ChatGPT: Transfer personal account to Edu account

Audience: Faculty, Staff

Responsible Group: IT Training and Outreach

Overview

The University of Arkansas ChatGPT Edu workspace provides access to ChatGPT with your @uark.edu email address. When you accept your invitation, the setup process will depend on whether you already have a personal ChatGPT account associated with your UARK email.

• If you already have a personal ChatGPT account: You will be prompted to either transfer your existing content (chat history and some settings - see below for considerations and preparing your account before transfer) into the Edu workspace or export and delete your personal account. Any existing ChatGPT Plus subscription will be canceled and refunded during this process.
• If you do not have a personal ChatGPT account: You will not see this prompt. Your access will continue directly into the Edu workspace.

Considerations

Some items migrate successfully, while others do not. Please review the details below to avoid losing important information:

• Chat history: Usually transfers successfully.
• Custom GPTs: Should transfer, but in rare cases may not (e.g., due to admin settings or ownership mismatches).
• Custom instructions and plugins: Always deleted during transfer. “Custom instructions” refers to your behavior/response preferences, which will not migrate.
• Projects and personalization settings (including memories): Do not transfer. There is no automated export or migration process for these.

How to Transfer

Once your @uark.edu email address is added to the UARK workspace, if the same account was used for a personal account, a prompt will appear to choose either to transfer or export and delete chat history. 

Steps if the Transfer Prompt Appears

1. Before you begin: Export or screenshot your projects, memories, custom GPTs, and personalization settings.
2. Select one of the following:
   • Transfer existing chat history and GPTs (note: GPTs may not always transfer depending on settings).
   • Export and delete existing chat history to start fresh in the Edu workspace.
3. Remember: custom instructions, plugins, projects, and memories will not transfer.
4. Click Continue to complete the setup.

Need Help?

• Submit a UARK IT Help ticket for login or access issues.
• Submit an IT training request for IT Training support.

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