# How to share a chat in ChatGPT on Mac: the desktop steps for 2026 > How to share a chat in ChatGPT on Mac: right-click the chat, choose Share chat, copy the link, and check who can open it. Steps for 2026. URL: https://www.lazur.app/how-to/share-a-chat-in-chatgpt Updated: 2026-11-09 To share a chat in ChatGPT on Mac, open the chat in the desktop app, right-click its name in the left sidebar, and choose Share chat. Click Share Link, click it again to open the macOS share sheet, then choose Copy Link to get a URL you can send to anyone. ## Quick answer - Right-click the chat name in the sidebar of the ChatGPT desktop app and choose Share chat. - Click Share Link, click it again to open the macOS share sheet, then choose Copy Link. - Anyone with the link can read the chat, so check the messages and the title before you share. - Chats inside a Project cannot be shared from the desktop app. Move them out first. - To stop sharing, reopen the Share menu and click the trash icon. Your original chat stays. Applies to: ChatGPT desktop app and ChatGPT on the web, on Mac, 2026 builds. Time: 2 min. Difficulty: Easy. ## What you need - A Mac on macOS 14 Sonoma or later for the new ChatGPT desktop app - A ChatGPT account signed in on the Mac - The chat must sit outside any Project if you use the desktop app ## How to Share a ChatGPT chat on Mac in ChatGPT on a Mac 1. **Open the chat.** (Sidebar > Chat name) Open ChatGPT on your Mac and select the chat in the left sidebar. Confirm the chat is not inside a Project, because the desktop app blocks Share for those chats. Tip: A chat inside a Project shows Share greyed out. Move it out of the Project first. 2. **Open the share dialog.** (Sidebar > Right-click chat name > Share chat) Right-click the chat name and choose Share chat. You can also click the Share icon at the top right of the open chat. Tip: Labels change between builds. If Share chat is missing, look for the Share icon. 3. **Check the title and name.** (Share dialog > •••) Click ••• in the share dialog to change the title or add your name. Skip this step if the default title works. Whatever you enter appears on the page that anyone with the link can open. Tip: Use a neutral title for client or research chats. 4. **Create the link.** (Share dialog > Share Link) Read the warning that messages sent or received after sharing will not be shared. Then click Share Link. Tip: The warning is a reminder that the link is a snapshot of the chat. 5. **Open the macOS share sheet.** (Share dialog > Share Link > Share sheet) Click Share Link again. macOS opens its standard share sheet with the link ready to send. Tip: Use the share sheet to send the link through another Mac app, or copy it instead. 6. **Copy the link.** (Share sheet > Copy Link) Choose Copy Link in the share sheet. Paste the URL where you need it, such as an email or a note. Tip: Paste it into a plain text field first to confirm the full address came across. 7. **Test the link.** (Browser > New private window) Open the link in a private browser window, signed out of ChatGPT, to see what a reader sees. Check the title, the messages and any name you added. Tip: This catches a personal detail before someone else finds it. Sharing a chat is quick once you know where the controls sit. This page covers the desktop app first, then the web version in a browser on the same Mac. It also covers what a link reveals, how to stop sharing, and why the Share option sometimes disappears. ## Share a chat from the ChatGPT desktop app The desktop app offers a couple of ways into the share dialog. You can right-click the chat name in the left sidebar and choose Share chat. You can also click the Share icon at the top right of the open chat. Both routes lead to the same dialog, so pick whichever feels faster. The steps below use the sidebar route. ![Person at a laptop reviewing a conversation before following how to share a chat in ChatGPT on Mac](https://images.lazur.app/content-images/howto/share-a-chat-in-chatgpt/how-to-share-a-chat-in-chatgpt-1-176701.jpg) Before you start, open the chat and read it from top to bottom. Anyone with the link can read every message that existed when you shared it. Names, client details, pasted code and draft contracts all count. A quick scroll now can save you a clean-up later. ## Which ChatGPT app you have on your Mac OpenAI changed the Mac app in July 2026. The new desktop app combines Chat, Work and Codex in one window. It launched on July 9, 2026, and needs macOS 14 Sonoma or later. The older app, ChatGPT Classic, retires on January 30, 2027. If you still use Classic, check its menus against the steps here, because labels can differ between the two apps. | App | What it is | Status in 2026 | | --- | --- | --- | | ChatGPT desktop app | Chat, Work and Codex in one window | Launched July 9, 2026. Needs macOS 14 or later. | | ChatGPT Classic | The older Mac app | Retires January 30, 2027. | _The Mac apps and their 2026 dates_ - **macOS 14** Minimum macOS for the new ChatGPT desktop app ([source](https://felloai.com/chatgpt-desktop-client-for-your-mac/)) - **Jan 30, 2027** Date the older ChatGPT Classic app retires from Mac ([source](https://9to5mac.com/2026/11/02/openai-is-retiring-chatgpt-classic-app-will-soon-combine-chat-and-work-tabs-in-new-app/)) - **4,500+** Shared ChatGPT links Fast Company reported as indexed by Google ([source](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/openai-is-pulling-shared-chatgpt-chats-from-google-search/552671/)) ## A worked example: sharing a research chat with a colleague Say you spent an afternoon with ChatGPT summarizing interview notes, and a colleague wants the outline. Open that chat in the sidebar and read it first. The notes name the people you interviewed, so the title should not repeat any of those names. Right-click the chat, choose Share chat, and click ••• to change the title to something generic. Then click Share Link, click it again, and copy the URL. Notice what the example leaves alone. Changing the title does not change the messages. If a name appears in the body of the notes, the reader still sees it. That is why the read-through comes first. The title is easy to edit, but the messages stay as they were when you shared the chat. ## What the share link shows and who can see it A share link is a public web address. It opens a copy of the chat for anyone you send it to, and anyone who has the URL can open it. The web version of the Share dialog warns that personal information in the chat will be public. Treat the desktop link the same way. One detail trips people up. The desktop dialog warns that messages sent or received after you share will not be shared. The link is a snapshot of the chat at that moment. New replies from ChatGPT do not appear for the reader, so share again when you want the newer messages visible. Search engines are a separate risk. Fast Company reported more than 4,500 shared ChatGPT links indexed by Google, and some held names, resumes and confidential work content. OpenAI removed the option to make shared chats discoverable around July 31, 2025. It said that feature created too many chances to share things by accident. Indexed pages can still show for a while because of caching. ## Share a chat from ChatGPT on the web The web version works in any browser on your Mac. Hover over the chat name in the sidebar and click the ••• button, or click Share at the top right. Then click Create Link and copy the URL. Shared links also appear inside Projects on the web, which is different from the desktop app. ![Woman typing on a MacBook, copying a link after she shares a chat in ChatGPT on Mac](https://images.lazur.app/content-images/howto/share-a-chat-in-chatgpt/how-to-share-a-chat-in-chatgpt-2-90d185.jpg) If the desktop app looks wrong after an update, the web route is a fallback that works in the meantime. Use the same read-through and title check before you copy the link. The web warning about public personal information applies there too. ## How to stop sharing a chat or delete a shared link Deleting a link does not delete the chat. In the desktop app, reopen the Share menu and click the trash icon. Your original chat stays in your history. On the web, click your account avatar at the bottom left, then choose Settings > Data Controls > Shared Links > Manage. Select the link and delete it there. To remove the chat itself, read [how to delete a chat in ChatGPT on Mac](https://www.lazur.app/how-to/delete-a-chat-in-chatgpt). Watch for one side effect. Anyone who opens a link after you delete it sees a 404 Not Found page. The Mac Install Guide offers no fix for that. If the chat still needs to reach someone, create a new link and send that one instead. ## Why the Share option is missing or greyed out The most common cause is a Project. In the desktop app, the Share icon is disabled for any chat inside a Project. Remove the chat from the Project, then share it. On a Business plan, the Mac Install Guide says you can share the whole Project instead. If Projects are new to you, see [how to create a project in ChatGPT on Mac](https://www.lazur.app/how-to/create-a-project-in-chatgpt). The other cause is the app build. Some builds from July 2026 hid Chat mode and the sidebar with your history and Projects. Users reported this on builds 26.707.31428, 26.707.51957 and 26.707.72221. OpenAI later restored a Chat and Work toggle at the top of the window. If your sidebar is empty, check that toggle before you assume a chat is gone. ## Where Lazur fits in Lazur is a voice assistant for the Mac. It lives in the notch, sees your screen only while you hold its shortcut, and answers out loud. It does not click buttons or operate ChatGPT for you. Shares are a good example to try it on, because the control sits in two places, the sidebar menu and the top bar. Hold Option and Command together, then ask where the Share button is. Lazur draws a circle and a label around the control on your screen. If you want more help, ask Lazur to walk you through the steps. It guides you one click at a time and waits for each click before it moves on. You still make every click yourself. The [pricing page](https://www.lazur.app/pricing) has the current plans and trial terms. ## Mistakes people make when they share a chat - Sharing a chat with client names, pay details or pasted passwords. Anyone with the link can read them. - Assuming the link is private because nobody sees it in the sidebar. The link itself is the access. - Expecting replies added after you share to appear for the reader. They do not, so share again. - Forgetting old links. Check Settings > Data Controls > Shared Links > Manage from time to time. - Looking for a sharing shortcut. None appeared in the guides I checked, so use the menu. - Sharing from inside a Project, then wondering why Share is greyed out. ## Keyboard shortcuts that help around sharing No keyboard shortcut for sharing turned up in my research, so the steps above rely on the mouse. A few shortcuts still help you reach the right chat faster. Option Space opens the chat bar, and it works while the app runs in the background. You can change its key in Settings > Desktop Launcher. For the full setup, read [the Option Space guide](https://www.lazur.app/how-to/use-the-option-space-shortcut-in-chatgpt). Shift Command N starts a Temporary Chat. Control-clicking a chat in the sidebar opens a menu that includes a Delete option. ## What to do next - [Compare ChatGPT on Mac with Lazur](https://www.lazur.app/apps/chatgpt) to see which app fits which job. - [Set custom instructions in ChatGPT on Mac](https://www.lazur.app/how-to/set-custom-instructions-in-chatgpt) so new chats start with your preferences. - [Download Lazur for Mac](https://www.lazur.app/download) if you want spoken help that points at what is on your screen. ## Shortcuts - Open the chat bar (works in the background): ⌥ Space - Start a Temporary Chat: ⇧ ⌘ N - Open the chat menu with Delete (Control-click a chat): ⌃ click ## If it does not work - **Share is greyed out or missing** The chat is probably inside a Project. Remove it from the Project, then share it. On a Business plan you can share the whole Project instead. - **Sidebar is empty and Chat mode is gone** Some builds from July 2026 (26.707.31428, 26.707.51957, 26.707.72221) hid Chat mode and history. Check for the Chat and Work toggle at the top of the window. Use ChatGPT in a browser to share until the toggle returns. - **Reader sees 404 Not Found** The link was deleted. The guide offers no fix, so create a new link and send that one instead. - **Reader is missing your newest messages** The link is a snapshot from the moment you shared it. Share again after you add messages, then send the new link. - **A link exists that you did not mean to make** On the web, open Settings > Data Controls > Shared Links > Manage and delete it. Then check your history for other shared chats. ## With Lazur Lazur is a voice assistant for the Mac that lives in the notch. Hold ⌥ ⌘ and ask; it sees your screen, answers out loud, points at buttons and walks you through apps. Hold fn to dictate. Free for 3 days, then $18/month: https://www.lazur.app/download - “Where is the Share button for this chat?”: Lazur draws a circle and a label around the Share control on your screen and says where it is. (Points at it) ## FAQ ### Is there a keyboard shortcut to share a ChatGPT chat on Mac? Not in the sources I checked. Sharing starts from the sidebar menu or the Share icon. Option Space opens the chat bar, and Shift Command N starts a Temporary Chat. ### Who can open a shared ChatGPT link? Anyone who has the URL can open it, so treat the link like a public web page. Before you share, read the chat, then check the title and any name you added in the ••• menu. ### Will the person see messages I send after I share? No. The share dialog warns that messages sent or received after sharing will not be shared. Share again when you want the reader to see newer messages, then send the new link. ### Why does my shared link show 404 Not Found? Most likely the link was deleted. Viewers see 404 Not Found after a shared link is deleted. The guide I used offers no fix, so create a new link if the chat should be visible again. ### How do I unshare a ChatGPT chat on Mac? In the desktop app, reopen the Share menu and click the trash icon. Your original chat stays. On the web, go to Settings > Data Controls > Shared Links > Manage. ### Why is Share greyed out for one of my chats? The chat probably sits inside a Project, and the desktop app disables Share there. Remove the chat from the Project, then share it again. The Mac Install Guide says Business plans can share the whole Project. ### Do these steps match the newest ChatGPT Mac app? They match the Mac Install Guide's 2026 notes. OpenAI's own help pages blocked my fetcher while I checked, and labels change between builds. If a name on your screen differs, look for the Share icon at the top right. ## Sources 1. [ChatGPT Sharing · Mac Install Guide · 2026](https://mac.install.guide/ai/chatgpt/sharing), Mac Install Guide, checked 2026-11-09 2. [How to Use ChatGPT App on Mac: A Step-By-Step Guide](https://www.igeeksblog.com/how-to-use-chatgpt-on-mac/), iGeeks Blog, checked 2026-11-09 3. [ChatGPT App for Mac: Official App vs Fello AI](https://felloai.com/chatgpt-desktop-client-for-your-mac/), Fello AI, checked 2026-11-09 4. [OpenAI is retiring ChatGPT Classic app, will soon combine Chat and Work tabs in new app](https://9to5mac.com/2026/11/02/openai-is-retiring-chatgpt-classic-app-will-soon-combine-chat-and-work-tabs-in-new-app/), 9to5Mac, checked 2026-11-09 5. [Chat mode missing in the new ChatGPT macOS app (26.707.31428)](https://community.openai.com/t/chat-mode-missing-in-the-new-chatgpt-macos-app-26-707-31428-web-has-chat-work-desktop-only-shows-work-codex/1386324), OpenAI Developer Community, checked 2026-11-09 6. [OpenAI Is Pulling Shared ChatGPT Chats From Google Search](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/openai-is-pulling-shared-chatgpt-chats-from-google-search/552671/), Search Engine Journal, checked 2026-11-09