[macOS][Chat] Ghost/deleted conversations remain in Recents despite clean reinstall #47403

Issue

The ChatGPT macOS desktop app displays old/ghost conversations under Recents that no longer exist in my ChatGPT account history.

The same account on chatgpt.com shows the correct conversation history. The ghost conversations appear only in the macOS desktop app.

Environment

• ChatGPT plan: Plus
• ChatGPT macOS version: 26.917.51856
• Release date shown in About ChatGPT: 22 September 2026
• App: new ChatGPT desktop app ("Powered by Codex & OWL")
• Platform: macOS
• Feedback ID: no-active-thread-01a0cbaa-efe3-73f1-8156-8f850ebc3bde

The Feedback ID above was generated from an in-app Bug report with ChatGPT diagnostic logs enabled.

Expected behaviour

The Recents list in the macOS app should reflect the conversations that actually exist in my ChatGPT account, as displayed on chatgpt.com.

Conversations that no longer exist should not remain or repopulate as ghost entries in the desktop Recents list.

Actual behaviour

The macOS app displays multiple old conversations that are absent from the web version.

The discrepancy persists across sessions and even after completely reinstalling the desktop application.

Troubleshooting completed

I have already:

1. Fully quit and reopened the ChatGPT macOS app.
2. Signed out and signed back into the same account.
3. Confirmed that chatgpt.com displays the correct conversation history.
4. Checked Archived Chats on the web — there are no archived conversations.
5. Checked Archived Chats in the macOS app — the ghost conversations are not archived.
6. Set the macOS Chats filter to Chronological — the ghost conversations remain.
7. Completely uninstalled the ChatGPT macOS application.
8. Restarted the Mac.
9. Downloaded and installed a fresh copy of ChatGPT.
10. Signed back into the same account — the same ghost conversations immediately returned.

Reproduction / comparison

Web (same account):
Shows the correct current conversation history and does not show the ghost conversations.

macOS app (same account):
Recents contains additional obsolete/ghost conversations.

This remains reproducible after a clean reinstall.

Additional information

OpenAI Support directed me to submit the in-app diagnostic report and then file this GitHub issue with the Feedback ID.

There appear to be other reports of similar macOS Recents synchronization behaviour, including issues #40219, #41661, #41987 and #42768.

I can provide additional screenshots or diagnostic information if required.