How to use ChatGPT: A beginner's guide to mastering OpenAI's chatbot in 2026

Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. ZDNET's key takeaways ChatGPT can help with writing, research, images, files, and apps.Free users can start fast, but paid plans unlock higher limits.Projects, memory, and voice mode make ChatGPT more useful.It will be four years this fall since ChatGPT launched, turning AI from something most people talked to for fun on their phones or home speakers into a tool they could use to debug code, create presentations, generate images, shop, and plan trips. In fact, the phrase "chatbot" now feels a little too small, and maybe even dated, for what ChatGPT can do today.Also: I stopped using ChatGPT for everything: These AI models beat it New use cases are constantly being developed for and because of AI, and ChatGPT itself now has to keep up with an exploding industry filled with competitors, from Anthropic's Claude to Google's Gemini. Still, if you want to try AI, the OG is a good place to start. You can type, talk, upload a file, connect an app, and let it generate away. How to use ChatGPT (for beginners) What you'll need: ChatGPT is available on the web, desktop, or a mobile app for iOS and Android. You don't need to create an account, but you probably should. Maybe start with a free account, then decide later whether upgrading to a paid plan is worth it. What can I do with ChatGPT?Once you've gone through the above, you can start using ChatGPT for more than basic questions. The use cases are nearly endless, but there are a few built-in ChatGPT features that are especially useful for getting more work done, whether that's deep research reports, connected apps like Canva or Malwarebytes, or custom GPTs and projects. Here are some things you can do. 1. Search the web Who can access? Paid and free, with usage limitsChatGPT can search the web when you need current or up-to-date information. Use it for news, prices, laws, product specs, software updates, sports, weather, or anything else that may have changed recently. All users, paid and free, can use ChatGPT to search the web, though they are constrained by their plan's messaging limits. Also: ChatGPT is reportedly scraping Google Search data to answer your questions - here's how On the web, choose Web Search from the tools menu. On mobile, choose Plugins from the tools menu, then Search. Or just type /Search on desktop and mobile. Whichever way you choose, try asking: "What did Google announce at I/O 2026?" You should see ChatGPT quickly search different web pages, and in the end, you'll get a summary with clickable links to primary sources. As always, be sure to fact-check the answers. 2. Use Deep Research Who can access? Paid and free, with usage limitsDeep Research is for bigger questions. It can search across sources, compare information, and return a more structured report with citations. Think of Web Search as being handed a piece of paper and your reading glasses. Deep Research is a folder. On the web or mobile app, open the tools menu and choose Deep Research. You can also type /Deep Research. When ready, try asking ChatGPT a complex, multi-part, hyper-specific question that requires context and reasoning. An example: "My grandfather was born in Quebec in 1945, moved to New York, and died there. I'm 38, born in New York, and my mother is his New York-born daughter. As of 2026, am I a Canadian citizen by descent? How do I verify my status and obtain legal proof?" Also: I tested ChatGPT's Deep Research against Gemini, Perplexity, and Grok AI to see which is best ChatGPT has changed Deep Research's usage limits several times over the past couple of years. Last I heard, free users had access to a limited lightweight version, Plus users got 25 full reports a month, and Pro users got 250. I've contacted OpenAI for a comment. 3. Upload files and analyze them Who can access? Paid and free, with usage limitsChatGPT can work with PDFs, documents, spreadsheets, CSVs, images, and other supported files. This capability is one of the AI's most useful tools because it lets you ask questions about your own material instead of pasting huge blocks of text into the chat. Also: I compared how Gemini, ChatGPT, and Claude can analyze videos - this model wins On the web or mobile app, click the + button, then choose the file, attachment, or photo option. Then enter your prompt: "Summarize this PDF in three bullets," "Find spelling errors in this draft," "Turn this spreadsheet into a chart," or "Tell me how to improve my resume." For data, ChatGPT can clean columns, calculate totals, spot patterns, and explain what the numbers mean. 4. Connect to apps like Canva Who can access? Paid and freeAnyone can connect apps to ChatGPT to unlock new abilities or get more work done. These apps were often called connectors, but the basic idea is the same: You grant ChatGPT access to a third-party service you use so it can search or use your connected data. For example, you can connect Google Drive to work with your stored files. Or you can add Canva and then prompt ChatGPT to create a presentation. Malwarebytes even has an app that lets you ask ChatGPT whether an email, letter, or text you received is a scam. In chat, use @ mentions, the tools menu, or a natural request like, "Search my Google Drive for the latest budget spreadsheet." Also: How to use Canva in ChatGPT to build a stunning presentation in minutes - for free But you first need to connect the app. On the web or mobile app, click your profile icon, open Settings, then Apps, and browse the app directory. Choose an app, click Connect, and complete the permissions process. 5. Create images and find them in Library Who can access? Paid and free, with usage limitsChatGPT can generate images and edit images you upload. In my experience, it helps to describe the subject, style, layout, colors, aspect ratio, and any text that you want to appear in specific detail. A weak prompt is "make an image of a cat." A better one is: "Create a 16:9 editorial-style portrait of a Russian blue cat on a pink background with glossy lighting, HD resolution, and no text." Also: I got an early look at ChatGPT Images 2.0, and it's impressive - with one exception On the web, just ask ChatGPT to create an image, or select Images from the tools menu, if you see it. On mobile, you can type the prompt or use the tools button. After your image appears, ask for changes in the same chat, such as "make it brighter" or "keep the glossy lighting but change the pink background to purple." To find any image later, open your Library in the left sidebar. Like Deep Research, ChatGPT often changes the usage limits for image generation. The last numbers I found suggest free users get a couple of images a day, Go users get 20 to 30 images a day, Plus users get about 50 images every three hours, and Pro is unlimited. Anyone with a ChatGPT account can create images, but you need an account to store them in a library, obviously. 6. Find and use GPTs Who can access? Paid and free, with usage limitsGPTs are custom versions of ChatGPT built for specific tasks. You'd basically use a GPT when you want a custom workflow. Some GPTs help with writing, coding, studying, design, research, or productivity. Some are made by OpenAI, and users or organizations make others. While you can access your GPTs on mobile, I couldn't find the option to explore them. Also: How to use ChatGPT to write code - and my top trick for debugging what it generates On the web, you can open Explore GPTs from the sidebar. Search by topic, select one, and start chatting. On mobile, you'll just see your own GPTs in the sidebar above recent chats. Free users can use GPTs with limits, while creating GPTs requires a paid plan. 7. Create Projects Who can access? Paid and freeProjects are like dedicated workspaces for ongoing work. They keep related chats, files, and instructions together, so ChatGPT can use specific context without making you re-explain everything each time you resume. Think of Projects as folders that remember. Also: These 7 useful ChatGPT settings are turned off by default (and I can vouch for them) On the web or mobile, choose Projects in the sidebar, select New project, name it, add instructions, and upload files. You can use a project for a book, coding work, a research topic, a vacation plan, or anything else you want to keep organized. Your instructions can tell ChatGPT what tone, audience, formatting rules, and sources to use. Anyone with a ChatGPT account can save a project. 8. Use Voice Mode Who can access? Paid and free, with usage limitsVoice Mode lets you talk with ChatGPT instead of typing. This mode can be useful for practicing a presentation, doing a mock interview, brainstorming, or dumping messy thoughts out loud. On the web or mobile app, open a new chat and tap the waveform icon. Then start talking, interrupt ChatGPT, or ask follow-up questions the way you would in a real one-on-one conversation. Also: 7 surprisingly useful ways to use ChatGPT's voice mode, from a former skeptic As usual, free users get limited access, while paid plans get more. 9. Save memories and personalize Who can access? Paid and freeLast but not least, let's talk about what ChatGPT can remember about you. It has a Memory feature that can remember useful details across chats -- up to 130, as I found out recently as a Plus user, before being prompted to clear some. For example, the AI can remember my weight, height, name, family, and other information I've told it, so I don't have to repeat myself when asking personal questions. But ChatGPT has other features that affect its memory. Custom instructions let you tell ChatGPT how you want it to respond. For example, you could tell it to never use em dashes in its responses. On the web or mobile, click your profile icon, open Settings, then Personalization. From there, you will see options to manage your memory and add custom instructions. You'll even see options to change the AI's tone, make it less warm or enthusiastic, and decide if it uses headers, lists, and emoji. Also: How to audit what ChatGPT knows about you - and reclaim your data privacy Finally, there's Temporary Chat. It's a little chat bubble button at the top of the main chat area on desktop. Use this feature when you do not want ChatGPT to remember a conversation. It's like Chrome's Incognito mode, but for ChatGPT. You can even archive or delete past chats for added privacy. Just open the left sidebar, find the recent chat, click its menu, and choose Archive or Delete. Of course, you need to be logged in for ChatGPT to remember things about you or to be more personalized. And there's more... ChatGPT has several other buried features because it's always continually updating with more. Here are a few you might want to try: Codex (for Paid users): Available via the sidebar, Codex is ChatGPT's coding assistant that helps you write, review, and debug code. It can analyze repositories, refactor scripts, and test code.Agent Mode (for Paid users): Available via tools, Agent Mode lets ChatGPT perform multi-step tasks, such as opening sites, filling out forms, and generating files. I suggest you use it when you want ChatGPT to act autonomously.Canvas (for Free and Paid users): This feature provides a split space where you and ChatGPT can co-edit text, code, or a draft together.Scheduling Tasks (for Paid users): Available via tools, Tasks lets you schedule one-time or recurring actions, such as daily summaries or weekly reminders. ChatGPT will run the task on schedule and notify you when it's done via email and notifications.Shopping (for Free and Paid users in the US): You can ask ChatGPT for a product to see results with images, details, and sometimes a "Buy" button. Introduced in September 2025, it lets US users check out in chat from supported merchants like Etsy.Study and Learn (for Paid and Edu users): Available via tools, this mode guides you through lessons, quizzes, and reasoning

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