OpenAI appears to be preparing a new privacy tool for its ChatGPT Android app. Researchers at Android Authority uncovered code snippets that reference "locked chats" and a "protect chats" function, indicating the company may soon let users shield sensitive conversations with a personal identification number or fingerprint scan.
The hidden code describes a lock that "keeps its title and content out of view in your regular sidebar, history, and search results." In practice, a user could tap a lock icon, set a PIN or use biometric authentication, and the selected chat would disappear from the main list, only reappearing after the correct credential is entered.
ChatGPT already offers "temporary chats" that vanish when the session ends, but those are designed for fleeting, low‑risk interactions. Locked chats seem intended for more permanent storage, allowing users to revisit important or highly personal exchanges while keeping them hidden from prying eyes.
How the new feature would interact with ChatGPT’s memory system remains unclear. If memory is enabled, the assistant might limit references to a locked conversation to other locked chats, preserving the confidentiality of the content. OpenAI has not released details on whether locked chats will be searchable within the app’s broader knowledge base.
Security experts note that most smartphones already protect access with PINs, fingerprints or facial recognition, but an app‑level lock adds a second barrier. That could be valuable for scenarios ranging from medical queries to draft resignation letters, where users want assurance that no one else can glimpse the dialogue even if the device itself is unlocked.
OpenAI has not announced a rollout timeline, and the code is not yet active in the public release. The company could decide to delay, modify or abandon the feature based on internal testing or user feedback. Until an official statement appears, the locked‑chat capability remains speculative, though the code’s presence signals genuine development work.
For now, Android users can continue to rely on temporary chats for short‑term privacy, while keeping an eye on future updates that may bring the more robust lockable chat option. Tech outlets will likely report any official launch, and OpenAI may roll the feature out gradually to gauge reception.
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