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How to Set Up ChatGPT Custom Instructions

Custom instructions let you save context about yourself and your preferences once, instead of repeating the same background information at the start of every conversation.

  1. Find custom instructions in settings

    Click your profile icon to open settings, then look for the "Custom Instructions" option.

  2. Fill in "About You"

    Add background details you'd like ChatGPT to keep in mind, like your occupation, the kind of work you usually do, and your general interests.

  3. Fill in "Response Style"

    Specify the tone, response length, and formatting preferences you want, such as skipping unnecessary preambles or favoring tables over long paragraphs.

  4. Save, then check a new conversation

    After saving, start a fresh conversation and confirm your instructions are actually reflected in the way ChatGPT responds.

  5. Update it whenever things change

    If your job, projects, or preferences change, you can revisit the same settings menu and update your custom instructions at any time.

  6. Why it's worth setting up

    You no longer need to re-explain the same background context in every new conversation, so responses land closer to what you want right from the first message.

What belongs in "About You" versus "Response Style"

It helps to think of these as two different jobs: "About You" is background context that shapes what ChatGPT assumes about your situation β€” your role, expertise level, and typical topics β€” while "Response Style" controls the shape of the output itself, like tone, length, and formatting. Mixing the two isn't harmful, but keeping them separate makes it much easier to update just one aspect later without rewriting everything.

Custom instructions vs. starting from scratch every time

Without custom instructions, you're effectively re-briefing ChatGPT at the start of every conversation, repeating the same details about your role or preferred format. Custom instructions front-load that briefing once, which not only saves typing but also means responses are consistent in tone and structure across separate conversations, rather than varying depending on how thoroughly you happened to explain things that day.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do custom instructions apply to every new conversation automatically?

Yes, once saved, custom instructions apply to new conversations by default without needing to be repeated. They generally do not retroactively change conversations that already existed before you saved them.

Can I set different instructions for different types of work?

The built-in custom instructions apply broadly across new chats rather than per-topic, so many people write a general-purpose version. For sharply different contexts, some tools also offer project- or workspace-level settings that layer on top of the general instructions.