Summary
The Personalization settings in the new unified ChatGPT desktop app do not sync across devices.
I configured the app on one Mac, including the Friendly/Pragmatic/None personality choice and custom instructions describing how the assistant should interact with me. After installing the latest version of the app on a second Mac and signing in with the same ChatGPT account and workspace, none of these settings were restored. I had to configure them again manually.
Steps to reproduce
- Install the ChatGPT desktop app on a Mac and sign in.
- Open Settings → Personalization.
- Select a personality and add custom instructions concerning tone and interaction style.
- Install the app on a second Mac.
- Sign in with the same ChatGPT account and workspace.
- Open Settings → Personalization.
Actual behavior
The personalization settings are missing or reset to their defaults and must be entered again manually.
Expected behavior
User-level personalization settings should sync through the ChatGPT account across desktop installations. These preferences are neither project-specific nor device-specific: they describe how the assistant should communicate and interact with the user generally.
The new desktop app already presents ChatGPT, Work, Codex, ChatGPT Projects, and cloud conversations as parts of a unified cross-device experience. Keeping the desktop Personalization settings local is therefore unexpected and inconsistent with that experience.
If these settings are intentionally stored only on the local device—for example through the user-level ~/.codex/AGENTS.md file—the interface should clearly label them as “This device only.” Ideally, the app should instead synchronize them with the account or reuse the existing ChatGPT account-level personalization settings.
Scope
This request concerns only user-level personality and interaction preferences. It does not concern repository-specific AGENTS.md files, local project environments, authentication credentials, or other machine-specific technical configuration.
Summary
The Personalization settings in the new unified ChatGPT desktop app do not sync across devices.
I configured the app on one Mac, including the Friendly/Pragmatic/None personality choice and custom instructions describing how the assistant should interact with me. After installing the latest version of the app on a second Mac and signing in with the same ChatGPT account and workspace, none of these settings were restored. I had to configure them again manually.
Steps to reproduce
Actual behavior
The personalization settings are missing or reset to their defaults and must be entered again manually.
Expected behavior
User-level personalization settings should sync through the ChatGPT account across desktop installations. These preferences are neither project-specific nor device-specific: they describe how the assistant should communicate and interact with the user generally.
The new desktop app already presents ChatGPT, Work, Codex, ChatGPT Projects, and cloud conversations as parts of a unified cross-device experience. Keeping the desktop Personalization settings local is therefore unexpected and inconsistent with that experience.
If these settings are intentionally stored only on the local device—for example through the user-level
~/.codex/AGENTS.mdfile—the interface should clearly label them as “This device only.” Ideally, the app should instead synchronize them with the account or reuse the existing ChatGPT account-level personalization settings.Scope
This request concerns only user-level personality and interaction preferences. It does not concern repository-specific
AGENTS.mdfiles, local project environments, authentication credentials, or other machine-specific technical configuration.