Advanced ChatGPT Features

Unlock the full potential of ChatGPT with custom instructions, plugins, and advanced settings.

Custom Instructions

Set persistent preferences that apply to all your conversations.

How to Set Up

1. Click your profile picture → Settings
2. Go to Custom instructions
3. Fill in two sections:
   • "What would you like ChatGPT to know about you?" - Your background, preferences
   • "How would you like ChatGPT to respond?" - Output format, tone, style

Example Custom Instructions

What ChatGPT should know: - I'm a software engineer working primarily in React and TypeScript - I prefer concise explanations with code examples - I work in a startup environment with limited resources How ChatGPT should respond: - Keep answers under 200 words unless I ask for more detail - Always provide code examples when relevant - Use casual, friendly tone - Format code with proper syntax highlighting - When suggesting libraries, prioritize lightweight options

Plugins (GPT-4 & GPT-5.1)

Extend ChatGPT's capabilities with third-party plugins.

Popular Plugins

• WebPilot: Browse websites and summarize content
• Wolfram: Advanced calculations and data visualization
• Zapier: Connect to thousands of apps and automate workflows
• Link Reader: Read and analyze PDFs, web pages, and documents
• Code Interpreter: Run Python code and analyze data

How to Use Plugins

1. Select GPT-4 model
2. Choose Plugins from the dropdown
3. Click Plugin store
4. Browse and install desired plugins
5. Enable plugins before each conversation

Code Interpreter

Upload files and run Python code for data analysis, visualization, and file processing.

What You Can Do

• Analyze CSV, Excel, and JSON files
• Create charts and visualizations
• Process images and videos
• Perform mathematical calculations
• Convert file formats
• Generate QR codes

Example Uses

"Analyze this sales data CSV and create a bar chart showing monthly revenue trends"

"Convert this image to grayscale and resize it to 800x600 pixels"

GPT-4 Vision

Upload images and ask ChatGPT questions about them.

Capabilities

• Describe image content
• Extract text from screenshots
• Solve math problems from photos
• Analyze charts and graphs
• Identify objects and provide information

DALL-E Integration

Generate images directly in ChatGPT (GPT-4 & GPT-5.1).

How to Use

1. Select GPT-4 model
2. Simply describe the image you want
3. ChatGPT will generate it automatically
4. You can request modifications

Voice Conversations

Have spoken conversations with ChatGPT on mobile apps.

Features

• Natural voice input and output
• Multiple voice options
• Hands-free mode
• Real-time responses

Advanced Prompting Techniques

System Messages (API Only)

Set behavior at the system level for consistent responses.

Temperature Control (API Only)

Adjust randomness vs consistency:

• Low (0.1-0.3): More focused, deterministic
• Medium (0.5-0.7): Balanced
• High (0.8-1.0): More creative, varied

Keyboard Shortcuts

Pro Tips

1. Combine features: Use plugins + Code Interpreter together
2. Save good prompts: Create a document of your best-performing prompts
3. Use memory: Reference earlier parts of long conversations
4. Export important chats: Save valuable conversations as markdown
5. Try different models: GPT-5.1 for complex reasoning, GPT-4o for speed