# How to delete ChatGPT history (one chat or all chats) > Delete one ChatGPT chat or your whole history from the sidebar or Settings. See what deleting removes, how long it takes, and why it can't be undone. https://www.kortex-notebooklm.com/tutorials/how-to-delete-chatgpt-chat-history 1. [Tutorials](/tutorials) 2. How to delete ChatGPT history (one chat or all chats) # How to delete ChatGPT history (one chat or all chats) 2 minutes 6 steps Updated November 10, 2026 ## Quick answer To delete one chat, open your chat history, select the ••• menu beside it, select Delete, and confirm. To delete everything, open Settings, then Data controls, then select Delete all chats. Deleting is permanent. ChatGPT hides the chat at once and schedules full removal within 30 days. ## Watch it first How to delete ChatGPT history (one chat or all chats) Read the transcript Here's how to delete one ChatGPT chat, or your whole history. Deleting is permanent, so start with one check. First, decide if you need a copy. OpenAI says you can't restore a deleted chat, even through OpenAI Support. If you might want it later, export your data or save the chat first. To delete one chat, open your chat history. Select the three-dot menu beside the chat. Select Delete, then confirm. To delete everything, open Settings, then Data controls. Select Delete all chats. Read the message, then continue. This can affect chats in your current account or workspace, including projects. It can't be undone. ChatGPT removes the chat from your view right away. OpenAI schedules it for permanent removal within 30 days. Some chats are kept longer, for security or legal reasons. Deleting a chat doesn't delete files you saved on their own. Delete those separately. A saved memory can also stay. Check Settings, then Personalization, then Memory. If you use Kortex, a chat you delete on ChatGPT stays in your Kortex Library on your computer. To remove it there too, open its menu and choose Delete from Library, then confirm. Undo brings it back right after. Save a copy first. Then delete. ## What you need - A ChatGPT account, signed in at chatgpt.com - A decision on which chats to keep, because deleting cannot be undone ## On this page 1. [Decide if you need a copy first](#step-1) 2. [Delete one chat](#step-2) 3. [Delete all chats at once](#step-3) 4. [Know what happens next](#step-4) 5. [Delete saved files and memories too](#step-5) 6. [Optional: remove the Kortex copy as well](#step-6) 7. [If it doesn’t work](#trouble) 8. [Questions](#faq) 1. ## Decide if you need a copy first OpenAI states that you cannot restore a deleted chat, not in ChatGPT and not through OpenAI Support. If you might want it later, export your data or save the chat first. 2. ## Delete one chat Open your ChatGPT chat history. Select the more options menu (**•••**) beside the chat. Select **Delete**, then confirm. 3. ## Delete all chats at once Open **Settings**, then **Data controls**. Select **Delete all chats**. Read the confirmation message, then continue. This can affect chats in your current account or workspace, including chats in projects. It cannot be undone. 4. ## Know what happens next ChatGPT removes the chat from your account view right away. OpenAI schedules it for permanent removal from its systems within 30 days. The exceptions are chats already de-identified, and chats OpenAI must keep longer for security or legal reasons. 5. ## Delete saved files and memories too Deleting a chat does not delete files you saved separately in Library or Space. Delete those files on their own. A saved memory made from the chat can also remain, so check **Settings**, then **Personalization**, then **Memory**. 6. ## Optional: remove the Kortex copy as well If you use Kortex, a chat you delete on ChatGPT stays in your Kortex Library on your computer. To remove it there too, open ⋯ on the chat and choose **Delete from Library…**. **Undo** brings it back right after. [![A chat's menu open in the Kortex Library reader, listing Copy chat, Download as Markdown, Download as PDF, Open in Google Docs, Save to Notion, Archive and Delete from Library.](/images/library/notion.webp)](/images/library/notion.webp) Save to Notion sits in every chat’s menu. ## If it doesn’t work I do not see Delete all chats Open Settings, then Data controls. The wording and the controls can vary by plan, workspace and device. If your account belongs to a work workspace, your organization may control retention. I deleted a chat by mistake ChatGPT cannot bring it back, and OpenAI Support cannot either. See [how to recover deleted ChatGPT chats](/tutorials/how-to-recover-deleted-chatgpt-chats) for what is still possible. The chat is gone but ChatGPT still knows things from it A saved memory is stored apart from the chat. Open Settings, then Personalization, then Memory, and delete the memory too. Deleting a chat alone does not necessarily delete it. ## Questions people ask Something we missed? [Ask us](#contact). ### Is deleting a ChatGPT chat permanent? Yes. The chat leaves your account view right away. OpenAI schedules permanent removal within 30 days, with exceptions for security or legal needs. You cannot restore it. ### What is the difference between deleting and archiving a chat? Deleting is permanent. Archiving only hides the chat from your sidebar, and it stays saved in your account. See [how to archive ChatGPT chats](/tutorials/how-to-archive-chats-in-chatgpt). ### Does deleting my history delete my memories? Not necessarily. Saved memories are stored separately from chats. Delete them from Settings, then Personalization, then Memory. ### Can I delete chats on the phone app? Yes. In the ChatGPT app, select the menu icon, find the conversation, press and hold its title, and select Delete. ## Sources - [Deleting and archiving chats in ChatGPT (OpenAI Help Center)](https://help.openai.com/en/articles/8809935-how-to-delete-and-archive-chats-in-chatgpt) , checked November 10, 2026 - [Chat and file retention in ChatGPT (OpenAI Help Center)](https://help.openai.com/en/articles/8983778-chat-and-file-retention-policies-in-chatgpt) , checked November 10, 2026 ## Keep going [Chat Library Keep your AI chats on your computer and search them, next to your YouTube videos and notebooks.](/features#organize) [Kortex docs The full reference for this feature, with every option.](/docs/chat-library) ### More tutorials - [How to delete Claude chats: one, many or all at once](/tutorials/how-to-delete-claude-chats) - [How to delete Gemini history: one chat, a day or all time](/tutorials/how-to-delete-gemini-chat-history) - [How to delete Perplexity history: one thread, many or all](/tutorials/how-to-delete-perplexity-history) - [Where is Gemini chat history? How to find your past chats](/tutorials/how-to-find-gemini-chat-history) [All tutorials](/tutorials) ## Do it on your own notebooks. Install the Kortex extension and follow these steps on a notebook you already have. [Add to Chrome](https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/kortex/hdapplggdhndkblofffknpmnnnnbncbn) 100,000+ users, rated 4.5 on the Chrome Web Store.