ChatGPT Secrets: 15 Hidden Features & Power Tips (2026)

Most ChatGPT users barely scratch the surface of what's possible. While over 200 million people use ChatGPT weekly, the majority rely on basic prompts and miss powerful features that could save hours every day. From Agent Mode automation to Projects organization to advanced keyboard shortcuts, ChatGPT hides capabilities that transform it from a simple chatbot into a comprehensive productivity system.

Add ChatGPT Toolbox to the mix, and you unlock even more exclusive features: folder organization, bulk export, RTL language support, advanced search, and prompt libraries. In this guide, you'll discover 15 hidden ChatGPT secrets that power users leverage to maximize efficiency in 2026.

1. ChatGPT Agent Mode: Automate Multi-Step Workflows

What it is: Agent Mode, available in ChatGPT Plus and Pro ($20-$200/month), allows ChatGPT to autonomously handle complex, multi-step tasks without requiring manual intervention at each stage.

Why it's powerful: Instead of prompting ChatGPT for each step of a process, Agent Mode works independently—drafting emails, planning trips, analyzing finances, and managing projects from start to finish.

How to use it:

• Enable Agent Mode in Settings → Features (Plus/Pro accounts only)
• Connect integrations: Gmail, Google Calendar, Slack
• Give ChatGPT high-level objectives: "Plan a 5-day trip to Tokyo including flights, hotels, and daily itineraries"
• Let Agent Mode research options, compare prices, draft booking emails, and create calendar events

Agent Mode redefines productivity in 2026 by handling workflows that previously required dozens of back-and-forth prompts. It's ChatGPT's move toward becoming a true AI assistant rather than just a conversational tool.

Power tip: Combine Agent Mode with ChatGPT Toolbox's prompt library to save agent workflows you use repeatedly.

2. Projects: Organize Everything in Dedicated Workspaces

What it is: Projects let you create dedicated workspaces within ChatGPT, each with its own conversations, files, custom instructions, and knowledge base.

Why it's powerful: Instead of scrolling through hundreds of mixed conversations, Projects keep client work, research topics, and personal tasks completely separate. Each Project remembers context specific to that workspace.

How to use it:

• Click "Projects" in the left sidebar
• Create projects for different contexts: "Client A Marketing," "Research - AI Ethics," "Personal Writing"
• Add custom instructions specific to each project (writing style, technical level, preferred formats)
• Upload files that ChatGPT can reference only within that project
• All conversations within a project automatically share context

Projects are a must-use ChatGPT feature for anyone managing multiple work streams. They eliminate the mental overhead of providing context every time you switch tasks.

Power tip: Use ChatGPT Toolbox folders alongside Projects for even more granular organization within each workspace.

3. Memory: ChatGPT Remembers Your Preferences

What it is: Memory allows ChatGPT to remember details from your conversations—your role, preferences, work context, personal information—and apply them across all future chats automatically.

Why it's powerful: Stop repeating yourself. Once ChatGPT knows you're a Python developer who prefers detailed code comments and dislikes pandas library, it remembers forever (or until you delete that memory).

How to use it:

• Go to Settings → Personalization → Memory
• ChatGPT automatically saves memories as you chat (you'll see "Memory updated" notifications)
• Manually add memories: "Remember that I'm a freelance designer specializing in minimalist branding for tech startups"
• View all memories: Click "Manage" under Memory settings
• Delete specific memories or disable Memory entirely for privacy

Memory is one of the most underrated hidden features for personalizing your ChatGPT experience.

Power tip: Create a dedicated conversation where you teach ChatGPT everything about your work style, then let Memory capture it. ChatGPT will apply those preferences to every project.

4. Temporary Chat: Privacy Mode for Sensitive Questions

What it is: Temporary Chat lets you have conversations that aren't saved to your history and won't be used to train ChatGPT's models.

Why it's powerful: Perfect for confidential work, sensitive personal questions, or one-time queries you don't want recorded. Temporary chats disappear when you close them—no trace left.

How to use it:

• Click the dropdown next to your profile picture (top-left)
• Select "Temporary chat"
• Chat normally—conversation won't be saved or used for training
• Close the chat when done; it's permanently deleted

For maximum privacy, also go to Settings → Data Controls and turn off "Improve the model for everyone" to ensure none of your regular conversations are used for training.

Power tip: Use Temporary Chat for brainstorming confidential business strategies or discussing sensitive client information. Learn more in our ChatGPT safety guide.

5. Branch Chat: Continue from Any Point in Conversation

What it is: The Branch Chat feature lets you continue a conversation from any specific message, creating an alternate conversation thread without losing your original chat.

Why it's powerful: Explore different directions from the same starting point. If ChatGPT's third response was perfect but the fourth went wrong, branch from message three and try a different approach.

How to use it:

• Hover over any message in your chat history
• Click the three-dot menu that appears
• Select "Branch from here"
• A new conversation starts from that exact point
• Original conversation remains unchanged

Power users requested this feature specifically because it removes hours of friction from long-form work by eliminating the need to manually reconstruct context.

Power tip: Use Branch Chat to test multiple creative directions (different tones, approaches, or solutions) from a single starting point.

6. Advanced Voice Mode: Natural Conversation with Interruptions

What it is: Advanced Voice Mode enables natural, flowing conversation with ChatGPT using your voice. You can speak naturally, interrupt mid-sentence, and ChatGPT responds conversationally.

Why it's powerful: It feels like talking to a knowledgeable colleague rather than typing queries. Perfect for brainstorming, learning while commuting, or hands-free workflows.

How to use it:

• Open ChatGPT mobile app or desktop app
• Tap the headphones icon (Plus/Pro accounts get priority access)
• Start speaking naturally—no need to wait for prompts
• Interrupt ChatGPT anytime to redirect or clarify
• ChatGPT adapts conversation based on your interruptions

Note: As of January 2026, voice experience in the macOS desktop app has been retired, but mobile voice features continue to improve.

Power tip: Use Voice Mode for brainstorming sessions where typing would disrupt creative flow. Organize voice conversations in dedicated folders.

7. Apps & Connectors: Integrate Your Tools

What it is: ChatGPT's Apps (formerly called Connectors) allow you to connect external services like Google Drive, SharePoint, Gmail, Slack, and CRM systems directly to ChatGPT.

Why it's powerful: ChatGPT becomes an interactive knowledge hub that can search across all your connected files, draft emails, summarize documents, and sync data across platforms.

How to use it:

• Go to Settings → Apps (or Connectors in older versions)
• Click "Connect" next to available services
• Authorize ChatGPT to access your accounts
• Ask ChatGPT to "search my Google Drive for Q4 budget documents" or "summarize today's Slack messages"

The integration upgrade from Connectors to Apps in 2026 makes ChatGPT feel like a centralized AI operating system for your digital workspace.

Power tip: Connect your most-used work tools, then use ChatGPT as a universal search and automation layer across them all.

8. Keyboard Shortcuts: Navigate at Lightning Speed

What it is: ChatGPT supports multiple keyboard shortcuts that speed up common actions without touching your mouse.

Essential keyboard shortcuts:

• Ctrl+Shift+; (Cmd+Shift+; on Mac): Start new chat
• Ctrl+B: Format responses as bullet points (automatically prioritized by importance)
• Shift+Esc: Open/close sidebar
• Arrow Keys: Navigate between messages
• Ctrl+/ (Cmd+/): Focus on chat input

Why they're powerful: Power users work faster by keeping hands on keyboard. These shortcuts eliminate constant mouse movements for common actions.

Power tip: Install ChatGPT Custom Shortcuts Pro extension for even more keyboard control, or use ChatGPT Toolbox for additional shortcuts for search, export, and folder navigation. Learn all shortcuts in our complete keyboard shortcuts guide.

9. Chat History Search: Find Any Past Conversation

What it is: Chat History Search (available in Plus/Pro) lets you search your entire conversation history by keywords, finding specific discussions instantly.

Why it's powerful: Remember that perfect prompt you wrote three months ago? Or that specific code solution ChatGPT generated? Search makes them instantly recoverable instead of lost in hundreds of chats.

How to use it:

• Click the search icon in the sidebar (Plus/Pro only)
• Type keywords from any past conversation
• ChatGPT shows every thread containing those keywords
• Click to jump directly to relevant chats

For even more powerful search capabilities, use ChatGPT Toolbox advanced search which adds filters by date, folder, and content type.

Power tip: Use distinctive keywords in important conversations (like "REFERENCE-pricing-strategy") to make them easy to find later via search.

10. GPT-5.2: The Latest Model Upgrade

What it is: GPT-5.2, released in early 2026, is OpenAI's latest model upgrade, offering improved reasoning, technical writing, translation, and longer context retention.

Why it matters: GPT-5.2 Instant (free tier) and GPT-5.2 Pro (paid tier) both offer significant improvements in work artifacts like spreadsheets, tool use, and info-seeking questions.

How to access it:

• Free users: Automatic access to GPT-5.2 Instant with rate limits
• ChatGPT Go ($8/month): 10x more messages with GPT-5.2 Instant
• ChatGPT Plus/Pro ($20-$200/month): Full GPT-5.2 Pro with advanced reasoning

The GPT-5.2 Pro model is tied for first in performance benchmarks, making the paid subscription worthwhile for serious users.

Power tip: Compare GPT-5.2 responses to earlier models on complex tasks to see the improvement in reasoning quality. Learn more in our complete model comparison guide.

11. Sora Video Generation: Text to Video in Seconds

What it is: Sora integration lets you turn text prompts into high-quality AI-generated videos (1080p) directly within ChatGPT.

Why it's powerful: Create video content without filming, editing software, or technical skills. Ideal for marketing content, educational videos, or creative projects.

How to use it:

• Open ChatGPT (Plus/Pro required for Sora access)
• Type a video description: "Create a 10-second video of a coffee shop at sunrise, warm lighting, customers arriving"
• ChatGPT generates the video in seconds
• Download and use in your projects

Power tip: Use Sora for social media content creation. Generate multiple video variations quickly and test which performs best. Learn more about Sora ChatGPT integration.

12. Advanced Search: Real-Time Web Browsing

What it is: Advanced Search allows ChatGPT to browse the web in real-time for fresh, up-to-date information beyond its training data cutoff.

Why it's powerful: Get current information about news, stock prices, weather, recent events, or any topic requiring the latest data.

How to use it:

• Simply ask questions requiring current information: "What's the latest news on AI regulation in 2026?"
• ChatGPT automatically activates web search when needed
• Sources appear at the bottom of responses
• Click sources to verify information

Power tip: Combine Advanced Search with Projects to build research databases on specific topics, with ChatGPT continuously pulling the latest information.

13. Instant Checkout: Buy Directly from ChatGPT

What it is: Instant Checkout allows you to complete purchases from merchants directly within ChatGPT conversations.

Why it's powerful: Streamlines shopping by eliminating the need to leave ChatGPT, visit merchant sites, and complete separate checkout processes.

How it works:

• Ask ChatGPT to help you find products: "Find me noise-canceling headphones under $200"
• ChatGPT shows options from partner merchants
• Select a product and click "Buy now"
• Complete checkout without leaving ChatGPT

Power tip: Use ChatGPT as a shopping assistant that can compare products, read reviews, and complete purchases—all in one conversation.

14. ChatGPT Go: Affordable Premium Access

What it is: ChatGPT Go is a new $8/month subscription tier launched in January 2026, positioned between free ChatGPT and the $20 Plus tier.

What you get:

• 10x more messages compared to free tier
• Access to GPT-5.2 Instant (faster responses)
• File uploads for document analysis
• Image creation with DALL-E
• Extended memory
• Priority access during peak times

Why it matters: Go provides most essential features at a lower price point. It's perfect if you don't need GPT-5.2 Pro's advanced reasoning but want more than free tier offers.

Note: OpenAI plans to introduce ads in free ChatGPT and Go tier soon. Plus, Pro, Business, and Enterprise remain ad-free.

Power tip: Compare pricing tiers in our complete ChatGPT pricing guide to choose the best fit for your usage.

15. ChatGPT Toolbox: Exclusive Power User Features

What it is:ChatGPT Toolbox is a Chrome extension that adds exclusive features OpenAI doesn't provide, transforming ChatGPT into a professional productivity system.

Exclusive features ChatGPT Toolbox adds:

Folder Organization: Create unlimited nested folders to organize conversations by client, project, or topic. Search and filter within folders. Learn more in our organization guide.

Bulk Export: Export multiple conversations at once in TXT or JSON format. Export entire folders with one click. Perfect for backups, client deliverables, or offline access. See our bulk export guide.

RTL Language Support: Proper right-to-left text display for Arabic, Hebrew, Persian, and Urdu. ChatGPT's native interface doesn't display RTL languages correctly—ChatGPT Toolbox fixes this. Details in our RTL support guide.

Advanced Search: Search conversations with filters by date, folder, content type, and keywords. More powerful than ChatGPT's native search. Explore advanced search features.

Prompt Library: Save and organize your best prompts for instant reuse. Build personal prompt collections by category. See our prompt library guide.

Pin Conversations: Pin critical conversations to the top of your sidebar for instant access. Learn how to pin conversations.

Bulk Actions: Archive, delete, or move multiple conversations simultaneously. Save hours on conversation management. Details in our bulk actions guide.

Custom Themes: Personalize ChatGPT's appearance with custom color themes and dark mode options. See custom themes guide.

Media Gallery: View all images from conversations in a dedicated gallery. Explore our media gallery feature.

Why it's essential: ChatGPT Toolbox fills critical gaps in ChatGPT's native functionality. If you manage dozens or hundreds of conversations, work across multiple languages, or need professional organization features, it's indispensable.

Install ChatGPT Toolbox for free and unlock these exclusive features. The free tier includes core organization features, with Pro tier ($9.99/month or $99/year) unlocking unlimited folders and advanced capabilities.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are hidden ChatGPT features most users don't know about?

Hidden ChatGPT features include Projects for organization, Memory that recalls your preferences, Temporary Chat for privacy, Branch Chat to continue from specific points, keyboard shortcuts (Ctrl+B for bullets), Agent Mode for automation, and Apps integration with Google Drive and Slack. ChatGPT Toolbox adds exclusive features like folder organization, bulk export, RTL support, and advanced search.

What is ChatGPT Agent Mode?

ChatGPT Agent Mode, available in ChatGPT Plus and Pro, allows ChatGPT to autonomously handle multi-step workflows like drafting emails, planning trips, and analyzing finances. It integrates with Gmail, Google Calendar, and Slack to automate tasks without manual intervention at each step.

How does ChatGPT Memory work?

ChatGPT Memory remembers details from your conversations like your preferences, work context, and personal information across all chats. Manage it under Settings → Personalization → Memory. You can view, edit, or delete specific memories, or turn off Memory entirely for privacy.

What is Temporary Chat in ChatGPT?

Temporary Chat in ChatGPT lets you have conversations that aren't saved to your history and won't be used to train AI models. It's perfect for sensitive questions, confidential work, or one-time queries you don't want recorded. Access it from the dropdown menu next to your profile.

What are ChatGPT Projects?

ChatGPT Projects let you organize related conversations, files, and custom instructions in dedicated workspaces. Each Project can have its own knowledge base and settings. They're ideal for managing different clients, research topics, or work streams separately within ChatGPT.

What keyboard shortcuts work in ChatGPT?

ChatGPT supports several keyboard shortcuts: Ctrl+Shift+; (Cmd+Shift+; on Mac) for new chat, Ctrl+B formats responses as bullet points, Shift+Esc opens/closes sidebar, and arrow keys navigate between messages. ChatGPT Toolbox adds additional shortcuts for search, export, and folder management.

What is ChatGPT Go?

ChatGPT Go is a lower-priced subscription tier launched in January 2026 at $8/month. It provides 10x more messages than free ChatGPT, access to GPT-5.2 Instant model, file uploads, image creation with DALL-E, and extended memory. It's positioned between free ChatGPT and the $20/month Plus tier.

Conclusion: Master ChatGPT's Hidden Potential

These 15 hidden features transform ChatGPT from a simple Q&A tool into a comprehensive AI productivity system. Agent Mode automates workflows, Projects organize your work, Memory personalizes your experience, and keyboard shortcuts speed everything up. Add ChatGPT Toolbox, and you unlock professional-grade organization, bulk operations, and advanced search that OpenAI doesn't provide natively.

Quick recap of power user secrets:

• Automate: Use Agent Mode for multi-step tasks and Apps integration for tool connectivity
• Organize: Leverage Projects + ChatGPT Toolbox folders for perfect conversation management
• Personalize: Enable Memory and create project-specific custom instructions
• Secure: Use Temporary Chat for sensitive work and manage data privacy settings
• Accelerate: Master keyboard shortcuts and bulk actions to save hours weekly

Install ChatGPT Toolbox for free to unlock exclusive features that make you a true ChatGPT power user. Transform your AI workflow with folder organization, bulk export, RTL support, advanced search, and prompt libraries.

Want to dive deeper into ChatGPT mastery? Check out our complete productivity guide, workflow automation guide, and comprehensive how-to guide.