Custom instructions tell ChatGPT what it should know about you and how you prefer it to respond. These settings apply to new conversations until you change, disable, or remove them.

Tip: Think of custom instructions like setting your default “working style” so you don’t have to repeat yourself every time. Use them for stable preferences (role, tone, formats), and use the chat prompt itself for the specific task at hand.

Memory helps ChatGPT remember details you choose to share so future replies can feel more tailored—without you re-explaining the basics each time. It can store information you explicitly ask it to remember, and (if enabled) use recent conversation context to respond more helpfully. This can improve relevance over time as ChatGPT builds a clearer picture of what you need.

Open Personalization⁠(opens in a new window) > Memory to see and manage what’s saved.