ChatGPT desktop app adds Computer History to remember activity across apps and websites

OpenAI has introduced Computer History, an opt-in desktop feature that uses activity from selected apps and websites to provide more context in future ChatGPT interactions.

Published 9/4/2026, 2:09:09 PMLast updated 9/4/2026, 2:09:09 PMAutomated review publication

OpenAI says Computer History can create a timeline and memories from a user’s activity across permitted apps and websites. The feature is designed to make later conversations more personalized and reduce the need to repeatedly explain ongoing work.

The feature is opt-in and includes controls for excluding apps or websites, reviewing the timeline, and deleting stored history. Available evidence indicates that the rollout began on the macOS desktop app for Pro, Business, and Enterprise users, with support expanding to the EEA, UK, and Switzerland.

Computer History builds on the earlier Chronicle research preview while using different privacy and data-handling controls. It is presented as distinct from approaches that rely on continuous screenshots and OCR, and its visibility depends on the permissions users grant.

Source evidence 6

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ChatGPT can now remember what you did on your Mac — without screenshots - The New Stackthenewstack.io · supporting

Aug 13th, 2026 3:00pm by Frederic Lardinois Dima Solomin via Unsplash. OpenAI is launching a new feature for ChatGPT Work and Codex on macOS that sounds quite useful but may also make you feel a bit uneasy. Computer History is a new optional feature for Pro, Business, and Enterprise users that, with your permission, can watch your day-to-day activity on your computer across apps and websites and turn that into memories and a timeline. [...] Computer History also different from OpenAI’s previous Chronicle research experiment, which had the same goal but used screen captures and OCR to generate its timeline, as well as Record & Replay, a feature for ChatGPT and Codex that lets users demonstrate a workflow and turn it into a reusable skill. ## Keeping the user in control With Computer History, users will get full control over which apps and websites Computer History will have access to. On macOS, there will be a new menu bar entry that allows you to exclude any app from this featur