To use ChatGPT on iPhone, download the official ChatGPT app from the App Store, sign in, and type or speak your question in the message box. Tap + to add photos and files, open the menu at the top left to find past chats, and connect ChatGPT to Siri under Settings, then Apple Intelligence and Siri.
There are two ways to use ChatGPT on an iPhone, and most people only know one. There's the ChatGPT app itself, and there's ChatGPT built into Siri and Apple's Writing Tools on phones that support Apple Intelligence. They do different jobs. Here's how to set up both, the settings worth changing, and the details OpenAI's help pages mention that save you a bit of hassle.
Get the right app
- Open the App Store on your iPhone.
- Search for ChatGPT and check the developer is OpenAI before you tap Get.
- Open the app and sign in with the same method you use on your computer, such as email, Google, Microsoft or Apple.
That last point matters. If you signed up on your laptop with Google, use Continue with Google on your phone too, otherwise you'll create a second, empty account and wonder where your chats went. There are plenty of lookalike apps with 'AI chat' in the name, so checking the developer is worth the extra second.
Using the ChatGPT app day to day
| To do this | Do this in the app |
|---|---|
| Ask a question | Type in the message box at the bottom and tap send |
| Add a photo or file | Tap +, then Add photos & files |
| Find an old chat | Tap the menu at the top left and look under Recents |
| Delete a chat | Open it, tap the three dots, choose Delete and confirm |
| Change settings | Open the menu, then tap your profile |
Your chats sync with your account, so a conversation you started on your laptop is waiting on your phone, and the other way round. That makes the iPhone app brilliant for picking up a piece of work on the move.
Talking instead of typing
The app has a voice option next to the message box, which is far quicker than typing long questions on a phone keyboard. My guide to ChatGPT voice mode covers how the full voice conversation works and what to expect from it.
ChatGPT inside Siri and Writing Tools
If your iPhone supports Apple Intelligence, you can connect ChatGPT to Siri and Writing Tools so you don't even need to open the app:
- Open your iPhone's Settings.
- Tap Apple Intelligence & Siri.
- Tap ChatGPT, then Set Up.
- Choose to use it without an account, or sign in with your existing ChatGPT account.
Here's the catch OpenAI points out: you can use it without an account, but nothing you ask is saved to your ChatGPT history unless you're signed in. If you want to find those answers later, sign in during setup.
If the ChatGPT option doesn't appear at all, OpenAI says to check that your Siri language and your device language are set to the same supported language. A mismatch there hides the option.
Stop Siri asking every time
By default Siri checks with you before passing a question to ChatGPT. To skip that, go to Settings, Apple Intelligence & Siri, ChatGPT and turn off Confirm ChatGPT Requests. You can also start a request with 'Ask ChatGPT' to skip the check once. Siri will still always ask before sending any files, which I think is the right default.
Changed your mind? Turn ChatGPT off in the same settings screen, and turn off Setup Prompts if you don't want Siri suggesting it again.
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Settings worth changing on iPhone
- Haptic feedback: if the buzzing annoys you, turn it off in the app's settings. OpenAI notes it switches off by itself in Low Power Mode or when your battery drops below 20%.
- Data controls: review what's saved and whether chats are kept. My guide to how private ChatGPT is explains each option.
- Custom instructions: set them once and every chat on every device follows them.
If the app crashes or won't sign you in
OpenAI's troubleshooting advice for crashes is simple: relaunch the app first, and if that doesn't help, delete it and download it again from the App Store. For sign-in trouble, its first suggestion is the same one I gave above. Use the login method you signed up with, because an email-and-password account won't open with the Microsoft or Google button, and the other way round.
What the iPhone app can't do
A couple of jobs still belong on the web. OpenAI's iOS FAQ says that to export your data you need to use ChatGPT on the web, so don't hunt for that option in the app. Large, careful pieces of work, like comparing long documents, are also easier on a bigger screen.
My verdict
Install the official OpenAI app, sign in with the same method you use elsewhere, and use voice for anything longer than a sentence. If your phone supports Apple Intelligence, connect ChatGPT to Siri and sign in so your answers are saved. That combination makes your iPhone the quickest way to use ChatGPT.
Frequently asked questions
Is there an official ChatGPT app for iPhone?
Yes. OpenAI's iOS FAQ says to download the official ChatGPT app from the App Store. Check the developer is OpenAI.
How do I see my chat history in the ChatGPT iPhone app?
Tap the menu icon at the top left. Your past chats are listed under Recents.
How do I use ChatGPT with Siri?
Go to Settings, Apple Intelligence & Siri, ChatGPT, then Set Up. Sign in if you want your chats saved to your history.
Why can't I find ChatGPT in Apple Intelligence settings?
OpenAI says your Siri language and device language must be set to the same supported language.
Can I export my ChatGPT data from the iPhone app?
No. OpenAI's iOS FAQ says to export your data from ChatGPT on the web.
