Best custom instructions for ChatGPT
The best custom instructions for ChatGPT are not a long list of rules. They are a short, plain-English description of how you like to communicate, what your AI should know about you, and what it should never do.
What ChatGPT custom instructions actually do
ChatGPT custom instructions live in your settings and shape every conversation. Instead of typing “please be concise” over and over, you tell ChatGPT once:
- How formal or casual you want it to be
- Whether you want short answers or detailed explanations
- What you are working on and what matters to you
- What it should never do (for example, save passwords or use jargon)
A prompt is not the same as a profile
A prompt is a one-off question. Custom instructions are a lasting setup. If you find yourself adding the same preamble to every chat — “keep it short,” “I’m a beginner,” “don’t be too enthusiastic” — those are exactly the things that belong in your custom instructions.
Without custom instructions
“Can you help me write an email to a client?”
Result: ChatGPT writes a long, generic email and you have to edit it.
With custom instructions
“Can you help me write a short, direct email to a client? I prefer to get to the point quickly and use examples rather than long explanations.”
Result: a shorter, more useful first draft that matches your style.
What the best custom instructions look like
Here is a realistic example of a Personal AI Profile — the kind of custom instructions we build from your answers. It covers how your AI should work with you, what it should know, and what it should remember.
Example profile
How to work with me: Get to the point in the first two sentences. If I’m wrong, say so plainly and tell me why. When I ask for help deciding, give me one clear recommendation first, then the alternatives.
What to remember about me: I run a small consulting business. I prefer short emails, morning meetings, and examples over theory. Never save account numbers or passwords.
This is a sample. Your own profile is built from your answers.
How to paste custom instructions into ChatGPT
- 1Open ChatGPT and tap your profile (mobile) or click your name (web).
- 2Go to Settings → Personalization → Custom instructions.
- 3Paste your “How to work with me” and “What to remember about me” text into the two fields.
- 4Save, then start a new chat to test it.
If your menu looks different, look for Custom Instructions, Instructions, Personalization, or Memory — OpenAI moves the label around, but the idea is the same.
Build your own in about 10 minutes
Build My Personal AI turns six easy questions about yourself into a ready-to-paste profile for ChatGPT or Claude. No prompt engineering. No AI jargon. You answer in plain English, and we turn your words into a setup that makes your AI stop sounding generic.
Want ChatGPT that actually sounds like you?
Answer a few simple questions and get your own Personal AI Profile — ready to paste into ChatGPT or Claude.
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