ChatGPT for Windows transforms the world's most recognizable AI from a browser-based tool into a native desktop assistant that lives directly alongside your workflow. By integrating deeply with Windows 10 and Windows 11, this application eliminates the friction of switching tabs, allowing you to summon intelligent assistance instantly while focusing on your documents, code, or creative projects. The result is a more fluid, distraction-free environment where answers, content generation, and data analysis happen within a dedicated companion window rather than a cluttered web browser.
Key Features
- Instant Companion Window: Press Alt + Space to immediately reveal a compact overlay that lets you ask questions, upload files, or start a new task without leaving your current active application.
- Screen Awareness & Screenshots: Capture and analyze content directly from your desktop; the app can read code snippets, design layouts, or error messages on your screen to provide context-aware solutions.
- Advanced Voice Mode: Engage in real-time, fluid voice conversations with the AI, which can detect emotional nuance and allows for natural interruptions, making it ideal for hands-free brainstorming or language practice.
- Canvas Interface: Access a specialized workspace designed for writing and coding projects that require iterative editing, allowing you to highlight sections for specific revisions rather than regenerating entire responses.
- Local File Analysis: Drag and drop documents, spreadsheets, and presentations directly into the chat interface to summarize long reports, extract data points, or convert file formats instantly.
- DALL-E 3 Image Generation: Create high-quality visuals and artwork directly within the chat window, utilizing the latest model capabilities to interpret complex prompts for presentations or marketing materials.
Use Cases
Software developers and data scientists can debug code or visualize datasets in real-time without context switching, while content creators and marketers use the canvas feature to draft and refine long-form articles or social media copy alongside their research sources.
This native application offers a distinct advantage over the web version by providing system-level shortcuts and screen-reading capabilities that make AI assistance a natural extension of your Windows desktop environment.
Version Unknown — December 2024
Added:
- Gmail, Google Calendar, and Google Contacts Connectors in ChatGPT are now available to Plus users globally
- Capture meetings, brainstorms, or voice notes. ChatGPT will transcribe, summarize, and turn them into helpful outputs like follow-ups, plans, or even code
- We've upgraded ChatGPT search for all users to provide even more comprehensive, up-to-date responses
Improved:
- Memory improvements are starting to roll out to Free users. ChatGPT now references your recent conversations to deliver responses that feel more relevant and tailored to you
- ChatGPT Plus users now have 3,000 messages/week with GPT-5 Thinking, and then extra capacity on GPT-5 Thinking mini after that limit. The context limit for GPT-5 Thinking is 196k tokens
Fixed:
- 4o is back in the model picker for all paid users by default. Paid users also now have a "Show additional models" toggle in ChatGPT web settings
