To stop future Perplexity data being collected for AI training, open account settings, go to Preferences and switch off AI Data Retention. Perplexity says the control is enabled by default for Free, Pro and Max users. Turning it off is a training opt-out for future data, not a request to erase everything already associated with your account.
| Your aim | Control to review |
|---|---|
| Opt out of future AI training collection | Preferences, AI Data Retention |
| Stop previous searches influencing answers | Memory, Use search history |
| Review saved personal details | Memory, Manage memories |
| End other signed-in sessions | Account, Sign out of all sessions |
How to turn off Perplexity AI Data Retention
The official Account Settings guide says you can reach settings by clicking the avatar in the bottom right corner and selecting All Settings. The same guide lists AI data retention under Preferences. This gives you a route to the setting without changing unrelated personalization choices.
- Open your account settings.
- Select Preferences.
- Find AI Data Retention.
- If it is enabled, turn it off to opt out of AI training data collection.
These steps follow the Data Collection at Perplexity help page. Its limitation is explicit: the opt-out applies to data collected after the opt-out date. Previously collected training data cannot be deleted or removed through that choice. The setting applies to the individual user.
The same page says core features remain functional after opting out. Processing can continue for service operation, legal compliance and product improvement. Enterprise data is not used for AI training; a paid consumer Pro or Max subscription therefore should not be assumed to have the same policy as an Enterprise account.
Does turning off AI Data Retention delete memory?
Training and personalization answer different questions. One concerns whether activity can help improve models. The other concerns whether the service refers to information about you when preparing your next answer. Check both areas if your objective is to reduce reuse of previous conversations.
The official Memory guide lists separate controls under Settings, then Memory. Use search history governs references to past searches. Notes governs saving simple details for future answers. Manage memories opens the bank of entries that can be reviewed and deleted. These controls should be inspected separately from the training toggle.
Switching memory off does not clear existing memories. Perplexity says you can delete an individual entry or clear the memory bank. Its guide also says a log of cleared memories may be retained for up to 30 days for safety, debugging and preventing immediate recreation. That qualification matters if you expected a deletion click to remove every related record instantly.
The Memory page separately states that content from memory may be used to improve models and points to AI Data Retention as the opt-out. The practical result is a checklist with more than one decision: whether to permit future training use, whether to reference past activity, and whether to remove entries already saved.
Which settings should you check for your situation?
Consider a student who wants answers to remember a preferred explanation style but wants to opt out of future training collection. Those are compatible goals to evaluate through separate controls. The training switch need not be treated as a request to disable all useful personalization. Review the memory entries themselves if you want to retain only a small set of preferences.
Now consider someone who used an account for one project and no longer wants its topics influencing unrelated questions. Switching off training alone does not express that aim. Review Use search history and the saved memory bank instead. This is an example of matching the control to the problem, not evidence that any particular reader's account contains a specific memory.
For someone returning to a shared browser, account access is another distinct concern. The Account Settings guide provides Sign out of all sessions to end signed-in access across browsers and devices. It also lists account deletion separately. Neither should be confused with the Preferences toggle for training collection.
How to review the settings without losing track
Write down the outcome you want before changing several switches at once. For example: “Keep my language preference, stop future training collection, and remove memories from a finished assignment.” Then match each part to a setting. After making your choices, revisit the relevant pages and check the displayed state rather than relying on a remembered click.
These instructions were checked against public documentation, without logging into an account or changing anyone's preferences. They explain the controls documented by Perplexity, rather than certifying what data a particular account holds. For related guides, see Perplexity research prompts, Deep Research limits and Claude memory settings.
