Summary:
I know I’m not the first to request this—and that’s exactly the point. For well over a year, users have been asking OpenAI for a way to delete or redact individual messages in a conversation without having to delete the entire thread.
Despite multiple posts, no official traction has been noted. So here’s a consolidated request that reflects the ongoing need and why it matters.
Why This Feature Matters:
- Thread continuity: Conversations often blend serious work with casual side notes. Deleting a whole thread over one errant message makes no sense.
- Data hygiene: Many of us use ChatGPT for journaling, content development, social strategy, or sensitive data. Being able to trim or revise a single post is essential.
- Professionalism: Users often redact identifying info or walk back a message, not destroy a project history.
- Error correction: Whether it’s a typo or an accidental overshare, selective deletion = less friction.
Community Demand (Cited):
Here are just a few examples from other users making similar requests:
- [“Selective Chat Deletion/Editing”] (1.6 years ago)
- [“Delete specific messages”](7 months ago)
- ["Delete Feature Request (1.8 years ago)
- [“Message Deletion Instead of Entire Thread”](3 months ago)
- [“Thread Management Suggestion”] (2 months ago)
This is not an edge case—it’s a long-standing quality-of-life issue for power users and professionals alike.
Suggested Implementation:
- Hover or right-click options per message: Delete / Edit / Redact
- Optional “revert” window after deletion
- Soft “…message removed” indicator or invisible removal toggle
- Does not break the rest of the thread
Why Now?
ChatGPT is evolving into a full-on productivity tool—used by writers, strategists, analysts, educators, and power users like me who treat it as a persistent workspace. But real work requires nuance. And right now, message history is all-or-nothing.
This is a surgical tool we’ve needed for a while.
Final Ask:
Please move this request out of the “someday” pile. It’s a clear, popular request, with practical value for every user tier—from free accounts to Plus and Teams. The sooner it’s on the roadmap, the sooner this tool becomes truly user-led.