Quick answer: OpenAI is retiring custom GPTs in ChatGPT and replacing them with plugins. You won’t be able to create new GPTs after 26 October 2026 (planned), and existing GPTs stop working on 11 December 2026 for most accounts. If you built a GPT, migrate it to a plugin before then; if you only use other people’s GPTs, your old chats stay, but you’ll need a replacement.
Custom GPTs, launched in late 2023, let anyone package instructions and files into a personal version of ChatGPT. People use them for everything from study helpers to drafting customer replies. OpenAI first flagged the retirement in its ChatGPT release notes on 11 September 2026, and its help centre now has a full retirement and migration FAQ.
Here’s what’s happening, the key dates, and exactly what to do depending on whether you made GPTs or just use them. Details are current as of 5 October 2026.
Why is OpenAI retiring custom GPTs?
OpenAI is standardising on plugins as the one way to extend ChatGPT and its coding tool, Codex. Virtualization Review reported that OpenAI wants people to “discover, install, share, and publish” reusable features through plugins rather than separate custom assistants.
According to OpenAI’s plugins help page, plugins “bring together the tools, knowledge, and reusable workflows you need to get work done.” A plugin can include skills (instructions and guidance), connected apps such as Gmail or Google Drive, and interactive extensions.
The practical difference: a GPT was a separate chat you opened. A plugin is something you install once and then call into any chat, or let ChatGPT use automatically when it’s relevant.
Key dates for the custom GPT retirement
OpenAI says the transition “affects all ChatGPT plans.” These are the dates from its FAQ:
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| 11 September 2026 | Retirement announced in the ChatGPT release notes |
| 26 October 2026 (planned) | Creation of new custom GPTs ends |
| 11 December 2026 | Custom GPTs and their GPT pages become inaccessible for standard accounts |
| 11 February 2027 | Final date for Enterprise workspaces with an approved deferral |
OpenAI also notes that “migration access may become available at different times,” so you might not see the migration option on day one.
If you built a custom GPT: how to migrate it to a plugin
OpenAI has added a built-in migration tool. Based on its FAQ, the steps are:
- Open ChatGPT and go to My GPTs.
- Find the GPT you want to keep and select Migrate to plugin (once the option appears for your account).
- Review the migration details OpenAI shows you.
- Follow the instructions to create the plugin.
- Test the new plugin with prompts you used often, plus at least one harder case.
After you migrate, the original GPT keeps working until the retirement date but becomes read-only. That gives you a window to compare the two side by side.
What carries over and what doesn’t
Most of what made your GPT useful moves across, but not everything. According to OpenAI:
- Transfers: your instructions become a skill inside the plugin; connected apps are added as apps; knowledge files become reference files.
- Doesn’t transfer: custom actions (API connections you set up), the model you selected, and your sharing settings.
- Drafts: only published GPTs migrate. “Drafts and unpublished edits do not transfer.”
Two more things to watch. A migrated personal plugin “starts private,” and making it public needs a separate submission process. And OpenAI warns that “a migrated plugin may respond differently,” so don’t assume it’ll behave exactly like your GPT did.
Before you migrate: a quick backup checklist
OpenAI’s FAQ doesn’t mention an export tool for GPTs, so it’s sensible to keep your own copy of the important parts:
- Copy your GPT’s full instructions into a document.
- Make sure you still have the original knowledge files on your computer or in cloud storage.
- Write down any custom actions, including the API details, since you’ll need to rebuild those separately.
- Note who you shared the GPT with, so you can share the plugin again.
If you only use other people’s GPTs
You don’t need to migrate anything. OpenAI says, “You do not need to migrate a GPT you only use, and permission to use it does not let you migrate it yourself.”
What you should do:
- Make a list of the GPTs you rely on.
- Check each creator’s page or website for news about a plugin version.
- Browse the plugin directory: select Plugins in the ChatGPT sidebar on web, desktop or mobile, then search for a replacement.
- Install the plugin and, if asked, select Connect to link any accounts it needs.
To use an installed plugin, you can @mention it in a chat, select + and type its name, or pick it from Plugins in the message box, according to OpenAI’s help page.
What happens to your old chats with GPTs?
They stay. OpenAI says, “Your existing conversations with custom GPTs will remain accessible after retirement. You don’t need to take any action to preserve them.”
What goes away on the retirement date is the GPT itself and its page, so you won’t be able to continue those chats with the GPT’s instructions. If a past conversation holds something important, like a long piece of writing or a plan, copy it somewhere you control.
Is this good or bad for regular users?
It’s a mixed bag. Plugins can do more than GPTs: they can connect to several apps at once and work inside any conversation. For people who just want a ready-made tool, the plugin directory may end up more useful than the old GPT Store.
The downside is disruption. Some builders have complained that plugins don’t recreate the focused, single-purpose feel of a GPT, Virtualization Review reported. And if a GPT you depend on isn’t migrated by its creator, it simply disappears.
This is part of a wider shift in ChatGPT toward agent-style features. If you’re curious how that fits with OpenAI’s newest models, read our explainer on GPT-6 Astra and what it means for ChatGPT users, or browse more in our AI section.
Frequently asked questions
When will custom GPTs stop working?
On 11 December 2026 for standard ChatGPT accounts. Enterprise workspaces with an approved deferral have until 11 February 2027.
Can I still create a new custom GPT?
Only until creation ends, which OpenAI has planned for 26 October 2026. After that, you’ll need to build a plugin instead.
Will my conversations with GPTs be deleted?
No. OpenAI says existing conversations remain accessible after retirement, and you don’t need to do anything to keep them. The GPTs themselves become inaccessible.
Do custom actions transfer to plugins?
No. OpenAI says custom actions do not transfer through the migration workflow. You’ll need to set those connections up again in the plugin.
Do free ChatGPT users need to do anything?
If you only use GPTs made by others, just find replacement plugins before 11 December. The plugin directory is available across ChatGPT plans, though some plugins may depend on your plan or region.