quick Answer

Temporary chats in ChatGPT allow you to have conversations that won't be saved to your chat history or used for model training. You can create them by enabling the temporary chat option in your settings or using incognito mode in your browser.

Try ChatGPT Full ChatGPT Review

Prerequisites

Active ChatGPT account
Access to ChatGPT web interface or mobile app
Understanding of basic chat functionality
Familiarity with ChatGPT settings

Step-by-Step Instructions

Access ChatGPT Settings

Log into your ChatGPT account and click on your profile icon in the bottom-left corner of the interface. Select Settings from the dropdown menu to open your account preferences.

You can also access settings by clicking the three dots menu if using the mobile app

Navigate to Data Controls

In the Settings menu, look for the Data Controls section on the left sidebar. Click on it to access privacy and data management options including temporary chat settings.

Enable Temporary Chat Mode

Find the Temporary Chat option and toggle it ON. When enabled, a banner will appear at the top of your chat interface indicating that temporary mode is active and conversations won't be saved.

The temporary chat banner will be visible in orange or yellow to remind you the mode is active

Start Your Temporary Conversation

Click the New Chat button or use the Ctrl+Shift+O keyboard shortcut to start a fresh temporary conversation. You'll see a notification confirming that this chat is temporary and won't be stored.

Temporary chats will show a distinct icon or label in the chat list

Use Incognito Mode Alternative

Alternatively, open your browser's incognito/private mode by pressing Ctrl+Shift+N (Chrome) or Ctrl+Shift+P (Firefox), then navigate to chat.openai.com and log in normally for automatic temporary sessions.

Incognito mode ensures no local browser data is stored either

Verify Temporary Status

Look for the temporary chat indicator at the top of your conversation. It should display text like "Temporary chat - This conversation won't be saved" to confirm the mode is working correctly.

Take a screenshot if you need to remember important information from temporary chats

Exit Temporary Mode

To return to normal chat mode, go back to Settings > Data Controls and toggle Temporary Chat to OFF. Your next conversations will be saved normally to your chat history.

You can also close incognito browser windows and return to your regular browser session

Common Issues & Troubleshooting

Temporary chat option is not visible in settings

Ensure you're using the latest version of ChatGPT and try refreshing your browser or logging out and back in. Some accounts may need to wait for feature rollout.

Temporary chats are still appearing in chat history

Check that the temporary chat banner is visible at the top of your conversation. If not, disable and re-enable the setting, then start a new chat to ensure proper activation.

Cannot access temporary chat in mobile app

Update your ChatGPT mobile app to the latest version. If the feature isn't available, use your mobile browser in incognito mode to access temporary chats through the web interface.

Temporary chat mode keeps turning off automatically

This is normal behavior - temporary mode may reset between sessions for security. Simply re-enable it in settings when you need temporary chats, or bookmark an incognito session for quick access.

Prices mentioned in this guide are pulled from current plan data and may change. Always verify on the official ChatGPT website before purchasing.

Visit ChatGPT View ChatGPT Pricing