OpenAI retires older ChatGPT models

OpenAI has removed a slate of older models from the ChatGPT app and website, shrinking the list of choices consumers can pick from. (help.openai.com) The change took effect on February 13, 2026, and covers GPT-4o, GPT-4.1, GPT-4.1 mini, OpenAI o4-mini, and GPT-5 Instant and GPT-5 Thinking in ChatGPT. OpenAI said those models are “no longer available” on the consumer ChatGPT surface. (help.openai.com) OpenAI drew a line between ChatGPT and its developer business: the company said “API access remains unchanged” for the retired models. That means developers using the OpenAI application programming interface were not forced off those models by this ChatGPT cleanup. (openai.com) The move changes what everyday users can select in chats, but it does not mean every product built on those models disappears at once. OpenAI said ChatGPT Voice is not changing in this update, and ChatGPT Images is not changing either. (help.openai.com) Custom GPTs were also affected. OpenAI said GPTs built on retired models would be moved automatically to the “closest” GPT-5.3 Instant or GPT-5.4 Thinking and Pro equivalent. (help.openai.com) OpenAI gave paying workplace customers a temporary exception for one model. ChatGPT Business, Enterprise, and Edu customers kept GPT-4o inside Custom GPTs until April 3, 2026, after which OpenAI said GPT-4o would be “fully retired across all plans.” (help.openai.com) The retirement continues a broader pattern in ChatGPT’s model lineup this year. OpenAI said GPT-5.1 models were retired on March 11, 2026 across both normal chats and GPTs, while promising advance notice before any future application programming interface retirements. (help.openai.com) OpenAI said it knew “losing access to GPT-4o will feel frustrating for some users,” but argued that removing older options lets it focus on the models “most people use today.” For ChatGPT users, the practical result is simpler menus and more automatic migration to the newer GPT-5.3 and GPT-5.4 family. (openai.com)