If you still use the old ChatGPT app on your computer, the clock is running. ChatGPT Classic will retire on January 30, 2027, according to 9to5Mac. Move to the current desktop app before then, and your chat history should come with you.
The old app now shows a banner with the date and a link to the new download page. Here are the facts at a glance.
- Retirement date: January 30, 2027
- Who’s affected: anyone still opening the older ChatGPT desktop app
- What to do: install the current desktop app from chatgpt.com/download
- History: the banner says your full chat history carries over
- Also coming: OpenAI plans to test a merged Chat and Work experience in the coming weeks
Those five points cover most of what you need. The rest of this post explains the background and the small steps worth doing first.
Why the old ChatGPT desktop app is going away
OpenAI released a new desktop app in July 2026 that combined ChatGPT, Work and Codex in one place. The original app was renamed ChatGPT Classic at that point.
Launch wasn’t smooth. Critics disliked the switch to an Electron-based build and a confusing layout, per 9to5Mac. OpenAI restored direct chat access on July 17 with a Chat/Work toggle and a sidebar for ChatGPT and Codex.
Meanwhile, Classic got few updates. Some newer features, such as selectable reasoning effort, only exist in the new app. So the old one has felt a bit left behind for months.
How to move off ChatGPT Classic without losing anything
The move is simple, but a few minutes of care helps. Here is the order I’d follow.
- Open ChatGPT Classic and read the retirement banner so you know your app is the one affected.
- Download the current desktop app from the link in the banner or from chatgpt.com/download.
- Sign in with the same account and check that your recent chats show up.
- Export your data from Settings if some chats really matter to you.
- Uninstall Classic once the new app does everything you need.
The export in step four is a safety net, not a requirement. OpenAI says history carries over, but a backup costs you two minutes.
What changes: Classic vs the new ChatGPT app
The table below puts the two side by side, using what OpenAI has said publicly so far.
| What | ChatGPT Classic | Current ChatGPT desktop app |
|---|---|---|
| Name | ChatGPT Classic (the original desktop app) | The newer desktop app that combines ChatGPT, Work and Codex |
| Status | Retires January 30, 2027 | Stays, and gets the new features |
| Chat history | Carries over, per the in-app banner | Same account, same history |
| New features | Few updates, and some are missing | Gets new models and options first |
| Next change | Nothing planned | Chat and Work tabs to be merged, in testing soon |
The big practical difference is where new work happens. Newer models and options land in the current app first, so staying on Classic means missing things.
Chat and Work are about to merge
OpenAI says it will start testing a combined Chat and Work experience “in the coming weeks,” beginning with a small group of users. Work covers tasks like building websites or presentations and handling web tasks. Codex stays separate inside the app.
OpenAI president Greg Brockman said earlier that the company hoped to remove the Work tab by the end of 2026. That’s a goal he stated, not a promise, so treat the timing as open.
This is also a good moment to learn how usage will work. ChatGPT and Codex are set to share one limit, which we covered in our guide to the shared ChatGPT and Codex usage limit.
What to check if you share an account or pay for ChatGPT
If you pay for ChatGPT, install the new app on every computer you use, not just one. Keep an eye on how many devices your plan allows. Our post on the ChatGPT device limit for paid accounts explains what can get an account blocked.
If you share a work computer, tell your IT team about the date. Managed machines often need an admin to push the new app.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does ChatGPT Classic stop working?
The in-app banner says the app retires on January 30, 2027. OpenAI hasn’t said what exactly happens on that day, so move before it.
Will I lose my ChatGPT chat history?
No, according to the banner, which says full chat history carries over to the new app. Your chats are tied to your account, so exporting a copy is still a smart habit.
Is the ChatGPT website affected?
The reports only mention the desktop app. Nothing says the web version is changing.
Do I need to pay more to use the new app?
Nothing announced suggests a price change. Your current plan applies, though ChatGPT and Codex will soon share one usage allowance.
What happens to Codex?
Codex stays a separate experience inside the new desktop app, per the same report.
Our take: switch this week and stop thinking about it
Nobody enjoys being forced onto a redesigned app, and the July launch earned some of the grumbling. Still, Classic is a dead end, and the longer you stay, the more you miss. Install the new app now, check your history, and keep Classic around only until you’re sure you don’t need it.
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