> features & settings
Beyond the chat box, ChatGPT has a settings layer that changes how it behaves for you: custom instructions and memory personalize every chat, Projects keep long efforts organized, and Canvas and Voice change the interface itself. Two rules of thumb: project instructions override global ones, and memory outlives the chat that created it.
// features & settings
6 entries> Be concise and skip the preamble. Prefer bullet points over paragraphs. When code is involved, show the code first and explain after. Ask a clarifying question if my request is ambiguous.> Act like my marketing mentor. Be concise. Use bullet points. Ask clarifying questions.> Remember that I prefer metric units and concise answers.> Open a canvas and draft a 600-word blog intro about [topic].> /search// faq
What's the difference between custom instructions and memory?
Custom instructions are a fixed block you write and fully control, applied to every chat. Memory is details ChatGPT saves automatically from conversations. Use instructions for explicit rules like "be concise"; let memory handle context you mention in passing.
What are Projects in ChatGPT?
Workspaces that bundle related chats, uploaded files, and project-specific instructions so ChatGPT stays on-topic across a long effort. Create one from the sidebar; they are on all plans, and business plans can share them with teammates. Project instructions override your global custom instructions.
What is Canvas and when does it open?
Canvas is a side panel for writing and coding that you can edit directly, with shortcuts for length, reading level, bug-fixing, and code review. It opens automatically for longer outputs, or you can type /canvas or say "open a canvas." It is not supported on the newest pro-series models.
Is ChatGPT Voice free?
There is limited free access to the Live voice model (GPT-Live-1 mini) in a rolling 24-hour window; paid plans get more time and the full GPT-Live-1. Start it with the Voice icon in the message bar, and pick a voice in Settings > Voice.