This page follows OpenAI's help articles as of October 28, 2026. ChatGPT memory and its settings have changed several times, and the help pages describe both a newer memory summary and the older saved-memories list. If a step below does not match your screen, look for the same option under Settings.
Export your ChatGPT data
OpenAI lists this settings export for Free, Plus, Pro and eligible Edu accounts, not for ChatGPT Business or Enterprise workspaces, where an administrator controls data. Consumer accounts can also make a request through OpenAI's Privacy Portal. The ZIP contains your chat history and other account data; OpenAI's article does not state whether saved memories are included, so do not rely on it as your only memory backup.
- Sign in, open the profile menu and choose Settings.
- Open Data controls and select Export next to Export data.
- Confirm the export. OpenAI emails a download link when it is ready.
- Download the ZIP promptly: OpenAI says exports can take up to 7 days to arrive and the link expires 24 hours after you receive it.
Copy your saved memories
OpenAI's Memory FAQ places memory controls under Settings > Personalization > Memory, where you can view, delete or turn off memory. Newer versions describe an automatically updated memory summary, with a link to the older saved-memories list. Open whichever view your account shows and copy the text into a Markdown or text file with today's date.
Two details from the FAQ matter for backups: saved memories are stored separately from chat history, so deleting a chat does not delete memories it created; and deleted memories may be kept in a log for up to 30 days for safety and debugging. A backup you make yourself is the only copy you fully control.
Keep project memory as portable files instead
ChatGPT memory is built for personal preferences inside ChatGPT. Project facts, decisions and source documents are easier to keep, review and move when they live in files you own. Central Brain stores five note types plus a project brief as readable local files and indexes selected project documents locally; Share Brain and encrypted portable project copies move projects between computers. A plain Markdown file is the free baseline and works with any assistant.
| Approach | Portability | Effort |
|---|---|---|
| ChatGPT memory only | Tied to your ChatGPT account | None |
| A Markdown brief and decision log you maintain | Any tool; paste or attach | Low, manual |
| Basic Memory (local, open source) | Markdown files reached over MCP | Setup required |
| Central Brain | Readable local note files served over MCP to supported clients | Desktop app install |
Common questions
Does the ChatGPT data export include memories?
OpenAI's export article describes chat history and account data and does not say memories are included. Copy your memories from Settings > Personalization > Memory to be sure.
Can I import ChatGPT memory into Claude?
There is no direct sync. Copy the memory text and add it to a Claude project, a CLAUDE.md file or a memory server the client can reach.
If I delete a chat, is its memory deleted?
No, according to OpenAI. Saved memories are stored separately from chat history and must be deleted in memory settings.