- The catch: the built-in browser isn't your Chrome
- The three options side by side
- Built-in browser: you and ChatGPT on the same page
- Chrome extension: no desktop app needed
- Cloud browser: a browser that keeps going without you
- Cloud browser site access settings
- How to choose and set up the right one
- Staying safe with any of the three
- My verdict
- Frequently asked questions
There are three ways to give ChatGPT a browser as of October 2026: the built-in browser in the ChatGPT desktop app on macOS and Windows, the ChatGPT browser extension for Chrome, and cloud browser, which runs ChatGPT Work's own browser on a separate computer in the cloud. Pick the extension when you need your own Chrome sign-ins, the built-in browser when you want to watch the page, and cloud browser for jobs that keep running after you walk away.
ChatGPT Atlas, the standalone browser, has been retired and no longer gets updates; its bookmarks, tabs, history and sessions don't transfer automatically, and my guide to what ChatGPT Atlas was covers the rest.
The catch: the built-in browser isn't your Chrome
This is the one that trips people up. The built-in browser doesn't use your Chrome profile. It keeps its own cookies and browser state, so you may need to sign in again to sites you're already signed into in Chrome. If you want ChatGPT to work with your existing Chrome profile, your signed-in sessions, your open tabs or your extensions, OpenAI points you to the ChatGPT browser extension instead.
Cloud browser is separate again. It has its own cookies, data and sessions, and doesn't touch your open tabs, history, saved passwords, extensions or existing sign-ins on your device.
The three options side by side
| Option | Where it runs | What makes it different |
|---|---|---|
| Built-in browser | ChatGPT desktop app, macOS and Windows | Own browser state; you follow and annotate the page |
| Chrome extension | Chrome with ChatGPT on the web | Uses your Chrome profile, tabs and sign-ins |
| Cloud browser | ChatGPT Work, paid plans excluding Free and Go | Remote computer; keeps working after you leave |
Built-in browser: you and ChatGPT on the same page
In the desktop app, you and ChatGPT see the same page. ChatGPT can work across tabs, download files or wait while you sign in. It supports sign-in, autofill, password management, extensions, downloads and navigation, though features may depend on your plan and workspace settings.
To open it, start a chat in Work or Codex, then open the browser from the toolbar or press Command+Shift+B on macOS or Ctrl+Shift+B on Windows. Ask ChatGPT to use the current page and follow any permission prompt. If you don't have the app yet, here's how to download ChatGPT safely.
The built-in browser also has Annotation mode, which is handy if you're giving feedback on a web page. Turn it on, click an element or drag over an area, describe the change, save the annotation and send a message asking ChatGPT to deal with it. Adjust lets you preview changes to text, fonts, spacing or colours, but a preview doesn't save a permanent change to the website.
Chrome extension: no desktop app needed
The extension works with ChatGPT on the web, so you don't need the desktop app at all. Install it from the Chrome Web Store, then mention @Chrome in a chat or select a tab from the + menu and follow the permission prompts. You can review which websites it can reach under Settings, then Chrome extension.
Cloud browser: a browser that keeps going without you
Cloud browser gives ChatGPT Work its own browser on a separate computer in the cloud. It can read pages, click buttons, fill in forms and complete steps on supported public and signed-in sites, and it keeps working after you close your computer. It pauses when it needs your input, a sign-in or a confirmation. If you're new to Work itself, start with what ChatGPT Work is.
As of October 2026 it's available in ChatGPT Work on paid plans in supported regions, excluding Free and Go, and availability can vary during rollout and by workspace permissions. You don't switch it on separately. ChatGPT decides when to use it, and may use a connected app or plugin instead when that can do the task directly.
When a site needs you to sign in, you use a secure sign-in form. The credentials go straight to the remote browser, aren't visible to the model and aren't stored by ChatGPT. If ChatGPT gets stuck, you can take over the cloud browser from your phone or computer. Some websites block automated browser agents, and that's the website's call.
Cloud browser site access settings
Under Settings, then Cloud browser, you choose how site access works.
- Always ask: ChatGPT asks before it visits a site.
- Auto approve: ChatGPT reviews the URL and pauses only if it seems unsafe.
- Always allow: OpenAI doesn't recommend this one.
Site-specific allow or block choices override your default. Permission to visit a site is also separate from approval for consequential actions such as bookings or payments, so you'll still be asked before anything like that happens.
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How to choose and set up the right one
- Decide whether the task needs your own Chrome sign-ins (extension), a page you want to watch (built-in) or a background job (cloud).
- Built-in: open a Work or Codex chat in the desktop app, then open the browser from the toolbar or with Command or Ctrl+Shift+B.
- Extension: install it from the Chrome Web Store, then mention @Chrome in ChatGPT on the web.
- Cloud: start a Work task, approve site access and sign in through the secure form.
Staying safe with any of the three
OpenAI asks you to treat website content as untrusted. Keep tasks specific, check the site before you approve access, and stop the task if ChatGPT opens the wrong account or page. Enter passwords only in the browser, never in the chat.
Want the details on the other half? Try ChatGPT MCP.
My verdict
I'd use the Chrome extension for everyday jobs on sites you're already signed into, because it saves you signing in all over again. I'd use the built-in browser when you want to see every click, or annotate a page for changes. And I'd hand cloud browser the long, boring jobs you'd rather not sit and watch, as long as you're on a paid plan that includes Work. Skip cloud browser for anything on a site that blocks automated agents, because it won't get through.
When you're ready for more, the ChatGPT Credits guide is a sensible follow-up.
This guide is part of my ChatGPT Prompts and Limits: 30 Guides to Fun Prompts, Photo Edits and Daily Caps.
Frequently asked questions
Is ChatGPT Atlas still available?
No. Atlas has been retired and no longer receives updates. Bookmarks, tabs, history and sessions don't transfer automatically.
What is the difference between the built-in browser and cloud browser?
The built-in browser runs inside the desktop app, where you can follow and annotate the page. Cloud browser runs remotely and can carry on with delegated tasks in the background.
Does the built-in browser use my Chrome sign-ins?
No. It keeps its own cookies and state. Use the ChatGPT browser extension if you want your Chrome profile, tabs and sign-ins.
Which plans get cloud browser?
As of October 2026, ChatGPT Work on paid plans in supported regions, excluding Free and Go.
Can ChatGPT sign in to a site for me?
In cloud browser you enter credentials in a secure sign-in form that goes straight to the remote browser. The model can't see them and ChatGPT doesn't store them.
