How to Use ChatGPT on Your iPhone or Android

Before you start

You need a smartphone (iPhone or Android) and an internet connection. ChatGPT has a free version that’s plenty for learning. Paid plans exist for heavier use, but you don’t need one. If you’ve never used ChatGPT at all, our beginner’s guide explains what it is and how to ask good questions.

Set it up in five steps

1. 1

   Get the official app

   Open the App Store (iPhone) or Google Play Store (Android) and search for “ChatGPT.” Check that the developer is OpenAI before you tap Get or Install. Lookalike apps exist, and some charge fees or collect data.

2. 2

   Sign in or create a free account

   Open the app and sign up with your email address, or sign in with an existing Google, Microsoft, or Apple account. If the app asks you to pay before you’ve tried anything, you may have the wrong app.

3. 3

   Type your first question

   Tap the message box at the bottom, type a request in plain language, and tap send. Try something small, like the prompt below.

4. 4

   Try talking instead of typing

   Tap the voice icon in the message bar. The first time, your phone will ask permission to use the microphone; tap Allow. You may be asked to choose a voice. Then just talk, and you can interrupt it anytime.

5. 5

   Check your settings

   Tap your profile or the menu to open Settings. Look at the options for chat history, memory, and data controls (including whether your chats help improve the service), and choose what you’re comfortable with.

I'm new to ChatGPT and using it on my phone. Give me 5 simple, everyday things I could ask you for help with this week, one line each.

Voice is handy while you’re cooking, gardening, or when typing on a small screen is a pain. OpenAI says free users get limited voice use, and limits can change. If you run out, you can keep typing.

Use your camera and photos

You can show ChatGPT a picture and ask about it: a plant in your garden, the instructions on a box, a menu in another language, or a confusing setting on another device. Tap the + button in the message bar, then choose a photo or take one. OpenAI says photo and file uploads are available on the free plan with daily limits.

Here's a photo of [what it is]. Explain what I'm looking at in plain language, and tell me what I should do next. If you're not sure, say so.

Read the small print in this photo and summarize the important parts in 3 short bullet points. Use large, simple wording.

Before you snap: don’t photograph IDs, bank cards, prescription labels with your details, or other people without their permission. Crop or cover anything personal.

On iPhone: ChatGPT and Siri

Some newer iPhones can pass Siri questions to ChatGPT. Apple lists the iPhone 15 Pro, 15 Pro Max, and iPhone 16 or later. To set it up, open Settings, tap Apple Intelligence & Siri, tap ChatGPT, then tap Set Up. Menu names can vary slightly between iOS versions. Apple says you don’t need a ChatGPT account for this, though you need to sign in if you want your chats saved, and Siri asks before sending any photos or files to ChatGPT. You can turn it off in the same place.

This is optional. The ChatGPT app works on any recent iPhone without it.

On Android

The ChatGPT app works the same way on Android: type, tap the voice icon to talk, or tap + to add a photo. Many Android phones also come with Google’s own AI assistant, Gemini. If that’s already on your phone, see our guide to using Google Gemini. You don’t need both; pick the one you find easiest.

Make it easier to see and use

• Bigger text: ChatGPT follows your phone’s text-size setting. Increase it under Display or Accessibility in your phone’s settings.
• Ask for short answers: add “keep it short” or “use 3 bullet points” to any request.
• Find old chats: open the menu to see past conversations, and start a new chat when you change topics.
• Copy an answer: press and hold on a reply (or use the copy icon under it) to paste it into a text, email, or note.

Safety tips for your phone

• Official app only, published by OpenAI. Delete any lookalike app that asks for payment up front.
• Never type or say passwords, one-time codes, Social Security or ID numbers, or full card numbers. See what not to share with AI.
• Double-check what matters. ChatGPT can sound sure and still be wrong, especially on health, money, or legal questions.
• Beware of texts and calls that mention AI or ask you to install an app or share a code. Our guide to spotting AI scams explains the warning signs.

Frequently asked questions

Keep going: prompts picked for your life

Every household is different. Our free Prompts for You page lets you pick what you care about (tech help, family, cooking, and more) and gives you ready-to-use prompts to match. It’s free and needs no account, and your picks stay in your browser.

Want one calm, useful tip a week? Sign up for the Free Sunday Tip below. No card needed. For more, the Sunday Issue is the full weekly lesson, with news, a project, a tool of the week, prompts picked for you and a scam watch. First month free, then $5/month.

General information only, not medical, legal, or financial advice. AI tools and their features change often; check the official site for current details.