Make ChatGPT Smarter by Setting Custom Instructions

Tired of repeating yourself in every ChatGPT session? 

There’s a fix for that. 

It’s called custom instructions—a built-in feature that lets you set the context once and apply it to all your chats. 

What are custom instructions?

• Tell it who you are
• Explain how you want it to respond
• Set preferences that apply to every chat

You’ll find them under your profile > “Custom Instructions”.
 

Why does this matter?

 
Because it saves time and removes friction.
 
Let’s say you're a developer who wants short answers in code blocks.
 
You can enter:
 

• “I’m a backend developer working with Python and Node.js.”
• “Give concise answers, code only when possible, no extra explanation unless I ask.”

ChatGPT will follow those rules by default—across all conversations.
 

What can you include?

 
You’ll see two fields:
 

1. What should ChatGPT know about you to provide better responses?
   Example inputs:

• Your job or role
• Your technical level
• The topics you care about
• Your preferred language or tone

1. How would you like ChatGPT to respond?
   You can request:

• Short, clear answers
• No filler
• Use of markdown
• Always reply in English
• Friendly or formal tone

Real-world examples

• “I’m a UX designer. Keep answers clear and simple, avoid jargon.”
• “Treat me like a beginner unless I say otherwise.”
• “Always answer in markdown.”
• “Avoid generic phrases or vague marketing talk.”

Want more human-like replies?

 
You can even tell ChatGPT to write in a way that feels more natural.
 
Try this prompt:
 👉 https://openos.online/prompts/humanize-ai-writing
 
Add it to your instructions to get responses that sound less robotic.
 

Worth setting up?

 
If you use ChatGPT more than once a week, yes.
 
It makes your experience faster, smoother, and more consistent—without having to retype preferences every time.