Guide
Grok Bot privacy: how to turn off training on your data, and what Privacy Mode covers
Updated · by Rosh Perera
Grok Bot has no training switch of its own, because xAI's docs say training opt-out follows your Cursor account's privacy settings. Cursor's training setting is Privacy Mode, so turn that on, but not Legacy Privacy Mode, which Grok Bot doesn't support because it needs cloud data storage. Owners on X asked where the setting is, and one business said it paused Grok Bot until this was clear. This guide covers where the switch is, what xAI and Cursor promise, the gap in the official answer, what's stored and how deletion works, and what to tell clients. Facts come from xAI's Grok Bot docs, Cursor's help and Cursor's data use and security pages, checked 20 Oct 2026. Want a pick for your exact business? Try our free What should my bot do? planner. We're an independent site, not part of xAI.
Pick your first 3 bots in 5 quick questions →How do you turn off training on your data in Grok Bot?
Where the switch is
xAI's FAQ says: "Training opt-out follows the applicable Cursor account and privacy settings." Its approvals docs add: "Privacy and data-sharing choices are managed through Cursor account settings and, when required, the Grok Bot access flow." Cursor's Privacy help gives the steps: open Cursor Settings (Cmd+Shift+J on a Mac, Ctrl+Shift+J on Windows or Linux), click General, then toggle Privacy Mode on. For teams, Privacy Mode is on by default, and admins can enforce it via cursor.com/dashboard so members can't turn it off (Cursor help: Privacy and data). If you use Grok Bot but not the Cursor editor, the pages we found don't describe another place for an individual to set it. Unverified: ask Cursor support which setting applies to your account.
What Privacy Mode promises
Cursor's data use page: "Customer Data will not be used for training by Cursor." It adds that Cursor has zero data retention agreements with its model providers. For Grok Bot on a team, Cursor's Grok Bot security docs say: "Privacy Mode applies. While a member is on your team, the team's privacy mode governs them, and with Privacy Mode enabled, customer data is not used for training." xAI's Teams docs add that Cursor enforces this on its servers, and "when the setting cannot be verified, the system defaults to not training."
The gap in the official answer
Cursor's Privacy help asks "Does Privacy Mode prevent xAI from training on my Grok Bot data?" and answers that Privacy Mode in the Cursor editor covers your code, then says: "Grok Bot runs on a separate product surface with its own data flows." It doesn't give a plain yes or no for individual accounts. xAI's docs say training opt-out follows your Cursor settings, and the team statement above is clear. If client data depends on it, get a written answer from Cursor before you connect client accounts. Cursor also notes: "Providers may run abuse and safety classifiers, and flagged data may be stored for investigation." (Cursor docs: Grok Bot security).
Why Legacy Privacy Mode blocks Grok Bot
xAI's FAQ: "Grok Bot requires cloud data storage, so Legacy Privacy Mode is not supported." Cursor's Teams docs tell admins to move off it before rollout: "That setting blocks Grok Bot entirely, and you're prompted to change it before enabling." One user on X said they got stuck at sign-in after choosing a privacy option. If that happens, check which privacy mode your Cursor account or team uses, switch from Legacy to standard Privacy Mode, and contact Cursor support if you're still stuck.
What's stored, and for how long
xAI's FAQ says: "All of your Bots can access the same cloud computer assigned to your account." xAI's security docs say: "Grok Bot computers run in the United States today." They also say a per-organization retention policy isn't available. Cursor's Privacy help says: "Storage location, retention period, and deletion options for that data depend on your account type and how the files were created." xAI's approvals docs say backend retention and account deletion follow the applicable Cursor terms. We found no published retention period for an individual account, so we don't state one.
Deleting data
To remove files with personal data, Cursor's help says: "To request deletion of files that contain personal data, contact support with your account email, the agent name, and a description of the files." Deleting a Bot isn't enough. xAI's approvals docs say: "Deleting a Bot does not remove shared-computer files or browser sessions." Our Grok Bot delete account guide covers removing files, disconnecting apps and closing the account.
Keeping some data away from your Bots
One owner asked if certain chats could be marked unreadable by Grok Bot. We found no setting for that in xAI's or Cursor's pages. The official controls are about access: xAI's approvals docs say "Connect only the tools a workflow needs" and to use scoped service accounts where the source system supports them. So keep client folders, inboxes and channels out of any connector a Bot doesn't need, and disconnect apps you've stopped using.
What to tell clients
Tell them which setting your account uses (Privacy Mode on, enforced for the team if you have one), where Grok Bot computers run (the United States, per xAI), and link Cursor's data use page and sub-processor list. If a client needs a residency or retention commitment in writing, xAI's security docs say to contact your account team. Don't promise more than the pages say.
Start from a template, not a blank page
xAI's Use cases page lists 56 jobs and its official Marketplace lists 90 public templates, as of 20 Oct 2026 (our Grok Bot template stats page). Our templates page has drafts-first versions with copy-ready prompts, and our free What should my bot do? planner picks a first job for a business.
Not sure which jobs fit your business?
Build my free AI plan →Or get every routine pre-written in the pack →$29 one-time, plus local tax where it applies.
Ready-made use cases
- 01Inbox triage with drafted replies
The agent sorts your inbox into reply / FYI / ignore and drafts replies in your voice for you to approve.
~5h/week · estimate - 02One daily list of drafts to approve
Your bots hold every email, message and post they write as a draft. Once a day (or once a week) you get one numbered list and answer approve, edit or reject for each. Nothing goes out unapproved.
~1h/week · estimate - 03CEO morning brief in 5 minutes
One message each morning: calendar, urgent emails, money in/out, and the 3 things that move the business today.
~3h/week · estimate
Example: Grok Bot setup
Grok Bot routine: Inbox triage with drafted replies Schedule: Twice daily 9:00 and 15:00 Twice a day, go through new emails. Label each as Reply, FYI or Ignore. For Reply, write a draft in my voice (short, friendly, direct) and save it as a draft, never send. Send me a list of drafts to approve and any FYIs worth knowing. Rules: draft first, never send or post anything external without my approval. Keep summaries short.
Grok Bot, ChatGPT, Claude and n8n versions: all templates
How do you set it up before client data goes in?
- Open Cursor Settings (Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+J), click General and turn on Privacy Mode, not Legacy.
- On a team, check the privacy setting in Team Settings and enforce it from the dashboard.
- Connect only the apps your first job needs, with scoped accounts where you can.
- Keep client files in one folder and delete them from the Bot's computer when the job ends.
- Write down what you'll tell clients, with links to Cursor's data use page and sub-processor list.
What should you check first?
- Check the setting before you connect client email, files or accounts, not after.
- Legacy Privacy Mode and Grok Bot don't mix. Switch to standard Privacy Mode first.
- Deleting a Bot leaves its files on the shared computer. Remove them, or ask Cursor support to delete them.
- Keep keys and passwords out of chat. Cursor's help says: "Don't paste secrets into chat, Shell, or ordinary files." (Grok Bot help: Store secrets securely).
- Start in draft mode: the agent prepares, you approve, then you loosen the leash routine by routine.
Want the whole system pre-written?
The One-Person AI Business Pack: CEO agent + workers, all 46 routines in 4 formats, your role pack.
$29 one-time, plus local tax where it applies.
Next: Whop checkout. $29 one-time, plus local tax where it applies, paid by card on Whop. Files arrive by email.
14-day money-back guarantee: reply to your receipt within 14 days for a full refund.
Built by Rosh Perera, who has set up AI automations for more than 40 businesses over about 3 years.
FAQ
How do I turn off training on my data in Grok Bot?
Turn on Privacy Mode in your Cursor account settings. xAI's FAQ says "Training opt-out follows the applicable Cursor account and privacy settings." In Cursor, open Settings, click General and toggle Privacy Mode on (Cursor help: Privacy and data).
"Is it possible that I can mark certain chats as unreadable by Grok Bot?"
We found no such setting in xAI's or Cursor's pages. The documented control is access: connect only the tools a workflow needs, and keep apps a Bot doesn't need disconnected (xAI's approvals docs).
Does Privacy Mode stop xAI training on my Grok Bot data?
For teams, Cursor's Grok Bot security docs say that with Privacy Mode enabled, customer data is not used for training. Cursor's general Privacy help says Grok Bot "runs on a separate product surface with its own data flows" without a plain yes or no, so get a written answer from Cursor if client data depends on it.
Why can't I use Grok Bot with Legacy Privacy Mode?
xAI's FAQ says "Grok Bot requires cloud data storage, so Legacy Privacy Mode is not supported." Switch to standard Privacy Mode.
Where is Grok Bot data stored, and for how long?
xAI's security docs say "Grok Bot computers run in the United States today." Cursor's help says retention and deletion options depend on your account type and how the files were created. We found no published retention period for individual accounts.
How do I delete my data?
Remove files from the Bot's computer, disconnect apps you don't use, and contact Cursor support with your account email, the agent name and a description of the files (Cursor help: Privacy and data). Deleting a Bot doesn't remove shared-computer files.