OpenAI Adds Device Location Sharing to ChatGPT as It Expands Localized Answers

OpenAI has added an optional location-sharing feature to ChatGPT, allowing the assistant to use a device’s approximate or precise location to deliver more relevant local recommendations, news and weather responses. The setting is off by default, but once enabled it gives ChatGPT a stronger geographic context for queries that depend on where a user is asking from.

ChatGPT can now use a device’s location for local answers

The new feature appears in ChatGPT release notes published on April 15, 2026. Users can choose to share device location in Settings under Data Controls, and on mobile devices they can separately disable precise location while keeping approximate sharing on. OpenAI says precise location data is deleted after it is used to generate a response.

The change is aimed at queries where location materially changes the answer, such as nearby places, local weather or region-specific news. In those cases, ChatGPT can now rely on an explicit signal rather than inferring geography from a user’s wording or account context alone.

Why the location signal matters for ChatGPT’s product design

Location sharing turns ChatGPT into a more context-aware assistant, particularly for consumer use cases that depend on proximity and local relevance. That puts the product closer to the behavior of mobile-first assistants and search products that already blend conversational input with device signals.

It also tightens the tradeoff between usefulness and privacy. OpenAI says the feature is optional, can be changed at any time, and is designed so precise location is not retained after use. For families using parental controls, OpenAI says teens can be prevented from sharing device location.

OpenAI keeps pushing ChatGPT toward more context-rich responses

The update follows a series of recent product changes intended to make ChatGPT more practical in everyday use, including more visual responses and better handling of long chats. The location feature fits that direction by giving the assistant another input that can improve specificity without requiring the user to spell out where they are.

For ChatGPT, the operational significance is straightforward: the assistant can now produce more locally grounded answers in a wider range of consumer scenarios, while leaving control of that signal with the user.