---
title: "What happened to ChatGPT group chats? Access changed on 09 JUL 2026"
canonical_url: https://cookiesforai.app/ai-changelog/tools/chatgpt-group-chats
markdown: https://cookiesforai.app/ai-changelog/tools/chatgpt-group-chats.md
publisher: "CookiesForAI"
last_updated: 2026-10-18T15:24:06+02:00
type: status
summary: "ChatGPT group chats: Access changed on 09 JUL 2026. OpenAI stopped users from creating or joining group chats and said existing chats would soon become read-only."
---

> Full index of this site: https://cookiesforai.app/llms.txt  

# What happened to ChatGPT group chats?

**Access changed on 09 JUL 2026.** OpenAI stopped users from creating or joining group chats and said existing chats would soon become read-only. Source: [OpenAI Help Center](https://help.openai.com/en/articles/12703475-retiring-group-chats-in-chatgpt).

## What this means

On 09 JUL 2026, OpenAI stopped creation, conversion, and new joining of ChatGPT group chats, without changing individual chats. Existing group chats stayed active until each became read-only, after which messages, files, and images remained viewable. No action was needed to preserve history, but users could request an export through ChatGPT or the OpenAI Privacy Portal.

## More changes from OpenAI

- [Assistants API](https://cookiesforai.app/ai-changelog/tools/assistants-api): Replaced on 26 AUG 2026
- [ChatGPT on WhatsApp](https://cookiesforai.app/ai-changelog/tools/chatgpt-on-whatsapp): Access changed on 15 JAN 2026
- [OpenAI Operator](https://cookiesforai.app/ai-changelog/tools/openai-operator): Replaced on 17 JUL 2025
- [Sora](https://cookiesforai.app/ai-changelog/tools/sora): Shut down on 24 SEP 2026

- Made by: OpenAI
- Website: https://help.openai.com/en/articles/12703475-retiring-group-chats-in-chatgpt
- Status: Access changed on 09 JUL 2026
- Checked: 17 OCT 2026

[What happened to AI tools](https://cookiesforai.app/ai-changelog/tools) · [AI changelog by date](https://cookiesforai.app/ai-changelog)