Ditching ChatGPT for Claude? How to easily transfer your memories and preferences
Published: (March 2, 2026 at 02:59 PM EST)
4 min read
Source: ZDNet
Source: ZDNet
*Screenshot by Lance Whitney / ZDNET*
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## ZDNET’s key takeaways
- Claude AI now lets you copy memories from another AI service.
- The feature is designed to make switching to Claude easier.
- You can import memories using simple copy‑and‑paste instructions.
Many AI tools offer a “memory” feature that stores details about you—your background, job, hobbies, interests, etc.—to personalize future conversations. Building such a memory can take time. Anthropic’s Claude AI now provides a quick way to **import** memories from other services (e.g., ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Microsoft Copilot), letting you switch to Claude without starting from scratch.
**Also:** [I stopped using ChatGPT for everything: These AI models beat it at research, coding, and more](https://www.zdnet.com/article/stop-using-chatgpt-ai-models-i-use-instead/)
Claude has been gaining traction; its iOS app recently topped the free‑app chart in the [Apple App Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/claude-by-anthropic/id6473753684). At the same time, the “QuitGPT” campaign is encouraging users to leave ChatGPT. Anthropic appears to be seizing this moment to attract users who want to bring their existing AI memories to Claude. Even if you’re not abandoning another AI, the import tool can still be handy for syncing memories across platforms.
> **Disclosure:** Ziff Davis, ZDNET’s parent company, filed an April 2025 lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging copyright infringement in the training and operation of its AI systems.How to Use Claude’s Memory Import Tool
1. Get Started
- Create a Claude account (free or paid).
- Open the Memory Import page: and click Start importing to Claude.
Tip: If you’re already using Claude, you can reach the same page via Settings → Privacy → Manage (Memory preferences) → Start import.
2. Export Your Memories from Another Service
-
A pop‑up appears with a pre‑written export prompt.
-
Click Copy to copy the prompt to your clipboard.
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Log in to the other AI service you want to export from.
-
Paste the copied prompt into its input box and submit.
Export prompt (keep exactly as shown):
I'm moving to another service and need to export my data. List every memory you have stored about me, as well as any context you've learned about me from past conversations. Output everything in a single code block so I can easily copy it.
Format each entry as: [date saved, if available] - memory content.
Make sure to cover all of the following — preserve my words verbatim where possible:
- Instructions I've given you about how to respond (tone, format, style, "always do X", "never do Y").
- Personal details: name, location, job, family, interests.
- Projects, goals, and recurring topics.
- Tools, languages, and frameworks I use.- When the service returns the data, click Copy to copy the entire code block.
3. Review & Clean Up (Optional)
- Paste the copied block into a text editor.
- Delete any memories you don’t want to keep.
- Each memory is a separate line, so removal is straightforward.
4. Import the Cleaned Data into Claude
- Return to Claude’s import window.
- Paste the (edited) code block into the input field.
- Click Add to Memory.
Claude will process the data and display a formatted list of everything it now knows about you. Close the window when finished.
5. Verify the Import
- Start a new chat with Claude.
- Ask, “What do you know about me?”
- Claude should list the details you just imported.
6. Delete or Disable Memory (If Needed)
- Go to Settings → Privacy → Memory.
- Hover over Memory from your chats and click the trash can icon to delete stored memories.
- Toggle off “Generate memory from chat history.”
Alternative: Simply tell Claude in a prompt that you want all stored memories removed; the model will comply.