After a few weeks of use, your ChatGPT history often looks like a junk drawer: one chat about a contractor’s quote, three about a work project, a recipe, a school presentation, the quote again… And every time you go back to a topic, you have to re-explain the context and re-upload your files.
ChatGPT Projects solve exactly this problem. They let you group your chats, files and shared instructions around a single topic. In this guide, I’ll show you how to create a project, how to organize it, how its memory works and how to actually use it for work, school or home. If you’re just getting started, my complete ChatGPT guide covers the basics.
The short version
- A project groups chats, files and instructions around a single topic.
- Projects are available on the free plan, with lower limits than on paid plans.
- Project instructions apply to every chat inside the project.
- Project files are available in every chat, with no need to re-upload them.
- Depending on the project’s memory setting, ChatGPT can draw on other chats in the same project.
Information checked on September 28, 2026.
Contents
- What is a ChatGPT project?
- Projects vs. memory vs. custom instructions: what's the difference?
- How to create a project
- Writing good project instructions
- Adding files to a project
- Project memory
- Full example: my "Moving" project
- 8 useful project ideas
- Sharing a project
- My tips for using projects well
- Mistakes to avoid
- Limitations of projects
- FAQ
- The bottom line
What is a ChatGPT project?
A project is a smart folder. You give it a name (“Kitchen remodel,” “Master’s thesis,” “Launching my online store”), add the relevant documents and a few instructions, then create as many chats inside it as you need.
All of those chats share the same context:
- the instructions you set for the project (tone, role, constraints);
- the files you added (quotes, floor plans, notes, brand guidelines, class materials);
- depending on the setting you choose, project memory, meaning what was said in the project’s other chats.
The result: you no longer have to explain your situation in every new chat. You open the project, ask your question, and ChatGPT already knows what it’s about.
Projects vs. memory vs. custom instructions: what’s the difference?
ChatGPT gives you several ways to provide context, and they’re easy to mix up:
| Feature | Scope | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Custom instructions | All your chats | Who you are and how you like answers |
| Memory | All your chats (if turned on) | Information that builds up over time |
| Project | Only the chats in that project | A specific topic with its own files and instructions |
Projects can wall off context if you choose project-only memory: what you say in your “Tax return” project then doesn’t influence your other chats. With default memory, ChatGPT can also use context from outside the project, depending on your plan and settings. I explain how general memory works in my article on ChatGPT memory.
How to create a project
It takes less than a minute:
- In the ChatGPT sidebar, find the Projects section and click “New project” (the wording may vary slightly depending on the interface).
- Give your project a clear name, and pick a color or icon if you like.
- Choose the project’s memory setting, if the option is offered (more on this below; you can change it later).
- Open the project, then add instructions and files.
- Start a new chat from inside the project.
You can also move an existing chat into a project: just drag it from your history, or use the chat’s menu. Handy for tidying up after the fact.
Projects work on the website, the desktop app and the mobile apps.
Writing good project instructions
Project instructions are the heart of the whole thing. They apply to every chat in the project. Here’s what I usually include:
- The context: what the project is about and what the goal is.
- Your role and level: beginner, expert, student, professional.
- The role you want ChatGPT to play: coach, proofreader, research assistant, advisor.
- Tone and format: short or detailed, tables, bullet lists, casual or formal.
- The rules: what it should always do (cite page numbers, ask questions) and never do (make up numbers).
An example for a remodeling project:
This project is about remodeling the kitchen in my house (130 sq ft, built in the 1970s). Total budget: $15,000. Goal: a kitchen that opens onto the living room, finished by March 15. I'm not in the trade, so explain any technical terms. When I give you a quote, compare it to the other quotes in the project and flag any differences. Never make up a price: if you don't have the information, say so.
Project instructions apply only inside that project, and they override your global custom instructions when the two conflict.
Adding files to a project
Files you add to a project are available in all of its chats. No more re-uploading the same PDF every time you start a new conversation.
A few ideas for useful files:
- For a work project: company overview, offerings, style guide, meeting notes.
- For school: class notes, the professor’s guidelines, bibliography, thesis outline.
- For home: quotes, floor plans, contracts, bills (with your personal information blacked out).
- For writing: character sheets, finished chapters, plot summary.
The number of files per project depends on your plan: 5 on the free plan, 25 on Go and Plus, 40 on Pro and business plans. So stick to the documents that really matter, and give them clear names. To get the most out of your PDFs, see my tutorial on using ChatGPT with a PDF.
Project memory
This is one of the most useful features, and one of the most misunderstood. Depending on the options available on your account, a project can work in two ways:
- With default memory: the behavior depends on your plan and memory settings; the project uses its own context and, when the feature is available, context from outside the project.
- With project-only memory: ChatGPT relies only on the project’s chats and files, without using the rest of your history. The project becomes a sealed bubble.
Project-only memory is ideal for topics you want to keep separate (a confidential client project, a medical file, a piece of writing that shouldn’t be influenced by your other conversations). You can pick this setting when you create the project, then change it later in the project settings. One exception: a shared project automatically switches to project-only memory and can’t go back to default memory.
Full example: my “Moving” project
To make all this concrete, here’s how I organized a move with a ChatGPT project, from the first box to the last bit of paperwork.
The name and instructions. I created a project called “Move Portland → Seattle” with these instructions: “Move planned for June 20, two-bedroom apartment, a couple and a cat. Moving company budget: $1,500 max. Help me get organized, not forget anything and compare options. Present task lists as a table with dates.”
The files. I added the three movers’ quotes, the move-in inspection report from the old apartment and the lease for the new one, after blacking out personal information.
The chats. Then I opened one chat per topic:
- “Quotes”: comparing the three offers, the insurance included and the cancellation terms;
- “Timeline”: a week-by-week task list, from giving notice to changing my address;
- “Paperwork”: the list of organizations to notify, with how to do it for each one;
- “Boxes”: a room-by-room packing plan and a list of what to keep close at hand on moving day;
- “Move-out inspection”: what to check before leaving, to get the security deposit back.
The result. With every new question, ChatGPT already knew the date, the budget, the cat and the quotes. When I got a fourth quote, I just added it to the project and asked whether it was a better deal than the others. And at the end, a progress check helped me confirm I hadn’t forgotten any paperwork.
Compare this new quote to the three quotes already in the project: price, services, insurance, cancellation terms. Tell me whether it beats the one I picked, and why.
8 useful project ideas
1. A home improvement project
Quotes, plans, photos, budget: ChatGPT compares quotes, explains technical terms and helps you prepare questions for contractors.
2. A thesis or dissertation
Guidelines, outline, sources, chapters: ChatGPT helps you structure, rephrase and check consistency, without writing it for you.
3. Your business
Company overview, offerings, brand voice: every new email, post or quote is written in the right style, with nothing to re-explain. See also my guide to writing an email with ChatGPT.
4. Your job search
Resume, target job postings, cover letters, interview prep: everything is in one place, and ChatGPT tailors each application to your background. See my guide to writing a resume with ChatGPT.
5. A trip
Itinerary, bookings, budget, ideas: the project becomes your travel journal. See my method for planning a trip with AI.
6. Learning a language or subject
Level, goals, progress, exercises: ChatGPT follows you from one session to the next and adjusts the difficulty.
7. Household paperwork
Contracts, insurance, bills (anonymized): a project to understand your documents and prepare your next steps.
8. A creative project
Novel, podcast, YouTube channel: character sheets, ideas, content calendar and edits all in one space.
Sharing a project
Project sharing is available to signed-in users, depending on your plan and workspace settings: up to 5 collaborators on the free plan, 10 on Go and Plus, 100 on Pro. The people you invite then get access to the project’s chats, files and instructions. It’s handy for a family project (planning a wedding, for example) or a small team. Before sharing, make sure no chat contains information you don’t want others to see.
My tips for using projects well
After several months of use, here’s what works best for me:
- One project = one clear goal. Avoid catch-all projects like “Work”; go for “Spring product launch.”
- Short, precise instructions: about ten lines is plenty.
- One chat per subtopic: in a “Remodel” project, one chat for electrical, one for plumbing, one for the budget.
- A summary file: every so often, ask for a progress check and add it to the project.
- Regular cleanup: delete outdated files and archive finished projects.
Here’s the progress-check prompt I use:
Give me a status update on this project: what's been decided, what's left to do with deadlines, open questions and risks. Format it as a table I can add to the project files.
Mistakes to avoid
- Creating too many projects: past a dozen or so active projects, you get lost. Combine what you can.
- Writing instructions that are too long: a full page of rules ends up contradicting itself. Stick to the essentials.
- Forgetting to update files: an old quote or an outdated version of a document can skew the answers. Delete what’s out of date.
- Cramming everything into one chat: even inside a project, one chat per subtopic stays clearer.
Limitations of projects
- The number of files depends on your plan: 5 files per project on the free plan, 25 on Go and Plus, 40 on Pro and business plans. The number of projects, however, is unlimited.
- ChatGPT doesn’t read everything all the time: in a very large project, it can miss a detail. Mention the relevant file when it matters.
- A shared project switches to project-only memory, with no way back to default memory.
- Sensitive information is still sensitive: a project isn’t a safe. Anonymize your documents.
FAQ
Are ChatGPT Projects free?
Yes, projects are available on the free plan, with 5 files per project and up to 5 collaborators for sharing. See my article on free ChatGPT.
Can I move an old chat into a project?
Yes, by dragging it into the project or using the chat’s menu. It then benefits from the project’s instructions and files.
What happens if I delete a project?
The project and its chats are deleted. If you want to keep some chats, move them out first.
Can a project use web search or create images?
Yes, ChatGPT’s usual tools work in a project’s chats, depending on your plan.
How is this different from Claude Projects or Gemini Gems?
The idea is similar: grouping context around a topic. Claude also has projects (see my Claude AI guide), and Gemini has Gems, which are designed more as specialized assistants (see my Gemini guide).
How many projects can I create?
There’s no limit on the number of projects. What varies is mainly the number of files per project: 5 on the free plan, 25 on Go and Plus, 40 on Pro, Business, Enterprise and Edu.
The bottom line
Projects turn ChatGPT into a real workspace: one topic, its files, its instructions and all its chats in one place. Create one project per goal, write short and precise instructions, choose the right memory setting (you can change it later), and check in on progress regularly. You’ll never have to re-explain your context again.
To go further, check out 10 useful ChatGPT prompts for everyday life and my guide to writing a good prompt.
