ChatGPT cheat sheet
A one-page ChatGPT cheat sheet: prompt formulas to copy, lines that fix weak answers, and the settings and shortcuts OpenAI documents as of October 2026.
This ChatGPT cheat sheet is a reference to keep open next to the chat window. The top half is about prompts: formulas for common jobs and short lines that fix a weak answer. The bottom half lists the settings and shortcuts OpenAI's help center documents as of October 2026, with the menu path for each. To keep a copy, use your browser's print dialog.
Prompt formulas
OpenAI's prompting advice for ChatGPT comes down to three things: identify the task, give the context, and set the tone and style. These formulas put that into a fixed order.
| Job | Formula | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Any task | Task + context + format + constraints | "Write a cover letter for a junior analyst role. I have two years in retail ops. One page, plain tone, no buzzwords." |
| Rewrite | Text + audience + goal + length | "Rewrite this for busy executives so they approve the budget. Under 120 words." |
| Summarize | Source + reader + output shape | "Summarize this report for a new hire in five bullets, then one line of open questions." |
| Decide | Options + criteria + output | "Compare these three laptops on battery, weight and price. Table, then a one-line pick for a student." |
| Learn | Topic + current level + method | "Teach me SQL joins. I know SELECT and WHERE. Explain one join at a time and quiz me after each." |
| Brainstorm | Goal + quantity + filter | "Give 15 names for a dog-walking app. Two words max, no puns, .com-friendly." |
| Extract | Source + fields + format | "Pull every name, company and email from this thread into a table." |
The formulas are zero-shot. When the output format keeps drifting, add two or three examples of the answer you want, as covered in few-shot prompting.
Lines that fix a weak answer
OpenAI recommends iterating: start with a prompt, read the answer, then refine the wording or add context. These follow-ups do most of that work.
| Problem | Add this |
|---|---|
| Too generic | "Use my details above. Cut anything that would apply to anyone." |
| Too long | "Same content in half the words. Keep the numbers." |
| Guessing | "Before answering, ask me up to three questions about what is missing." |
| One idea only | "Give three different options and say when each one fits." |
| Wrong tone | "Rewrite in a [formal / friendly / direct] tone for [audience]." |
| Hard to scan | "Put this in a table with columns [A], [B], [C]." |
| Task too big | "Do step 1 only. Wait for my OK before step 2." |
| Unsure of facts | "Mark any claim you are not certain of, and say what I should check." |
Copy-ready prompts
You are helping me with [task]. About me: [role, experience, constraints]. Audience: [who will read the result]. Output: [format and length]. Avoid: [words, claims or styles you do not want]. Ask me up to three questions first if anything important is missing.
Review the draft below as a strict editor for [publication or audience]. List the five biggest problems, most important first, with a suggested fix for each. Do not rewrite the whole draft. Draft: [paste draft]
For hundreds more by task, browse the ChatGPT prompts library, or turn a rough idea into a structured prompt with the ChatGPT prompt generator.
Settings that change every answer
| Feature | Where | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Custom instructions | Web and desktop: Settings, Personalization. iOS and Android: Settings, Customize ChatGPT. "Enable customization" must be on. | Text ChatGPT considers in every chat. Applies immediately to all chats, on all plans. Limit: 1,500 characters on Free and Go; 5,000 on Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise and Edu. |
| Personality | Personalization, Base style and tone | Presets include Default, Friendly, Efficient, Professional, Candid and Quirky. Characteristics such as brevity, formatting and emoji level can be tuned on top. |
| Memory | Settings, Personalization, Memory | Saved memories (things you ask it to remember) and Reference chat history (context from past chats). Each can be turned off. |
| Projects | Project menu (•••), Project settings | Groups chats, files and instructions. Project instructions apply only inside the project and override your global custom instructions. |
| Temporary Chat | New chat, select Temporary, then choose Personalized or Unpersonalized | Stays out of history and does not create or update memories. OpenAI may keep a copy for up to 30 days for safety. |
| GPTs | Create a GPT, Configure tab, Instructions | Instructions applied to every conversation with that GPT. |
| Canvas | Type "use canvas", or "/" then canvas | Side-by-side editor for writing and code. Opens on its own for content longer than about 10 lines. The help article lists web, Windows and macOS. |
Project file limits per OpenAI's help center: 5 files per project on Free, 25 on Go and Plus, 40 on Edu, Pro, Business and Enterprise. Custom instructions and project instructions are the consumer versions of a system prompt; the system prompts guide explains how they relate.
Memory: what turning it off does
- Turning off Memory does not delete your past chats.
- Turning off Reference chat history schedules what was remembered from past chats for deletion within 30 days. Your chats stay unless you delete them.
- Turning off Reference chat history does not delete saved memories. Manage those separately.
Keyboard shortcuts
Only shortcuts that OpenAI's help center names are listed. For the full, current list on your device, use the first one.
| Action | Windows | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Show all keyboard shortcuts | Ctrl + / | ⌘ + / |
| Search chats | Ctrl + K | ⌘ + K |
| Copy last code block | Ctrl + Shift + ; | ⌘ + Shift + ; |
| Open the desktop quick chat | Alt + Space (companion window) | ⌥ + Space (Chat Bar) |
On Windows, the companion window hotkey can be changed under Settings, App, Companion window hotkey. On macOS, the Chat Bar shortcut can be changed in Settings.
Related references
If you also use Claude for coding, the Claude Code cheat sheet covers its commands and settings. For the reasoning behind the formulas, start with how to write prompts.
FAQ
Is there a ChatGPT cheat sheet PDF?
Open your browser's print dialog on this page and choose to save it as a PDF.
What is the difference between custom instructions and memory?
Custom instructions are text you write that applies to every chat. Memory is context ChatGPT keeps from chats, either as saved memories or by referencing chat history. Both live under Settings, Personalization.
Do project instructions replace custom instructions?
Inside that project, yes. OpenAI's help center says project instructions apply only within the project and override your global custom instructions.
How long can custom instructions be?
Up to 1,500 characters on Free and Go, and up to 5,000 characters on Plus, Pro, Enterprise, Business and Edu, per OpenAI's help center.
Sources
- ChatGPT Custom Instructions — OpenAI Help Center, accessed October 2026
- Customizing Your ChatGPT Personality — OpenAI Help Center, accessed October 2026
- Memory in ChatGPT — OpenAI Help Center, accessed October 2026
- Projects in ChatGPT — OpenAI Help Center, accessed October 2026
- Temporary chat in ChatGPT — OpenAI Help Center, accessed October 2026
- Creating and editing GPTs — OpenAI Help Center, accessed October 2026
- What is the canvas feature in ChatGPT and how do I use it? — OpenAI Help Center, accessed October 2026
- Working with writing blocks and code blocks in ChatGPT — OpenAI Help Center, accessed October 2026
- Finding your chats, projects, and files in ChatGPT — OpenAI Help Center, accessed October 2026
- How to launch the Chat Bar — OpenAI Help Center, accessed October 2026
- Using the ChatGPT Windows app — OpenAI Help Center, accessed October 2026
- Prompt engineering best practices for ChatGPT — OpenAI Help Center, accessed October 2026