October 5, 2026
Custom GPTs users will need access restored: migration to a plugin does not preserve access
OpenAI plans to shut down Custom GPTs on Dec 11, 2026, and migrated plugins will initially be private.
Ethan Mollick
@emollick
I can move my most-used GPT, which will be disabled in December, into a private "plugin". But I built the GPT specifically so other people could use it. GPTs are clearly outdated, but I know companies and educators have invested heavily in them for years. This is a poor migration path for them.
· 27.5K views
Previously, a GPT creator could give other people access. After migration, existing users will not automatically retain access.
For those who built GPTs for colleagues, students or customers, transferring settings does not solve distribution. Creator CaseyChoate sold access to Custom GPTs through a subscription and, according to his Sep 23 post in the OpenAI Developer Community, spent 3 weeks building GPTs to create content for his business.
How to migrate a GPT. In My GPTs, select Migrate to plugin. OpenAI transfers the latest published version, so drafts and unpublished changes will not be included in the plugin. Instructions become a skill, a set of instructions for an agent, and knowledge files are copied into reference files.
The selected model and custom actions do not transfer. Features that depended on those actions will work once the integration is replaced with an available app or custom MCP server.
After migration, the plugin must be installed separately: open Plugins, select it and click Install plugin. You can then invoke it through @ or the + menu.
How to restore distribution. To publish publicly, upload a ZIP through Upload new or existing plugin, select a verified developer profile in Developer identity and click Submit for review. After approval, the Publish plugin button becomes available. The previous GPT's sharing settings do not transfer.
In Enterprise, using a migrated GPT without apps in Instant Chat requires no additional payment. Actions in Work consume credits.
According to OpenAI's Oct 5 FAQ, creation of new GPTs will stop on Oct 26, 2026, in affected Enterprise workspaces. Existing GPTs can be edited until they are migrated.
For Enterprise workspaces with an approved extension, Custom GPTs are scheduled to be disabled on Feb 11, 2027.
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