Personalizing ChatGPT — Setting Custom Instructions

Guide · AI Edge Solutions

One of the easiest ways to get better results from ChatGPT, without rewriting your prompts every time, is by using Custom Instructions. This feature allows you to “teach” the AI who you are, what you care about, and how you want it to respond. Think of it as giving ChatGPT a permanent baseline so it acts more like your assistant instead of a generic chatbot.

Why Custom Instructions matter

Consistency — The AI keeps your preferences in mind automatically.
Speed — You get tailored answers without explaining yourself every time.
Personalization — It understands what’s relevant to you.
Less back-and-forth — Better output on the first try.

Custom Instructions are especially helpful if you:

write a lot
run a business
use ChatGPT for school
create content
prefer a specific writing tone

What to include in your Custom Instructions

Here’s a simple structure that works extremely well:

1. Who you are / your background

Give the model a snapshot of who you are — student, business owner, coach, creator, athlete, beginner, advanced, etc.

2. Your goals

What do you usually use ChatGPT for? Writing, planning, learning, analysis, content creation, research, productivity, etc.

3. Your preferred style

Examples:

clear and simple
friendly and direct
professional
step-by-step
concise
casual

4. Things to avoid

Filler, jargon, long intros, overexplaining — or anything that annoys you.

Example of a great Custom Instructions set

Who I am: I’m a college student writing blog posts and using AI for brainstorming, writing help, and learning. How you should respond: Be clear, concise, and direct. Avoid fluff. Give structured answers and ask clarifying questions if my prompt is vague. Match my voice: friendly, simple, and confident.

This instantly improves every output — no matter what you ask the model to do.

A simple trick if you’re not sure what to write

If you’re unsure how to write your Custom Instructions, you can literally have ChatGPT write them for you:

“Help me write the perfect custom instructions based on how I use you. Ask me any questions you need first.”

The model will gather your preferences, ask about your tone, and produce a polished set of instructions you can paste directly into your settings.