Users leave ChatGPT to Claude. Here’s how to make the switch

Many users switched to Claude following a series of controversies surrounding ChatGPT and its parent company, OpenAI.

The tipping point came after Anthropic, the company behind Claude, refused to allow the Department of Defense to use its AI models for mass surveillance of the home or fully autonomous weapons. In response, President Trump ordered all government agencies to stop using Anthropic products, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced plans to designate the company a supply chain threat.

Hours later, OpenAI announced its agreement with the Pentagon, saying it included safeguards, but the agreement still fueled widespread debate about privacy and the ethical use of AI.

As a result, Claude rose to the top of the free app rankings in the US Apple App Store, surpassing ChatGPT. According to Anthropic, daily registrations have reached a record high, free users have jumped more than 60% since January, and paid subscribers have doubled this year.

For many users, the recent controversy has made Claude a compelling alternative to ChatGPT. If you’re thinking of switching, this guide will help you transfer your data and close your ChatGPT account.

How to export your data from ChatGPT

Breaking up with ChatGPT doesn’t have to mean losing a digital memory for years. Instead of starting from scratch with the new AI assistant, you can transfer your data to Claude so it can speed up your preferences quickly.

There are several ways to do this. One place to start is Settings. From there, go to Personalization and find the Memory section. Select “Manage” and review your saved information, deleting anything that no longer accurately reflects your preferences. If everything is up to date, copy the content you want to keep.

Or, you can export your entire chat history. Go to Settings, select Data Controls, and select “Exclude Data.” ChatGPT will compile your chat records into text or JSON files and send them via email. (Note that this may take a while if you have a lot of history.)

You can also take a hands-off approach by copying important conversations into your history or ask ChatGPT to summarize your top preferences, frequently discussed topics, and any custom commands you use.

Import your data to Claude

Once you’ve collected your data, transferring it to Claude is straightforward.

Open Claude, go to Settings, then Capabilities, and make sure Memory is turned on. (You’ll need to subscribe to the Pro, Max, Team, or Enterprise plan to enable this feature.) Then, start a new conversation and use the command, “Here’s an important point I’d like you to remember. Review your memory of me on this.” Then paste your details or summaries directly into the conversation.

In posted chat files, do not attach raw logs. Instead, inform Claude: “Review this and summarize my important preferences.”

We also recommend that you take a moment to confirm with Claude that your information has been stored accurately. You can always update your preferences as they change.

Permanently delete your ChatGPT account

To make a complete break from ChatGPT, simply canceling your subscription is not enough to delete your data.

Here’s what you need to do:

• Go to Settings, then Personalization, and select Memory.
• Delete any cached memory or personalization settings.
• For more confirmation, type “Erase all my memory and personal data” as the last command of the dialog.
• Then navigate to your account management settings to completely delete your account.