Important: Finding Pinewood's ChatGPT Edu workspace can be tricky. Contact the Tech Team and ask us to send you an invite. It makes it easier.
Did you use ChatGPT with your Pinewood email? Then, when you use ChatGPT Edu for the first time, it will ask what to do with your old account. Here's how to get ready.
Want to keep your personal ChatGPT separate?
You can switch your old account to a personal email address, like a Gmail account. It stays yours, and nothing merges into Pinewood's ChatGPT Edu.
- Do this before you join ChatGPT Edu. Once you're in Pinewood's workspace, you can't change it yourself.
- Use a computer. It doesn't work in the ChatGPT phone app.
- Signed in with Google? Add a password first in Settings > Security.
Then follow OpenAI's steps: Changing your OpenAI account email address
If ChatGPT Edu won't let you in afterward, contact the Tech Team.
1. Before you sign in to ChatGPT Edu
Do these in your old ChatGPT account, on a computer:
- Copy your custom instructions. Go to Settings > Personalization and paste what you see into a doc.
- Have custom GPTs? Copy each one's instructions and save its files. Don't turn them into plugins yet. Do that after you're in ChatGPT Edu.
- Ask ChatGPT what it knows about you. Paste the prompt below into a new chat and save the answer in the same doc. Read it over. It might miss things or get a detail wrong.
- Optional: download a backup of your chats. Your chats should come over on their own if you merge, but this gives you your own copy just in case. Go to Settings > Data controls > Export data. ChatGPT will email you a download link, which can take a few days to arrive.
Prompt to copy
List everything you know about me from my saved memories and our past conversations: my role and work, my preferences, ongoing projects, and how I like you to respond. Group it by topic in short bullet points, and include specific details rather than summarizing them away.
2. Choose what happens to your old account
You'll see two choices:
- Merge moves your old chats and settings into your Pinewood account.
- Export and delete gives you a copy of your old data and starts you fresh.
Either way, you won't have a separate personal ChatGPT under your Pinewood email anymore.
⚠️ You can't undo this. Not sure which to pick? Contact the Tech Team before you click, and we can help you decide.
3. Finish setting up ChatGPT Edu
- Add what you saved. In ChatGPT Edu, go to Settings > Personalization and paste in what you saved.
- Paying for ChatGPT Plus? If you pay through the App Store or Google Play, you'll need to cancel it yourself, unless you want to keep paying for it. If you pay on the website, it may be canceled for you, but check to make sure.
Need help?
Submit a tech ticket. It's much easier to sort out before you click than after. 😁
For Those Who Want The Details Keep Reading
Merge or export and delete
- Merge copies your supported content into Pinewood's workspace. From then on, it follows the school's access and retention policies, and you may lose access to it if you leave Pinewood. (OpenAI)
- It's all or nothing. You can't pick individual chats, projects, or files. (OpenAI)
- You may have 7 days to choose, and ChatGPT Edu stays blocked until you do. (OpenAI)
- You may not be able to export your data from ChatGPT Edu later, so download a backup first if you want one. (OpenAI)
What transfers if you merge
| Item | What happens |
|---|---|
| Chats | Transfer. They can appear gradually, so give it time. |
| Custom GPTs you own | Transfer, but all custom GPTs stop working on December 11, 2026. After you merge, turn yours into a plugin in ChatGPT Edu. |
| Projects you own | Transfer and stay linked. Projects owned by someone else don't. |
| Saved memories | General memories are eligible. Project-only memories aren't. Memory doesn't turn on automatically. |
| Custom instructions | Eligible, unless you've already set them up in ChatGPT Edu. |
| Files in your Library | Eligible, with folders intact. |
| Plugins and apps | Directory plugins can transfer if Pinewood allows them. Custom ones can't. |
| Sites | Not included. Save copies first. |
After a merge, check your chats, GPTs, projects, Library, and Archived chats. If something's missing, refresh or sign out and back in.
Custom GPTs
OpenAI is retiring custom GPTs on December 11, 2026 and replacing them with plugins. If you merge, your GPTs come with you, and you can turn them into plugins from My GPTs in ChatGPT Edu. Old GPT conversations and custom actions won't carry over. (OpenAI)
Why save your memories separately?
The export saves your chats but may not include your saved memories, and you can't upload an export to bring memories or custom instructions back. (OpenAI) You can also copy them from Settings > Personalization > Memory, but OpenAI says that view may leave out some details, which is why the prompt helps. (OpenAI) Use a regular chat for the prompt, not a Temporary chat. If you use Projects, copy each project's instructions too.
In ChatGPT Edu, you can also start a chat and say "Remember that..." followed by a detail, if Memory is turned on for your account.
Subscriptions
If you paid for Plus or Pro on the web, it may be canceled and refunded during the merge. Subscriptions bought through Apple or Google have to be canceled there. (OpenAI) Either way, check that you're no longer being charged.
Exports
Exports can take up to 7 days to arrive by email. When it comes, download it and make sure the ZIP file opens. (OpenAI)
