ChatGPT Library, a new feature from OpenAI, allows users to store personal files and images on OpenAI’s cloud storage directly within the ChatGPT interface. The feature is rolling out globally, with the exception of users in the European Economic Area, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
Access to ChatGPT Library requires a Plus, Pro, or Business subscription. The feature appears automatically in the ChatGPT sidebar upon page refresh, and notably, previously uploaded files from recent sessions are already visible within it.
How ChatGPT Library Stores Your Files
By default, ChatGPT saves all uploaded files in a dedicated, secure location. These files remain accessible for reference in future chat sessions. “ChatGPT automatically saves uploaded and created files, including files uploaded in chats — for example: documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and images — in a dedicated, secure location so they can be easily accessed later,” OpenAI stated in a support document.
Files generated through artificial intelligence image creation tools continue to appear separately under the Images tab. The Library section is reserved exclusively for files that users upload manually.
Uploading Files to the Library
Users can add files to the Library through the composer menu. The process involves three steps: opening the attachment or add button, selecting “Add from library,” and choosing the desired file. This workflow integrates file management directly into the chat interface.
Moreover, files saved to the Library persist independently of individual chat sessions. Deleting a chat that contained an uploaded file does not remove that file from the Library. Files remain stored until the user manually deletes them.
File Deletion and Data Retention Policy
When a user deletes a file from the Library, OpenAI removes it from its servers within 30 days. The company has not publicly explained the reason for this 30-day retention window, though it is widely attributed to legal and compliance requirements.
To delete a file, users select it within the Library tab and click the Delete button or the trash icon next to the file. The process is straightforward, however the delayed server-side removal may raise questions among users concerned about data privacy.
Availability and Subscription Requirements
The rollout of ChatGPT Library is currently limited to Plus, Pro, and Business subscribers. Users in the European Economic Area, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom are excluded from the initial rollout, likely due to regional data protection regulations such as the GDPR.
Furthermore, the feature represents a shift in how OpenAI manages user-generated content within its platform. As ChatGPT expands its capabilities beyond conversational AI, persistent file storage positions the service closer to a broader productivity tool. OpenAI has not stated a timeline for expanding Library access to excluded regions.
“ChatGPT automatically saves uploaded and created files, including files uploaded in chats, in a dedicated, secure location so they can be easily accessed later.”
OpenAI, Support Documentation