How to change ChatGPT's personality, and the settings that cut AI slop
ChatGPT now has three dials for how it sounds: a personality (Base style and tone), four Characteristics sliders, and custom instructions. Here's where each one is, what OpenAI says each preset does, and the combination we use to get less AI-sounding writing, with a copy-paste block.
How to change ChatGPT's personality
Web
- Select your profile icon in the bottom-right corner.
- Select Personalization.
- Use the dropdown next to Base style and tone.
iOS and Android
- Select your profile icon to open Settings.
- Go to Personalization.
- Use Base style and tone.
OpenAI says the change applies across all chats, including existing conversations, and doesn't change what ChatGPT can do or its safety rules (OpenAI: Customizing your ChatGPT personality).
The personalities
| Personality | OpenAI's description | For writing that doesn't read like AI |
|---|---|---|
| Default | Clear and neutral | Fine, but OpenAI's own Default examples open with "Yep—" and "Got it—" and add emoji to longer answers |
| Professional | Polished and precise; formal language; "comfortable use of business jargon" | Jargon is exactly what reads as AI. Use with care |
| Friendly | Warm and chatty, light wit | Good for brainstorming, wordy for drafts |
| Candid | Direct and encouraging; honest feedback with clear next steps; less small talk | Good for feedback on your drafts |
| Quirky | Playful, humor and metaphors | Its examples use emoji. Not for drafts |
| Efficient | Concise and plain; direct answers without extra words; often no intro | Our pick: the least filler |
| Cynical | Sarcastic and dry; blunt help with wit | Fun; the snark isn't something you'd paste anywhere |
One catch most guides miss: OpenAI says the personality "does not control every type of content you ask ChatGPT to create". For an email, post or résumé, ChatGPT follows your instructions and the context, not necessarily the personality. So for drafts, custom instructions do more than the preset.
ChatGPT Characteristics: warmth, enthusiasm, headers & lists, emoji
Characteristics sit under Personalization (web: profile icon → Personalization; mobile: profile icon → Personalization → Characteristics). Each one can be nudged more (+) or less (–), and they work alongside the personality, custom instructions and memories (OpenAI: Characteristics in ChatGPT).
| Characteristic | More (+) | Less (–) | For less AI-sounding text |
|---|---|---|---|
| Warm | Sincere, kind, friendly | Same length and completeness, more neutral tone | Your call. Less warmth trims "You've got this" padding |
| Enthusiastic | More excitement and curiosity | Same length, calmer and more objective | Less |
| Headers & Lists | More headers, lists, tables | Fewer formatting elements, more paragraphs | Less. Bullet-and-bold structure is a top AI tell |
| Emojis | Slightly more emoji | Sparing in chatty replies, none in informational ones | Less |
Best ChatGPT settings for 2026 (to cut AI slop)
This is our recommendation, not something OpenAI publishes:
- Base style and tone: Efficient. Candid if you mostly want critique.
- Enthusiastic: less. Headers & Lists: less. Emojis: less. Warm: leave it, or less if replies feel padded.
- Custom instructions: paste the block below.
- Check the output. Settings reduce the habits but don't remove them. Paste drafts into the AI slop detector.
Custom instructions to make ChatGPT sound human (copy-paste)
Web and desktop: Settings → Personalization → make sure Enable customization is on → Custom Instructions. On iOS and Android it's Settings → Customize ChatGPT. Under 1,500 characters, so it fits the Free and Go limit (OpenAI: Custom Instructions).
Write like a careful human editor, not a chatbot.
- Answer first. No opener ("Great question", "In today's..."), no recap at the end, no "Let me know if...".
- Plain words. Avoid: delve, leverage, seamless, robust, foster, tapestry, landscape, testament, pivotal, unlock, empower.
- No "it's not X, it's Y" or "not just X but Y" contrasts.
- Don't default to lists of three. Use the number of items that is true.
- At most one em dash per answer. Use commas, periods or parentheses.
- Paragraphs by default. Headers, bullets and bold only when I ask or the content is a real list, table or steps.
- No emojis unless I use them first.
- Concrete over general: names, numbers, examples. If you don't know, say so in one line.
- For drafts I'll send (emails, posts, docs): match my tone, keep my facts, no hashtags, no engagement-bait closers.
Check what ChatGPT gives you
Still sounds like ChatGPT?
Settings shape new answers. They don't fix a draft you already have. The unslop tool rewrites existing text, removes the patterns, and shows a slop score before and after while keeping your facts.
Free: 3 AI rewrites a day (up to 300 words) and unlimited quick clean. Need more? A $5 pack of 50 rewrites never expires, or go Pro at $12/month · $79/year. See plans.
FAQ
How do I change ChatGPT's personality?
On the web: profile icon (bottom right) → Personalization → the dropdown next to Base style and tone. On iOS and Android: profile icon → Settings → Personalization → Base style and tone. OpenAI says the change applies across all chats, including existing ones.
What personalities does ChatGPT have?
As documented by OpenAI on November 12, 2026: Default plus Professional, Friendly, Candid, Quirky, Efficient and Cynical.
What are ChatGPT characteristics?
Sliders under Personalization that nudge responses more (+) or less (–) in four areas: Warm, Enthusiastic, Headers & Lists, and Emojis. They work alongside your personality, custom instructions and memories.
Does the personality change how ChatGPT writes my emails or posts?
Not necessarily. OpenAI says that for content you ask it to create, like an email, social post or résumé, ChatGPT matches your instructions and the context, not necessarily the personality. That's why custom instructions matter more for drafts than the personality does.
What are the best ChatGPT settings to stop AI-sounding answers?
Our recommendation: Efficient (or Candid if you want feedback), less enthusiasm, fewer headers & lists, fewer emojis, and the custom instructions block on this page. Then check drafts with a slop checker, because settings reduce the habits but don't remove them.
How long can custom instructions be?
OpenAI says Free and Go users can save up to 1,500 characters; Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise and Education up to 5,000. The block on this page fits in 1,500.