ChatGPT Computer History can turn activity from selected Mac apps and websites into a timeline and memories that ChatGPT and Codex can use. That can make it easier to resume work or find something you recently viewed—but it also gives an AI system more context about what happens on your computer.
Last reviewed: August 21, 2026 · Based on current OpenAI documentation
The most important privacy distinction is that Computer History is not simply another name for your normal ChatGPT conversation history. It observes activity from allowed apps and websites on your Mac, turns that activity into summaries and local memory files, and can later use those memories as context.
If you were actually trying to locate an old conversation, file or Project rather than review Mac activity, use our separate guide on how to search ChatGPT history and find old chats or files.
What Is ChatGPT Computer History?
Computer History is a feature in the ChatGPT desktop app for macOS that can create a chronological record of recent activity from apps and websites you allow. ChatGPT and Codex can then use that timeline and the memories generated from it as context.
OpenAI describes practical uses such as asking what you were working on before a break, locating a document you recently viewed, summarizing your recent work, or identifying a repeated workflow that could potentially become a skill or automation.
Activity happens
You click, type, switch apps, use shortcuts, and work across permitted apps and websites.
Events are summarized
Computer History turns relevant interaction events into summaries and local memories.
Context can be reused
ChatGPT or Codex can reference relevant memories when helping with later tasks.
What Does ChatGPT Computer History Record?
According to OpenAI’s current documentation, Computer History creates an interaction-event stream from apps and websites that you allow.
Those events can contain more than a simple list of app names. The system can receive interaction information as well as text and other context made available through macOS accessibility features.
| Activity or data type | Can Computer History include it? | What that means in practice |
|---|---|---|
| Clicks | Yes | Click interactions from permitted sources can become part of the activity stream. |
| Typing | Yes | Typed activity can contribute to the context used to understand what you were doing. |
| Keyboard shortcuts | Yes | Shortcut activity can help describe steps in a workflow. |
| Switching between apps | Yes | App switches can help reconstruct the sequence of a task. |
| Text and accessibility context | Yes | Text and other context exposed through macOS accessibility features can be included. |
| Apps involved in an activity | Yes | Timeline summaries can show which apps contributed to that activity. |
This is why the privacy decision should not be reduced to “does it take screenshots?” Even without screenshots, text and interaction events can reveal meaningful context about what you are doing.
What Does Computer History Not Record?
OpenAI currently identifies several categories that Computer History does not include.
| Data type | Current OpenAI position | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Screenshots in Computer History | Not included | The current system is based on interaction events rather than the screenshot-based approach used by the earlier Chronicle research preview. |
| Screen recordings | Not part of the documented capture model | OpenAI states Computer History does not require macOS Screen Recording permission. |
| Microphone input | Not recorded | Computer History is not documented as an ambient microphone recorder. |
| System audio | Not recorded | Audio playing through the system is not part of the documented interaction-event stream. |
| Private-mode browser activity | Not included | OpenAI says private-mode web browsing activity is never included. |
How Computer History Works
-
You enable Computer History.
The feature remains inactive until you opt in. Business and Enterprise users may also need workspace access granted by an administrator. -
You choose which apps and websites can contribute.
You can use an allowlist-style approach or exclude particular sources. -
Computer History creates interaction events.
Permitted activity can include clicks, typing, shortcuts, app switching, and available text or accessibility context. -
Events are periodically summarized.
OpenAI says an ephemeral Codex session processes the interaction-event stream to create summaries and memories. -
Generated memories are saved locally.
The resulting memory files can later provide useful context to ChatGPT or Codex. -
You can inspect or delete the resulting history.
Timeline entries can be reviewed, their local files can be revealed in Finder, and history can be removed through the available controls.
Where Is ChatGPT Computer History Stored?
Computer History uses both temporary local event files and generated local memory files.
Temporary interaction-event files
OpenAI says interaction events are temporarily stored on your Mac inside the ChatGPT App Group and are retained for up to 48 hours.
Generated memory files
Memories created from those events are stored locally as readable plain-text Markdown files and can remain until you delete or clear them.
OpenAI’s current documentation says these Computer History memory files are not encrypted by Computer History itself. Programs running as your macOS user may potentially be able to access them, so protecting the Mac account and limiting what enters Computer History still matters.
This is also a useful example of why “stored locally” does not necessarily mean “nothing leaves the device.” Our guide to on-device AI vs. cloud AI explains how modern AI features can combine local storage with server-side processing.
Does Computer History Send Data to OpenAI?
Yes, some processing happens on OpenAI’s servers.
OpenAI says Computer History captures interaction events locally and periodically starts an ephemeral Codex session that can access the temporary interaction-event stream. OpenAI processes those temporary event files on its servers to generate memories, which are then stored locally on your Mac.
According to the current documentation, OpenAI does not retain those temporary event files after processing unless retention is required by law, and it says those event files are not used for training.
In other words, do not treat “event files are not used for training” as a blanket promise that nothing connected with Computer History could ever appear in a conversation governed by your normal data-control settings.
ChatGPT Computer History Privacy Risks to Understand
Computer History has useful privacy controls, but enabling it expands the amount of context ChatGPT can potentially work with. That creates several practical risks worth considering.
1. Sensitive text can enter the activity stream
Because Computer History can include typing and text exposed through accessibility features, permitted apps may expose more than their name or window title.
Keep password managers, banking tools, private health portals, confidential workplace systems, client records, legal material, and other high-risk sources outside the feature unless you have a clear reason and appropriate authorization.
For a broader pre-use privacy review, see our 15 things not to share with ChatGPT or other AI chatbots.
2. Communication with other people can be captured
OpenAI specifically advises turning Computer History off during communications with other people unless you have their prior express consent.
This deserves special attention for workplace messaging, email, customer conversations, meetings, support systems, or anything containing another person’s information.
3. Local memories may contain sensitive information
Generated memory files can remain on your filesystem after temporary event files are gone. OpenAI says the memory files are plain-text Markdown and are not encrypted by Computer History.
4. Prompt injection risk increases
OpenAI explicitly warns that Computer History increases exposure to prompt injection from content in apps and websites.
In simple terms, a malicious page or other content source could contain instructions designed to influence an AI system. If that content becomes part of the context ChatGPT or Codex is processing, it may attempt to follow instructions you never intended to give.
The same principle applies more broadly whenever an AI system can interact with your apps. Our AI Agent Safety Checklist explains how to limit permissions before letting AI work across connected tools.
Before You Enable Computer History: 7-Point Privacy Checklist
A safer setup starts with the smallest useful data boundary rather than enabling broad access and trying to clean it up later.
- Define one real use case. Decide what you want Computer History to help with before giving it access to anything.
- Start with “include only” permissions. Allow only the apps and websites needed for that use case.
- Exclude high-risk sources. Keep credentials, banking, health, private communications, confidential client data, legal records, HR information, and similar material outside the first setup.
- Review workplace rules. Company policy, client agreements, confidentiality requirements, or regulated-data rules may matter before enabling activity capture.
- Plan when to pause it. Decide in advance when communications, meetings, sensitive research, or other private work should not contribute.
- Inspect the timeline after a short test. Check what was summarized instead of assuming the permissions behaved exactly as expected.
- Test deletion before relying on it. Know where the pause, delete, clear, and off controls are before making Computer History part of your daily workflow.
Designs24hr privacy-first default
If you decide to test Computer History, begin with a narrow “include only these apps/websites” setup and one low-risk workflow. Expand access only when the benefit is clear.
How to Turn On ChatGPT Computer History
Current OpenAI documentation lists Computer History for eligible ChatGPT Pro, Business and Enterprise users in the ChatGPT desktop app on macOS. It also requires Memories.
Business and Enterprise administrators must first grant workspace access. That does not automatically opt members in; each user still chooses whether to enable the feature.
- Open the ChatGPT desktop app on macOS.
- Open Settings.
- Under Integrations, select Computer history.
- Select Turn on.
- Review the privacy, permissions, and local-storage information shown during setup.
- Enable Memories if ChatGPT asks you to do so.
- Choose which apps and websites are allowed to contribute.
- Follow the applicable macOS permission prompts.
How to Choose Which Apps and Websites Computer History Can Access
Open Settings → Computer history → Permissions. OpenAI currently documents four useful permission approaches:
| Control | What it does | Best use |
|---|---|---|
| Include only these apps | Allows only apps you explicitly select. | Best starting point for a privacy-first setup. |
| Include only these websites | Allows only explicitly selected websites. | Useful for narrow browser-based workflows. |
| Exclude these apps | Blocks selected apps while allowing other supported sources. | Useful after you already understand the broader data boundary. |
| Exclude these websites | Blocks specified URLs while allowing other supported sites. | Useful for removing known sensitive sites. |
Changing permissions affects future Computer History. If an unwanted item is already in the timeline, changing its app permission does not automatically remove the existing history—you need to delete or clear that history separately.
Pause vs. Delete vs. Turn Off Computer History
These controls solve different problems. Choosing the wrong one can leave data behind or stop collection when you only meant to pause it.
| Action | What it does | What may remain | Use it when |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pause | Temporarily stops collection of new interaction events. | Existing timeline items and memories remain. | You need a temporary privacy break. |
| Resume | Starts collection again after a pause. | Existing history remains available. | You are returning to an approved workflow. |
| Delete an item | Removes a selected timeline item and the relevant associated memory. | Other history remains. | One activity should not be kept. |
| Clear history | Deletes history for the chosen period and memories created from those events. | History outside the selected period may remain. | You want to remove a larger block of activity. |
| Turn off | Stops future Computer History collection. | Existing history is not automatically the same thing as deleted history. | You no longer want the feature collecting activity. |
How to Turn Off ChatGPT Computer History
- Open the ChatGPT desktop app on your Mac.
- Open Settings.
- Select Computer history.
- Choose the option to turn off Computer History.
- Confirm that new activity is no longer being collected.
- If privacy cleanup is your goal, review and clear existing Computer History separately.
You can also use the ChatGPT icon in the macOS menu bar to access Computer History controls and pause collection when you only need a temporary stop.
How to Delete ChatGPT Computer History
Open Settings → Computer history → History to inspect what the feature has summarized.
OpenAI currently allows you to:
- review timeline items;
- reveal an item’s local memory file in Finder;
- delete an individual timeline item;
- clear the last 10 minutes;
- clear the last hour;
- clear the last day;
- clear all Computer History; and
- clear a recent app session from the macOS menu-bar controls.
OpenAI says clearing Computer History deletes the relevant interaction events and the memories created from them. That action cannot be undone.
If your privacy goal is broader than Computer History—for example, you also want to remove normal ChatGPT memories, old conversations, files or connected-app information—follow our separate step-by-step guide to deleting ChatGPT memory completely.
Useful Computer History Prompts
Once you have deliberately enabled Computer History for appropriate sources, these prompts can help you test whether the feature is actually providing useful context.
Based only on my available Computer History, summarize what I was working on before my most recent break. Separate confirmed activity from anything you are inferring, and list the apps or sources that support each conclusion.
Review the Computer History available for today. Create a concise timeline of the main tasks I worked on, identify unfinished work, and flag any conclusion that is uncertain rather than guessing.
Review the Computer History currently available to you and tell me which apps, websites, or types of activity are contributing the most context. Do not reveal sensitive text unnecessarily. Instead, identify categories I may want to exclude or restrict for privacy.
Should You Enable ChatGPT Computer History?
There is no single answer for every Mac user. The useful question is whether the productivity benefit is large enough to justify the additional context you are allowing the system to process.
| Your situation | Our recommendation | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Mostly low-risk personal productivity work | Consider testing | A narrow allowlist can provide useful continuity without opening every source. |
| Mixed work with occasional sensitive material | Use selectively | Include only approved apps, pause frequently, and inspect the timeline. |
| Frequent confidential client, HR, legal, financial or health information | Leave off by default | The cost of accidentally including sensitive context may outweigh convenience. |
| Managed company Mac | Check policy first | Admin availability is not the same as organizational approval for every workflow. |
| You do not have a clear use case | Keep it off | There is little reason to broaden data access when the benefit is undefined. |
The 3-question decision test
- Benefit: Can you name a specific task Computer History would improve?
- Boundary: Can you limit it to sources that do not regularly contain sensitive information?
- Control: Are you willing to review, pause and clear the feature when necessary?
If you cannot answer yes to all three, leaving Computer History off is the simpler choice.
Computer History vs. Chat History vs. ChatGPT Memory
These features sound similar but serve different purposes. Treating them as interchangeable can cause confusion about what you are searching, deleting, or disabling.
| Feature | What it contains or does | Best way to think about it |
|---|---|---|
| Computer History | Activity context from permitted Mac apps and websites, summarized into a timeline and local memories. | “What was I doing on my Mac?” |
| Chat history | Your previous ChatGPT conversations. | “What did I previously discuss with ChatGPT?” |
| ChatGPT Memory | Remembered context used for personalization across relevant conversations. | “What context can ChatGPT remember and reuse?” |
| Library / files | Saved uploaded or created files where the Library feature is available. | “Where is the document or file I saved?” |
If you want to retrieve an older conversation, use ChatGPT history search. If you want to remove remembered information across your account, use the ChatGPT memory cleanup guide. If you are deciding whether AI should access apps and services at all, review the AI Agent Safety Checklist.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does ChatGPT Computer History record?
OpenAI says Computer History can include interaction events such as clicks, typing, keyboard shortcuts, app switches, and text or other context exposed through macOS accessibility features from permitted apps and websites.
Does ChatGPT Computer History record your screen?
OpenAI says Computer History does not include screenshots in your history and does not require Screen Recording permission. The current system uses interaction events and accessibility context rather than the screenshot-based approach used by the earlier Chronicle research preview.
Does Computer History record what I type?
Yes. OpenAI explicitly lists typing among the interaction events that Computer History can include from allowed sources.
Does Computer History record microphone or system audio?
No. OpenAI’s current documentation says Computer History does not record microphone input or system audio.
Does Computer History include private browsing?
OpenAI says private-mode web browsing activity is never included in Computer History.
Is ChatGPT Computer History turned on automatically?
No. It is off by default and begins only after the user chooses to turn it on. Business and Enterprise admin access does not automatically opt individual users in.
Who can use ChatGPT Computer History?
OpenAI currently documents the feature for ChatGPT Pro, Business and Enterprise users in the ChatGPT desktop app on macOS. Business and Enterprise workspaces require administrator access before individual users can opt in. Computer History also requires Memories.
Is Computer History available in the UK and Europe?
OpenAI’s current documentation says the feature is available in supported regions including the European Economic Area, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Some launch-day articles contain older availability information.
How long does ChatGPT keep Computer History?
OpenAI says temporary interaction-event files are retained for up to 48 hours. Generated local memory files can remain on the Mac until you delete or clear them.
Are Computer History files encrypted?
OpenAI says the generated local memory files are plain-text Markdown files and are not encrypted by Computer History. Protect your Mac user account and avoid allowing sensitive sources unnecessarily.
Does Computer History data get sent to OpenAI?
OpenAI says temporary event files are processed on its servers to generate memories. It says those event files are not retained after processing unless required by law and are not used for training. If a memory later becomes context in a ChatGPT or Codex conversation, that conversation follows the applicable ChatGPT data controls.
Does turning off Computer History delete existing history?
No. Turning it off stops future collection. If you also want existing activity removed, review the History section and delete or clear the relevant items.
How do I delete ChatGPT Computer History?
Open Settings → Computer history → History. You can delete individual items or clear the last 10 minutes, last hour, last day, or all history. OpenAI says clearing history also deletes memories created from the relevant events.
Is Computer History the same as normal ChatGPT history?
No. ChatGPT history search helps you find previous ChatGPT conversations. Computer History is a separate macOS feature that can use activity from permitted apps and websites as context.
Final Takeaway
ChatGPT Computer History is useful because it can give ChatGPT and Codex context about recent work without requiring you to manually explain every app, document, and step. That same capability is also the reason to configure it carefully.
The safest practical approach is simple: keep it off unless you have a clear use case, start with an allowlist, exclude sensitive sources, pause it around private communications, inspect what it creates, and know how to delete the history before making it part of your routine.
And remember the three separate controls: pause stops collection temporarily, turn off stops future collection, and delete or clear removes existing Computer History data covered by that action.
Authoritative Sources & Current Feature Notes
Computer History is a new and fast-changing ChatGPT feature. The factual feature details in this guide were checked against OpenAI’s current documentation rather than relying on launch-day news coverage.
Feature names, availability, permissions, storage behavior and interface labels can change. Check OpenAI’s current documentation if your Mac shows controls that differ from the steps above.
Editorial note: Designs24hr is an independent educational website and is not affiliated with or endorsed by OpenAI. ChatGPT, Codex and related product names are trademarks of their respective owners. This guide provides general privacy and technology information, not legal, cybersecurity, medical or financial advice.
