Feature request: Add a setting to disable Writing Blocks, similar to Canvas/Whiteboard

I would like to suggest adding a user setting to disable Writing Blocks in ChatGPT, similar to the existing toggle for Canvas/Whiteboard.

Currently, ChatGPT provides a setting to control Canvas/Whiteboard behavior, but there does not appear to be an equivalent option for the smaller editable blocks that appear in responses, often labeled with tags such as “Writing.” These blocks can be useful in some cases, but they can also create performance issues in the browser.

In my experience, these Writing Blocks noticeably degrade the performance of ChatGPT on desktop browsers, especially in Chrome. The slowdown seems to escalate as the conversation grows, making the chat increasingly laggy and difficult to use. Interestingly, I do not notice the same performance impact on mobile, but in the browser it can become significant.

This feels similar to the performance issues caused by Canvas/Whiteboard elements, which is why having a toggle for Canvas is helpful. I believe users should also have the option to disable Writing Blocks when they prefer plain text responses or when their browser performance is affected.

A possible setting could be something like:

“Enable Writing Blocks”
When disabled, ChatGPT would provide the same draft or editable content as normal plain text in the conversation, without rendering it inside a separate interactive block.

This would be especially helpful for users who:

  • experience browser lag or memory/performance degradation;

  • prefer simple plain-text responses;

  • use long conversations where interactive elements accumulate;

  • work mainly on desktop browsers rather than mobile.

I am not asking for the feature to be removed. I am only requesting a user-level option to disable it, just as users can already control Canvas/Whiteboard behavior.

Thank you for considering this improvement. :smiley:

Hey @oluap.castelo! Good callout. I can see how Writing Blocks could be useful in some cases, but frustrating if they’re causing browser slowdown, especially in longer desktop conversations.

A user-level toggle to disable Writing Blocks and show the same content as plain text would make sense for people who prefer simpler responses or run into performance issues. The comparison to having controls for Canvas/Whiteboard behavior is helpful context too.

I can’t share a timeline right now, but I’ll pass this feedback along internally.

- Sunny