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How to Set Custom Instructions in ChatGPT (with Examples)

Open Settings > Personalization in ChatGPT and fill in custom instructions: a few lines about who you are and what you use ChatGPT for, and how you want answers (length, tone, format). They apply to every new chat until you change or turn them off.

By Published Last updated 2 min read

The short version

Custom instructions are a note ChatGPT reads before every new chat. Spend five minutes on them and you’ll stop typing “keep it short” and “I run a bakery” a hundred times.

Step by step

  1. Open Settings, from your profile menu.
  2. Go to Personalization and turn on customization if it’s off.
  3. Write what ChatGPT should know about you: your work, your audience, your location and units.
  4. Write how you want answers: length, tone, format, and things to avoid.
  5. Save and start a new chat to try it.

Menu names change from time to time; on some apps it’s called “Customize ChatGPT”.

What to write

About you:

text
I run a small landscaping company in Austin, Texas with 6 employees. Customers are homeowners.
I use ChatGPT for customer emails, quotes, social posts and planning. US spelling, dollars, Fahrenheit.

How to answer:

text
Be brief: answer first, then details only if needed. Plain English, no jargon.
Use bullet points for lists. If you're not sure about a fact, say so.
Don't invent prices, statistics or quotes. Ask me a question if my request is unclear.

More examples

A student:

text
I'm a second-year biology student. Explain things step by step with an example.
When I ask for help with an assignment, help me understand rather than writing it for me.

A job seeker:

text
I'm a project manager looking for a new role in healthcare. Keep advice practical and specific to the US job market.

Mistakes to avoid

  • Writing an essay. A few clear lines work better than a page of rules.
  • Personal data you don’t need to share. Your role and goals are enough; leave out your address and account details.
  • Forgetting they’re on. If answers seem oddly specific, check your instructions.

When to turn them off

If you share an account, or use ChatGPT for very different jobs, instructions for one can get in the way of another. Projects let you keep separate instructions for separate work.

Related: write better ChatGPT prompts.

Frequently asked questions

Do custom instructions apply to old chats?

They apply to new conversations. Start a new chat after changing them to see the difference.

What's the difference between custom instructions and memory?

Custom instructions are what you write yourself and always apply. Memory is what ChatGPT picks up from your chats when that feature is on. You can view and delete saved memories under Personalization.

Sources

  1. OpenAI Academy: personalization in ChatGPT

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