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If you rely on ChatGPT inside WhatsApp, plan ahead: OpenAI confirmed the ChatGPT integration will stop working on January 15, 2026. The company pointed to a change in WhatsApp's policies and terms as the reason, and warned there won’t be an automatic chat export after the cutoff.
How to preserve your ChatGPT conversations today
You don’t need to lose your history — there’s a simple manual step to merge WhatsApp queries with your ChatGPT account before the shutdown. Open WhatsApp, open the 1-800-ChatGPT contact profile, and choose the option to link your ChatGPT account. Once linked, your WhatsApp queries are merged into your ChatGPT history so you can access them on other platforms.
Important notes:
- There’s no automatic export after January 15, so linking now is the safest move.
- WhatsApp doesn’t support chat exports for this integration, which is why the link option is critical.
- If you have sensitive or long threads, consider copying key exchanges into a personal archive or notes app as an extra backup.
Why this is happening — and why it matters
OpenAI said the change is driven by a "policy and terms change from WhatsApp." Beyond the official line, analysts point to business dynamics: Meta has accelerated its own AI efforts, and hosting a third-party chatbot inside WhatsApp at scale may clash with Meta’s strategic priorities.
For users, the immediate impact is convenience. About 50 million people reportedly used ChatGPT in WhatsApp — a sizeable audience that now needs alternatives. The good news: ChatGPT remains available across the same major platforms as WhatsApp, including Android, iOS, Windows, macOS and the web, so continuity is possible without losing access to the assistant.
Quick steps to switch platforms
- Link your ChatGPT account from the 1-800-ChatGPT contact in WhatsApp now.
- Install the ChatGPT app on iOS or Android, or sign in on the web or desktop apps.
- Export critical conversation snippets manually if you need local records.
Imagine losing a helpful thread mid-project — avoid that by linking your account and moving active workflows to ChatGPT’s native apps. The change is a reminder that integrations can be fragile when platform policies shift, so keeping primary copies of important conversations is a smart habit.
OpenAI says it aims to make the transition easy for users. Whatever the final reasoning between the companies, users still have options: migrate history now and continue using ChatGPT on supported platforms after WhatsApp support ends.
Source: engadget
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