How to set the Personality on ChatGPT

If you have a paid account, GPT 5.1 lets you decide on one of 7 personalities, rather than rely on the "Default" one which can feel too generic. Plus! Check out the prompt at the end to help decide which personalities are best for you.

Sara Burton
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3 steps
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21 seconds

ChatGPT

Click on your Name, bottom left

Click "Personalization"

On "Base style and tone" click "Default" and select your preferred style. You can come back and change this any time you like.

Want to work out the best personality type for you? Try this prompt: I want you to analyse how I naturally use ChatGPT and recommend the best personality for me. Please use these seven official 5.1 personalities: - Default (Balanced and neutral) - Professional (Polished and precise) - Friendly (Warm and chatty) - Candid (Direct and encouraging) - Quirky (Playful and imaginative) - Efficient (Concise and plain) - Nerdy (Exploratory and enthusiastic) - Cynical (Critical and sarcastic) Here’s what I want you to do: 1. **Analyse how I communicate**, using specific examples from this conversation wherever possible.\ Look at: - how I ask questions - how I give feedback or correct you - the level of structure I prefer - whether I lean towards clarity, creativity, speed, or depth - how formal or informal I naturally am\ Please avoid generic descriptions — ground everything in my behaviour. 2. **Analyse the types of tasks I ask for help with**, again using specific examples from our chat.\ Only describe task types that actually match what I’ve done (e.g., creative writing, planning, troubleshooting, admin, strategy, learning, technical detail).\ Avoid adding categories that don’t apply. 3. Based on this, **recommend the top 2–3 personality types that genuinely suit me**, using clear, evidence-based reasoning that references how I’ve interacted so far. 4. Suggest which other personalities I should **switch to for particular task types** I’ve already demonstrated. 5. Create a personalised **cheat sheet** that includes: - my recommended main personality - alternatives and when to use them - personalities I’m unlikely to benefit from - one-line descriptions written specifically for me\ This must not be generic. 6. **Ask me whether this analysis sounds accurate**, and ask me what I would change or emphasise. 7. After hearing my feedback, create a concise **downloadable “Quick Guide to My ChatGPT Personalities”** that includes: - my final personality selections - when to switch - simple examples relevant to how I actually use ChatGPT - a short summary I can save in Notes or Files Format it cleanly so it can be exported as a PDF if I ask. Keep everything structured, practical, and based only on my real behaviour — not assumptions or generic questions.