ChatGPT search is available to all ChatGPT Free, Plus, Team, Edu, Enterprise users. Free users who are logged out will also have access to ChatGPT search.
ChatGPT search can be accessed at chatgpt.com and in our desktop and mobile apps.
ChatGPT can now search the web in a much better way than before. You can get fast, timely answers with links to relevant web sources, without needing to visit a separate search engine.
What information is shared when I search?
To provide relevant responses to your questions, ChatGPT search sometimes partners with other search providers. When it does, ChatGPT search typically rewrites your query into one or more targeted queries that it sends those providers. For instance, if a biotech researcher asked ChatGPT, "what’s the latest on the development of drugs that target CCR8 for cancer?" ChatGPT might initially query a search partner using "CCR8 immunotherapy drug development 2025." After reviewing the initial results, ChatGPT search may send additional, more specific queries to other search providers, like “CHS-114 conference 2025.” . ChatGPT also collects general location information based on your IP address and may share that general location with third-party search providers to improve the accuracy of your results. For example, if you type into ChatGPT “What are some good restaurants near me?” and ChatGPT determines from your IP address that you are in the San Francisco area, ChatGPT may rewrite your prompt into the search query “top restaurants San Francisco.” ChatGPT does not share the IP address itself, or any of your ChatGPT account information, with third-party search providers in order to run the search.
For more information about how third-party search providers may further process search queries, please refer to:
Shopify (Shopify’s privacy policy)
If you have “Memory” enabled, when ChatGPT search rewrites your prompt into a search query it may also leverage relevant information from memories to make the query better and more useful. For example, if the user has “Memory” turned on and asks ChatGPT “what are some restaurants near me that I’d like,” and has memories is that the user is vegan and lives in San Francisco, then ChatGPT may rewrite the user’s prompt to “good vegan restaurants San Francisco.” You can learn more here about Memory, including how to disable it or control individual memories.
How to search in ChatGPT
To begin your search, go to chatgpt.com and select the 'View all tools' option, then select the 'Search' icon and enter your search query.
ChatGPT will automatically search the web if your question might benefit from information on the web.
ChatGPT search can also be accessed via shortcut - simply type “/” and select Search from the pop-up menu.
You can also regenerate any response to Search the web by selecting the refresh icon and select Try again. This allows ChatGPT to enrich its initial response with additional content from the web.
ChatGPT responses that use search may include inline citations. When inline citations appear, you can hover over a citation to learn more and click it to see the source. This hover feature works on desktop web.
If inline citations are not shown, click Sources beneath the response/action bar to open a panel with cited sources and other relevant links.
When available, click Sources beneath the response/action bar to open a panel with cited sources and other relevant links.
Occasionally, search results will also return images at the top of the response. To see the image source, click on the image to see the citation and link to the source.
On iOS and Android, ChatGPT search results may also output a map if the result is appropriate.
Please note that search queries in ChatGPT are subject to your ChatGPT plan’s usage limit.
Restaurants in ChatGPT search
When ChatGPT returns restaurant results on web, some restaurant names may be clickable. Selecting a restaurant opens a page with more information about that place.
If the restaurant supports reservations through a third party provider the page may include a Reserve button. In some experiences, Reserve may also appear directly in the search result.
Selecting Reserve opens a reservation flow. In some experiences, ChatGPT may prefill details from your prompt, such as party size, date, or time. You can then choose or adjust the date, time, party size, and other reservation details before placing the reservation. Confirm those details before booking.
After you place a reservation, ChatGPT does not save it. Your reservation details are available through your confirmation email from the third party restaurant provider.
To cancel or modify a reservation, use your confirmation email., You cannot cancel, modify, or find existing reservations in ChatGPT.
Searching with Voice on ChatGPT
ChatGPT voice chats with search are slowly rolling out to ChatGPT users over the coming days. Please stay tuned!
You can search while having a voice conversation with ChatGPT.
During a voice chat, you can ask ChatGPT to search for something and ChatGPT will provide you fast, timely answers by searching the web.
Please note that your searching with Voice is also subject to ChatGPT usage limits.
Learn more about voice chats with ChatGPT.
Setting ChatGPT as your browser’s default search
You can set search on ChatGPT as your Chrome browser’s default search by downloading and installing our Chrome Extension. Note that this browser default search will default you into ChatGPT search only if you have already been given access to it.
Once ChatGPT has been set as your default search engine, you can search directly via your browser URL bar. This will automatically start a conversation in ChatGPT that contains your search query and ChatGPT search’s response.
If you want to redirect a query to Google search, type "!g [your query]" (e.g. !g foobar) directly in your browser URL bar with your query.
How can I make sure my site is available in ChatGPT search?
Ranking in ChatGPT Search is based on a number of factors designed to help users find reliable, relevant information. There is no way to guarantee top placement. However, to be included it is important to allow OAI-Searchbot to crawl your site, and ensure your site host and/or content delivery network allows traffic from our published IP addresses.
Location
Device Location Sharing
ChatGPT can optionally use your device location to provide more relevant information when it searches the web, such as local recommendations, news, and weather. Device location sharing is optional and off by default, and you can turn it on or off at any time in settings.
Enabling location sharing will also enable precise location. When enabled, ChatGPT can use your exact location to provide more relevant results, such as answering “what are the best coffee shops near me?” On mobile devices, you can choose to toggle off precise location separately while keeping approximate device location sharing on for additional control.
Turning location sharing on or off
You can manage Location Services at any time in your ChatGPT settings or from your device settings on iOS and Android and selecting ChatGPT from your apps:
ChatGPT Settings
Open Settings
Go to Data controls.
Select “Location Services”
When you turn this on, you’ll be asked by your browser or device to confirm how ChatGPT can access your location: allowing access once, allowing access while using the site or app, or denying access.
Enabling location services will also enable precise location. You can choose to toggle off precise location separately on iOS and Android.
Browser Settings
When using a web browser, you can enable enable location access for ChatGPT by clicking the lock or settings icon next to the URL address bar, select "Site Settings" or "Permissions," and set Location to "Allow". Alternatively, in your browser’s main settings, navigate to Privacy & Security > Site Settings > Location to manage permissions for specific sites.
Parents who have set up parental controls can choose to turn off device location sharing for their teen. Learn more about parental controls.
In addition, when you ask a question where device location could improve the results, ChatGPT may prompt you to turn on location sharing. If you choose to turn it on, you’ll be taken through the same browser or device confirmation step described above.
What information is used and stored
ChatGPT does not keep a copy of your precise location tied to your account. When you enable precise location sharing, ChatGPT uses your device’s precise location data to provide a more relevant response and then deletes that data. Note that if ChatGPT’s response includes information relating to this location (like the names of nearby restaurants), that information becomes part of your conversation just like any other response, and will remain in your chat history unless you delete the conversation. Similarly, any maps displayed as part of your response will also remain in your conversation history, but your precise location in the map will be removed.
When precise location is used, the response will show specific location details below the answer.
To generate more tailored results, ChatGPT may share your location with trusted third-party providers that help provide more local information, such as nearby business listings or weather reports. Location information is shared only to provide you with more relevant responses, and we take steps to minimize the amount of information shared for that purpose.
Frequently asked questions
Is precise location required to use ChatGPT search?
No. Precise location is optional. You can use ChatGPT search without it, but results may be less specific to your area.
Does ChatGPT keep my precise location data?
No. ChatGPT does not store precise location data after it is used to provide a response.
Can I turn off location sharing later?
Yes. You can turn off precise location at any time in Settings > Data controls.
Does ChatGPT use my IP address to estimate my location?
ChatGPT may use your IP address to estimate your general location, such as your country, state, or city. This
helps improve relevance for results such as restaurants near you, local news, or weather.
IP-based location is different from device location. It is approximate and based on your internet connection. ChatGPT does not access your device’s GPS or precise location unless you enable location sharing.
IP-based location may be used by default to improve results, but your IP address itself is not shared with third-party search providers and is not tied to your ChatGPT account when shared for these purposes.
Can ChatGPT check whether a restaurant has a table available?
Yes, when availability is shown. ChatGPT may display reservation times from supported third-party providers for a specific date, time, and party size. Availability can change, and not every restaurant or provider is supported, so confirm the details in the reservation flow before booking.
Why do I not see the Reserve button for a restaurant?
The Reserve button appears only when ChatGPT can match the restaurant to a listing by a supported third-party provider. It may not appear for every restaurant.
Can I cancel or modify a restaurant reservation in ChatGPT?
No. ChatGPT does not save reservations after they are placed. To cancel or modify a reservation, go directly through your account with the reservation provider..
How can I get help with a restaurant reservation?
Contact OpenAI Support if you need help with restaurant results in ChatGPT, clickable restaurant links, restaurant pages, the Reserve button, or if selecting Reserve does not open the expected app or reservation flow.
For any issues that occur in the app or after placing a reservation, including confirmation emails, cancellations, changes, or partner account issues, contact the third party reservations provider.