OpenAI Expands ChatGPT Memory Access to Free Users Worldwide

OpenAI has officially opened access to ChatGPT’s memory function for free users. This feature, once available only to paying subscribers, is now being gradually rolled out to all users who log into ChatGPT without needing a Plus or Pro subscription. 

With this move, OpenAI is signaling a new phase in AI accessibility, where personalization is no longer limited to those who pay.

What Is ChatGPT Memory?

ChatGPT memory is a feature that allows the AI to remember certain details across conversations. This means the model can recall your name, preferences, or topics you’ve discussed in the past, leading to more helpful and relevant replies over time. Memory does not activate automatically—users must first enable it through the settings.

Until now, memory access was limited to Plus and Pro users. These paying subscribers had access to longer-term memory, allowing ChatGPT to recall past conversations more deeply and over a longer period. 

Now, OpenAI frees users to access ChatGPT memory with a simplified version for free-tier accounts.

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How the Free Memory Works

Beginning on June 3, 2025, OpenAI started rolling out a lightweight version of memory improvements to all logged-in free users. This includes the ability for ChatGPT to reference recent conversations and stored preferences to provide responses that feel more personalized.

While the free version does not include the extensive long-term memory features available to Plus and Pro users, it still offers a sense of continuity. ChatGPT can now recall key points from previous chats within a short time frame, making the interaction feel smoother and more intuitive.

Regional Settings and User Control

Users in the European Economic Area—including the EU, UK, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein—will need to manually enable the memory feature. 

A prompt will guide them through the settings: they can go to Settings > Personalization > Memory > Reference chat history to turn it on.

Outside of Europe, the update is automatic. Users who already have memory enabled will begin seeing improvements immediately, without needing to take further action.

Importantly, users retain full control over ChatGPT memory. You can choose to turn off memory functions or opt for Temporary Chat, which ensures that your conversation is not remembered or used to update any saved information.

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Why This Matters

With OpenAI’s decision, the difference between free and paid experiences narrows slightly. More users now benefit from personalization that makes ChatGPT more useful in day-to-day tasks—whether it's remembering your writing style, recalling your favorite topics, or suggesting follow-ups based on earlier chats.

This step aligns with OpenAI's broader goal of democratizing access to advanced AI tools. By allowing free users to use the ChatGPT memory feature, OpenAI is giving more people the opportunity to interact with AI in a way that feels less mechanical and more natural.

What About Codex?

Alongside this memory update, OpenAI also announced that Codex, the programming assistant built into ChatGPT, is now available to ChatGPT Plus users. 

Codex enhances code generation, debugging, and explaining code snippets—making it a useful companion for developers, students, and tech enthusiasts.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: What exactly is ChatGPT used for? 

A: ChatGPT is used for tasks like generating content, answering questions, having conversations, and providing explanations because it can understand and create human-like text.

Q: What is the main purpose of GPT? 

A: The main purpose of GPT models is to build intelligent and interactive voice assistants that can handle more complex conversations than basic chatbots.

Q: Is ChatGPT free to use? 

A: Yes, ChatGPT is free to use, and free users can access many capabilities with GPT-4o, including various tools and GPTs from the GPT store.

Q: Who owns ChatGPT? 

A: ChatGPT is owned by OpenAI, an AI research and development company. OpenAI started as a nonprofit in 2015 and became a for-profit entity in 2019. Its current CEO, Sam Altman, is also a co-founder.

Q: Why should I use ChatGPT? 

A: You should use ChatGPT because it's a conversational tool that can use your previous prompts to help you trim unnecessary text, find misspellings, make content more concise, or suggest ways to make your writing more relevant.

Q: Is ChatGPT safe? 

A: ChatGPT is a powerful AI chatbot that is generally safe to use, but it's not entirely without risks.