CHATGPT MEMORY
What ChatGPT remembers.
ChatGPT has two kinds of memory and they behave differently. Everything below is dated, and comes from OpenAI's own documentation unless marked otherwise.
Last verified
What does ChatGPT remember?
Two separate things: saved memories, which you create deliberately, and reference chat history, which reads across your past conversations. They are controlled separately.
Is memory on by default in the UK?
No. In the EEA, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein, both saved memories and reference chat history are off by default and must be turned on.
Can ChatGPT read an outside memory store?
Yes, through a custom MCP connector, but the route is restricted. Developer Mode is required, read and fetch are available on Plus and Pro, and write-capable connectors are limited to Business, Enterprise and Edu.
The two mechanisms
ChatGPT has two memory mechanisms: saved memories, which you create deliberately, and reference chat history, which reads across your past conversations.
Verified . Primary source.
Reference chat history launched on 10 April 2025 for Plus and Pro, and was extended to free accounts around June 2025.
Verified . Primary source.
The UK and EEA default
In the EEA, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein, both saved memories and reference chat history are off by default and must be turned on.
Verified . Primary source.
Reading an outside store
Custom MCP connectors in ChatGPT require Developer Mode, announced 9 September 2025. Read and fetch are available on Plus and Pro; write-capable connectors are restricted to Business, Enterprise and Edu. Custom connectors are not available on free accounts.
Verified . Primary source.
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