Check whether protection is active
Audience: users. Editorial review: 2026-09-15.
Check the state with the tab you intend to use selected. The protection switch and the status message serve different purposes.
- Select your ChatGPT tab and open Defend.
- If the popup says you are not connected, sign in.
- If protection is off, turn it on and wait for the check to finish.
- Read the whole message. Activating protection is not the same as active protection. Limited protection needs attention.
Expected result
Section titled “Expected result”The popup confirms active protection for the tab. The Show Badge control only changes the floating indicator’s visibility: hiding it does not prove that protection is off. Check again after an update or reload.
More help
Section titled “More help”See check protection, troubleshooting and frequently asked questions. If the issue persists, contact your administrator without sharing sensitive data.