I'm a ChatGPT power user: Here are 7 useful settings that are turned off by default

2026-02-13 · Source: News and Advice on the World's Latest Innovations | ZDNET · Field: Technology & Digital — Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning · Depth: Intermediate, medium

Summary

ZDNET's Elyse Betters Picaro details seven useful, often overlooked, default-off settings within ChatGPT that enhance user experience and privacy. These settings, accessible via the account name in the lower-left corner, include customizing appearance with dark/light mode and accent colors, and for Plus users, selecting specific GPT models like "Auto" or "Thinking." Users can also personalize ChatGPT's conversational style, teach it about themselves for better context, and manage its memory of past interactions and browsing history. The article also highlights the ability to pin up to three conversations for quick access and discusses new ad controls for free and Go tier users, allowing them to limit ad personalization based on history and interests. Regular checking of settings is recommended due to frequent updates from OpenAI.

Key takeaway

For ChatGPT users seeking to optimize their daily interactions, explore the "Settings" and "Personalization" tabs to customize your experience. Adjusting appearance, model selection (for Plus users), and conversational style can significantly improve usability. Furthermore, managing memory and ad controls allows you to balance convenience with privacy preferences, ensuring ChatGPT aligns better with your workflow and data comfort levels.

Key insights

ChatGPT offers extensive customization options to tailor appearance, model behavior, personality, and privacy settings.

Principles

• Personalization enhances user interaction.
• Context retention improves AI utility.
• User control over data is paramount.

Method

Access settings via your account name, then navigate between General, Personalization, and Ad Controls tabs to adjust appearance, model selection, conversational style, memory, and ad preferences.

In practice

• Set accent color to differentiate prompts.
• Pin active conversations for easy access.
• Adjust ad personalization for privacy.

Topics

• ChatGPT Settings
• AI Chat Personalization
• GPT Model Selection
• Conversation Management
• Ad Controls

Best for: Prompt Engineer, AI Student, General Interest

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Editorial summary, takeaway, and curation by AIssential. Original article published by News and Advice on the World's Latest Innovations | ZDNET.