50 ChatGPT Secret Codes That Can Improve Your Prompts
Have you heard about ChatGPT secret codes such as EXPOSE, AUTOPSY, IQ200, RED TEAM, and 10X THINK?
These codes have gained attention because people claim that adding them before a prompt can produce better ChatGPT responses.
But are they really secret ChatGPT commands?
No.
ChatGPT does not have an official list of secret codes that unlock hidden intelligence or special capabilities. These terms work more like prompt shortcuts. They represent a specific instruction that tells the AI how to approach a task.
For example, instead of writing:
Analyze my business idea and tell me what could go wrong.
You could use:
RED TEAM: Analyze my business idea and identify its biggest weaknesses, risks, assumptions, and possible failure points.
The word RED TEAM does not magically activate a hidden ChatGPT mode. The useful part is the instruction associated with the term.
This article lists 50 ChatGPT prompt codes that you can use to guide analysis, research, decision-making, writing, learning, problem-solving, and other tasks.
What Are ChatGPT Secret Codes?
ChatGPT secret codes are short words or phrases that act as prompt shortcuts.
Each code represents a specific instruction.
You can place the code before your prompt and then explain what you want ChatGPT to do.
For example:
AUTOPSY: My marketing campaign failed. Analyze what went wrong.
The code tells ChatGPT to approach the problem like an examination of a failure.
You can also write the instruction explicitly:
Examine my failed marketing campaign. Identify what went wrong, which assumptions failed, what evidence I ignored, and what I should change next time.
Both approaches can work.
The second approach is often better because it gives ChatGPT more precise instructions.
Do ChatGPT Secret Codes Really Work?
Yes and no.
They can help because clear instructions often produce more focused responses.
However, these codes are not official ChatGPT commands. Typing EXPOSE, AUTOPSY, or IQ200 does not unlock a hidden model, increase the model’s IQ, or activate a secret system feature.
The result depends on the instruction represented by the code.
Think of a code as a shortcut.
Instead of writing a long instruction every time, you can create a short label for it.
For example:
Code:
RED TEAM
Meaning:
Challenge my idea. Identify weaknesses, risks, counterarguments, assumptions, and possible failure points.
Once you define the meaning, you can reuse the code across different prompts.
This makes the concept especially useful if you frequently work with ChatGPT.
How to Use ChatGPT Prompt Codes
The simplest format is:
CODE: Your prompt
For example:
EXPOSE: Why am I struggling to grow my website?
Or:
AUTOPSY: My product launch failed. Find the main reasons.
You can also combine multiple codes.
For example:
EXPOSE + RED TEAM + SECOND ORDER: I want to launch a $19/month AI membership website. Analyze the idea.
This asks ChatGPT to examine the underlying assumptions, challenge the strategy, and consider the consequences of the proposed decision.
50 ChatGPT Secret Codes and Prompt Shortcuts
1. EXPOSE
Use case: Discover hidden assumptions and the real issue behind a question.
Example:
EXPOSE: Should I start a YouTube channel?
Expected result: ChatGPT examines the question more deeply and identifies the underlying objective, assumptions, missing information, and decision behind it.
2. AUTOPSY
Use case: Analyze something that failed.
Example:
AUTOPSY: My website traffic dropped by 40%. Find out what could have gone wrong.
Expected result: ChatGPT examines the failure, identifies possible causes, and suggests corrective actions.
3. IQ200
Use case: Request deeper analytical thinking.
Example:
IQ200: Analyze the long-term risks of this business model.
Expected result: A more detailed analysis with multiple factors, assumptions, alternatives, and implications.
Important: IQ200 does not increase ChatGPT’s actual intelligence. It simply acts as a prompt cue requesting deeper analysis.
4. 10X THINK
Use case: Explore a problem from several perspectives.
Example:
10X THINK: How can I increase conversions on my website?
Expected result: ChatGPT explores multiple strategies instead of giving one obvious recommendation.
5. KILL CRITIC
Use case: Ask for direct criticism.
Example:
KILL CRITIC: Critique my new business idea without trying to make me feel good about it.
Expected result: ChatGPT focuses on weaknesses, risks, poor assumptions, and potential problems.
6. RED TEAM
Use case: Stress-test an idea or strategy.
Example:
RED TEAM: Find every major weakness in my product launch plan.
Expected result: ChatGPT takes an opposing position and searches for threats, weaknesses, and failure points.
7. STEELMAN
Use case: Understand an opposing argument fairly.
Example:
STEELMAN: Build the strongest argument against my position.
Expected result: ChatGPT creates the strongest reasonable version of the opposing viewpoint.
This can help you understand an argument before responding to it.
8. DEVIL’S ADVOCATE
Use case: Challenge a proposed decision.
Example:
DEVIL’S ADVOCATE: Explain why I should not launch this product.
Expected result: ChatGPT argues against the proposal and highlights possible risks.
9. BLINDSPOT
Use case: Find things you may have missed.
Example:
BLINDSPOT: Review my business plan and identify issues I have overlooked.
Expected result: ChatGPT searches for missing risks, assumptions, dependencies, and opportunities.
10. ASSUMPTION AUDIT
Use case: Examine assumptions behind a decision.
Example:
ASSUMPTION AUDIT: Identify every important assumption behind this marketing strategy.
Expected result: ChatGPT lists assumptions and explains which ones need evidence or validation.
11. FACT CHECK
Use case: Examine factual claims.
Example:
FACT CHECK: Review these claims and identify which ones need verification.
Expected result: ChatGPT separates likely facts from uncertain claims and unsupported statements.
For current or high-stakes information, you should still ask ChatGPT to verify information using reliable sources.
12. EVIDENCE FIRST
Use case: Prioritize evidence over opinions.
Example:
EVIDENCE FIRST: Evaluate this claim using available evidence.
Expected result: ChatGPT focuses on supporting evidence before forming a conclusion.
13. SOURCE HUNT
Use case: Find useful sources for research.
Example:
SOURCE HUNT: Find authoritative sources that can support this article.
Expected result: ChatGPT identifies relevant sources or suggests where reliable evidence may come from.
14. CONTRADICTION
Use case: Find conflicting statements or ideas.
Example:
CONTRADICTION: Examine my argument and find internal contradictions.
Expected result: ChatGPT identifies statements that conflict with each other.
15. LOGIC CHECK
Use case: Test an argument.
Example:
LOGIC CHECK: Examine my reasoning and identify logical errors.
Expected result: ChatGPT identifies weak reasoning, unsupported conclusions, and possible logical fallacies.
16. SECOND ORDER
Use case: Explore consequences beyond the immediate result.
Example:
SECOND ORDER: What could happen after I implement this strategy?
Expected result: ChatGPT examines direct consequences and the consequences that may follow them.
17. RIPPLE EFFECT
Use case: Understand how a decision can affect other areas.
Example:
RIPPLE EFFECT: What could happen across my company if we reduce prices by 20%?
Expected result: ChatGPT examines possible effects on customers, revenue, competitors, employees, operations, and brand perception.
18. WHAT IF
Use case: Explore alternative scenarios.
Example:
WHAT IF: What happens if my main competitor launches a similar product next month?
Expected result: ChatGPT explores possible scenarios and responses.
19. PRE-MORTEM
Use case: Identify why a future project might fail.
Example:
PRE-MORTEM: Assume this project failed one year from now. Explain why.
Expected result: ChatGPT identifies potential failure causes before you start the project.
20. POST-MORTEM
Use case: Analyze completed work.
Example:
POST-MORTEM: Analyze this failed product launch.
Expected result: ChatGPT reviews what happened, what worked, what failed, and what should change.
21. FUTURE BACK
Use case: Build a plan from a desired future state.
Example:
FUTURE BACK: Assume I have achieved my five-year business goal. Work backward and identify the milestones required.
Expected result: ChatGPT creates a reverse roadmap from the desired outcome.
22. REVERSE ENGINEER
Use case: Understand how a successful result was achieved.
Example:
REVERSE ENGINEER: Analyze this successful landing page and identify how it achieves high conversions.
Expected result: ChatGPT breaks the result into components, decisions, tactics, and possible reasons for success.
23. DECONSTRUCT
Use case: Break something into smaller parts.
Example:
DECONSTRUCT: Break this successful LinkedIn post into its individual components.
Expected result: ChatGPT identifies the structure, hook, message, examples, evidence, CTA, and other elements.
24. DISTILL
Use case: Reduce complex information to its core ideas.
Example:
DISTILL: Reduce this 2,000-word report to its five most important ideas.
Expected result: ChatGPT removes repetition and focuses on the key information.
25. ELI5
Use case: Understand a difficult topic.
Example:
ELI5: Explain blockchain technology to me.
Expected result: ChatGPT uses simple language, familiar examples, and short explanations.
ELI5 means “Explain Like I’m 5.”
26. TEACH BACK
Use case: Learn and test your understanding.
Example:
TEACH BACK: Teach me this concept, then ask me questions to test my understanding.
Expected result: ChatGPT becomes more interactive and helps identify knowledge gaps.
27. SOCRATIC
Use case: Think through a problem instead of receiving an immediate answer.
Example:
SOCRATIC: Help me determine whether I should change careers by asking me one question at a time.
Expected result: ChatGPT uses questions to guide your thinking.
28. MENTOR MODE
Use case: Learn a professional skill.
Example:
MENTOR MODE: Act as my marketing mentor and help me improve my strategy.
Expected result: ChatGPT provides guidance, questions, feedback, exercises, and practical suggestions.
29. EXPERT PANEL
Use case: Analyze a topic from several professional perspectives.
Example:
EXPERT PANEL: Analyze my startup idea from the perspectives of a marketer, investor, product manager, and customer.
Expected result: You receive multiple perspectives instead of a single analysis.
30. MULTI-ANGLE
Use case: Examine an issue from different viewpoints.
Example:
MULTI-ANGLE: Analyze this business idea from the customer, competitor, financial, operational, and strategic perspectives.
Expected result: ChatGPT creates a broader analysis.
31. COMPARE++
Use case: Compare several options.
Example:
COMPARE++: Compare these three website platforms based on cost, flexibility, SEO, scalability, and ease of use.
Expected result: ChatGPT evaluates the options against multiple criteria.
32. DECISION MATRIX
Use case: Make a structured decision.
Example:
DECISION MATRIX: Help me choose between these three business ideas using market size, cost, risk, competition, and revenue potential.
Expected result: ChatGPT creates a structured scoring method for the alternatives.
33. PRIORITIZE
Use case: Rank tasks or ideas.
Example:
PRIORITIZE: Rank these 20 marketing tasks by potential impact and effort.
Expected result: ChatGPT separates high-value actions from lower-priority work.
34. 80/20
Use case: Find the highest-value actions.
Example:
80/20: Which 20% of these activities could produce 80% of the results?
Expected result: ChatGPT identifies activities that may have disproportionate impact.
Remember that the 80/20 ratio is a useful heuristic. It is not a guarantee.
35. SIMPLIFY
Use case: Make a complicated process easier.
Example:
SIMPLIFY: Reduce this 15-step process to the simplest practical workflow.
Expected result: ChatGPT removes unnecessary steps and presents a clearer process.
36. OPTIMIZE
Use case: Improve an existing solution.
Example:
OPTIMIZE: Improve this landing page for conversions while keeping the existing offer.
Expected result: ChatGPT identifies areas that could improve performance.
37. GAP ANALYSIS
Use case: Compare current performance with a target.
Example:
GAP ANALYSIS: Compare my current marketing strategy with what I need to reach 100,000 monthly visitors.
Expected result: ChatGPT identifies missing capabilities, resources, actions, and milestones.
38. ROOT CAUSE
Use case: Find the underlying cause of a problem.
Example:
ROOT CAUSE: My team keeps missing deadlines. Identify possible underlying causes.
Expected result: ChatGPT moves beyond symptoms and examines possible causes.
39. FIVE WHYS
Use case: Investigate recurring problems.
Example:
FIVE WHYS: Analyze why customers are abandoning the checkout process.
Expected result: ChatGPT repeatedly asks why to move from the visible problem toward deeper causes.
40. FAILURE MODE
Use case: Find ways a system or process could fail.
Example:
FAILURE MODE: Identify how this customer onboarding process could fail.
Expected result: ChatGPT identifies possible failure scenarios and ways to reduce them.
41. EDGE CASES
Use case: Find unusual situations that could break a solution.
Example:
EDGE CASES: What unusual situations could cause this software feature to fail?
Expected result: ChatGPT identifies less obvious situations that normal testing may miss.
42. COUNTERFACTUAL
Use case: Challenge an important assumption.
Example:
COUNTERFACTUAL: What would happen if my biggest assumption was completely wrong?
Expected result: ChatGPT explores an alternative reality and shows how the strategy might change.
43. ALTERNATIVE PATHS
Use case: Generate different ways to solve a problem.
Example:
ALTERNATIVE PATHS: Give me five fundamentally different ways to increase customer retention.
Expected result: ChatGPT avoids focusing on one solution and generates several strategic options.
44. NO-FLUFF
Use case: Get a direct answer.
Example:
NO-FLUFF: Give me the five most important actions I should take.
Expected result: ChatGPT reduces introductions, repetition, and generic commentary.
45. ACTION MODE
Use case: Convert analysis into action.
Example:
ACTION MODE: Turn this analysis into a seven-day action plan.
Expected result: ChatGPT converts ideas into practical tasks and next steps.
46. CHECKLIST MODE
Use case: Create a repeatable process.
Example:
CHECKLIST MODE: Create a checklist for publishing an SEO blog post.
Expected result: ChatGPT produces a step-by-step checklist that you can reuse.
47. FRAMEWORK MODE
Use case: Turn a complicated topic into a reusable framework.
Example:
FRAMEWORK MODE: Convert this leadership concept into a practical framework that managers can use.
Expected result: ChatGPT organizes the information into clear components, stages, or principles.
48. TEMPLATE MODE
Use case: Create reusable content.
Example:
TEMPLATE MODE: Create a reusable template for writing product descriptions.
Expected result: ChatGPT produces a template with placeholders that you can reuse.
49. CONSULTANT MODE
Use case: Solve a business problem.
Example:
CONSULTANT MODE: Analyze my business problem, identify the root causes, provide three options, recommend one, and create an action plan.
Expected result: ChatGPT provides a structured business analysis rather than a simple answer.
50. BOARDROOM MODE
Use case: Evaluate a strategic business decision.
Example:
BOARDROOM MODE: Evaluate this investment proposal from the perspective of a senior management team.
Expected result: ChatGPT focuses on business impact, cost, risk, opportunity, strategic fit, and expected outcomes.
Can You Combine ChatGPT Secret Codes?
Yes.
Combining codes can create a more specific instruction.
For example:
EXPOSE + ASSUMPTION AUDIT + RED TEAM:
I want to launch a paid AI prompt membership. Analyze my idea.
This combination tells ChatGPT to:
- Find the underlying assumptions.
- Identify assumptions that need validation.
- Challenge the business idea.
- Search for risks and weaknesses.
You can then add another code:
ACTION MODE
Now ChatGPT can turn the analysis into a practical action plan.
A more complete prompt could look like this:
EXPOSE + ASSUMPTION AUDIT + RED TEAM + SECOND ORDER + ACTION MODE:
I want to launch a paid AI prompt membership. Identify my hidden assumptions, challenge the idea, examine second-order consequences, and then create a practical action plan.
This is much more powerful than simply typing:
“Is this a good business idea?”
Are These Really “Secret” ChatGPT Commands?
No.
This is one of the most important things to understand.
There is no official ChatGPT feature that says:
Type AUTOPSY before your prompt to unlock a special analysis mode.
These codes are better understood as user-created prompt shortcuts.
Their value comes from the instruction they represent.
You can create your own codes.
For example:
FOUNDER MODE: Think like a startup founder with limited money, time, and people.
Or:
SEO MODE: Evaluate this content for search intent, keyword coverage, topical relevance, structure, internal linking opportunities, and reader value.
Or:
EDITOR MODE: Edit this article for clarity, accuracy, flow, grammar, readability, and repetition.
The possibilities are almost unlimited.
The Best Way to Create Your Own ChatGPT Codes
A good prompt code should have three parts:
1. Give the code a memorable name
For example:
RED TEAM
2. Define exactly what it means
For example:
Challenge the proposed idea. Identify weaknesses, risks, unsupported assumptions, counterarguments, and possible failure points.
3. Add it to your prompt
For example:
RED TEAM: Review my business plan and identify the five biggest risks.
This creates a reusable prompt shortcut.
You can even maintain your own personal library of these codes.
ChatGPT Secret Codes vs. Better Prompts
A code can make prompting faster.
But specific instructions make prompting better.
Compare these two prompts:
IQ200: Explain digital marketing.
and:
Act as a senior digital marketing strategist. Explain digital marketing for a small business owner. Cover customer acquisition, content, SEO, paid advertising, email marketing, conversion, measurement, and common mistakes. Use simple examples and finish with a practical 30-day plan.
The second prompt gives ChatGPT far more useful information.
This is why you should treat secret codes as shortcuts, not magic commands.
Why Prompt Codes Can Be Useful
Prompt codes can provide several benefits.
They save time
You can reuse a defined instruction without rewriting it.
They create consistency
The same code can produce a similar type of analysis across different prompts.
They encourage better thinking
Codes such as RED TEAM, BLINDSPOT, PRE-MORTEM, and SECOND ORDER encourage you to examine an issue from different angles.
They make prompts easier to remember
A short phrase is easier to remember than a long instruction.
They can become a personal prompt system
You can create codes for research, writing, strategy, learning, marketing, management, coding, and other tasks.
A Simple ChatGPT Prompt Code Formula
You can create your own code using this structure:
[CODE]: [ACTION] + [FOCUS] + [OUTPUT]
For example:
STRATEGYSCAN: Analyze this business idea for market opportunity, competition, risks, customer value, and growth potential. Give me the findings in five sections.
Another example:
CONTENT AUDIT: Review this article for search intent, clarity, structure, keyword coverage, missing information, and reader value. Give specific recommendations.
The more precise the underlying instruction, the more useful the shortcut becomes.
Final Thoughts
ChatGPT secret codes are not magic words.
They do not unlock hidden ChatGPT capabilities.
They work because they can represent clear instructions about how ChatGPT should approach a task.
Codes such as EXPOSE, AUTOPSY, RED TEAM, BLINDSPOT, PRE-MORTEM, SECOND ORDER, ROOT CAUSE, ACTION MODE, and CONSULTANT MODE can help you approach problems from different perspectives.
The real skill is not memorizing 50 codes.
The real skill is learning how to turn a desired thinking process into a clear instruction.
Once you understand that principle, you can create your own prompt codes for almost any task.
Start with five: RED TEAM, BLINDSPOT, PRE-MORTEM, ROOT CAUSE, and ACTION MODE.
Use them regularly.
Then build your own personal library of AI prompt shortcuts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are ChatGPT secret codes real?
ChatGPT does not have an official system of secret codes that unlock hidden features. Terms such as EXPOSE, AUTOPSY, and IQ200 are better understood as user-created prompt shortcuts.
Does typing IQ200 make ChatGPT smarter?
No. IQ200 does not increase the model’s intelligence. It can act as a cue that asks for deeper analysis, but the instruction behind the code matters more than the label.
What is the best ChatGPT secret code?
There is no single best code. The best choice depends on the task. RED TEAM works well for criticism, PRE-MORTEM works well for risk analysis, ROOT CAUSE works well for problem-solving, and ACTION MODE works well for turning ideas into practical steps.
Can I combine ChatGPT prompt codes?
Yes. You can combine several codes to create a more specific instruction. For example, EXPOSE + RED TEAM + ACTION MODE can help uncover assumptions, challenge an idea, and turn the findings into an action plan.
Can I create my own ChatGPT codes?
Yes. Creating your own codes can be very useful. Define a short, memorable name and associate it with a clear instruction. You can then reuse that code across your prompts.
Do prompt codes work with every AI tool?
Not necessarily. Different AI systems may interpret prompts differently. A code has no universal technical meaning unless the AI system or your own prompt setup defines it.