GPT-4o shutdown date: ChatGPT retired it on Feb 13, 2026; the gpt-4o-2024-05-13 API ends Oct 23, 2026. Three timelines for ChatGPT users and developers.

Most headlines collapse those into one “GPT-4o is dead” story. That is wrong, and it is why the #keep4o noise keeps confusing people. Below we separate the three OpenAI timelines, show what replaces each surface, and spell out what ChatGPT users versus API developers should actually do — using only OpenAI’s own deprecations page and its January 29, 2026 retirement post.

The three GPT-4o shutdown dates (do not mix them up)

1. ChatGPT: Feb 13, 2026 (already past)

On January 29, 2026, OpenAI announced it would retire GPT-4o (and GPT-4.1, GPT-4.1 mini and o4-mini) from ChatGPT on February 13, 2026. The same post said API access was unchanged at that time, and that only about 0.1% of users still chose GPT-4o each day. If you open ChatGPT today looking for a GPT-4o picker, that path is already gone.

2. Chat API alias chatgpt-4o-latest: Feb 17, 2026 (already past)

OpenAI’s deprecations page lists chatgpt-4o-latest as removed on February 17, 2026 (announced November 18, 2025), with gpt-5.1-chat-latest as the recommended replacement at the time. That is a different line from the dated May 2024 snapshot below.

3. API snapshot gpt-4o-2024-05-13: Oct 23, 2026 (upcoming)

This is the date driving the current search spike. On April 22, 2026 OpenAI announced that gpt-4o-2024-05-13 — the May 13, 2024 snapshot — shuts down on October 23, 2026, with recommended replacement gpt-5.6-sol. That is one named snapshot, not a blanket statement that every GPT-4o API string disappears on that day. Other dated 4o snapshots that are not on the deprecations table are simply not covered by this announcement; do not invent their status.

GPT-4o migration timeline table: ChatGPT, API snapshot and audio end dates
Migration timeline checked Oct 13, 2026 against OpenAI’s deprecations page and Jan 29 retirement post.

Audio, realtime and transcription: later than Oct 23

If your product uses GPT-4o for voice, do not plan around October 23 alone. Per the same deprecations page:

  • Jan 20, 2027: legacy gpt-4o-audio, gpt-4o-realtime and related mini variants shut down (announced July 20, 2026). Replacements point to the newer gpt-audio-1.5 / gpt-realtime-2.1 family.
  • Feb 26, 2027: gpt-4o-transcribe, gpt-4o-mini-transcribe, gpt-4o-transcribe-diarize and whisper-1 shut down (announced August 26, 2026). Replacements: gpt-live-transcribe or gpt-transcribe.

What you should actually do

If you are a ChatGPT user

Nothing to migrate for GPT-4o in the chat UI — that retirement already happened in February. Use today’s default models and the personality / style controls OpenAI shipped after GPT-4o’s ChatGPT exit. Campaigns asking OpenAI to “keep 4o” are sentiment, not a documented product path on the deprecations page.

If you are an API developer

  • Before Oct 23, 2026: search your code and prompts for gpt-4o-2024-05-13 (and any alias that still points at it). Switch to gpt-5.6-sol or the current Sol-line model your org has approved. Run your eval suite — Sol is a different generation, so latency, tool-calling and tone will change.
  • Do not assume all 4o strings die on Oct 23: only what OpenAI listed for that date is confirmed. Check the deprecations table for your exact model ID.
  • Voice / transcription apps: put Jan 20 and Feb 26, 2027 on the roadmap now so you are not surprised after the text snapshot is gone.

For how OpenAI’s current flagship pair compares, see our GPT-6 Astra vs Sol breakdown. For a wider ranking of what to move to, see best AI model, and for product-safety context around ChatGPT itself see Is ChatGPT safe?.

Frequently asked questions

What is the GPT-4o shutdown date?

There is more than one. ChatGPT retired GPT-4o on February 13, 2026. The API snapshot gpt-4o-2024-05-13 shuts down on October 23, 2026. Legacy GPT-4o audio and realtime models end January 20, 2027, and GPT-4o transcription models end February 26, 2027.

Is GPT-4o gone from the API already?

Not entirely. chatgpt-4o-latest was removed on February 17, 2026, but gpt-4o-2024-05-13 remains listed until October 23, 2026. Other dated GPT-4o snapshots that are not on OpenAI’s deprecations table for that date are not covered by the October 23 announcement.

What replaces gpt-4o-2024-05-13?

OpenAI’s deprecations page lists gpt-5.6-sol as the recommended replacement for gpt-4o-2024-05-13. Test behavior and cost before you cut over.

Can I still use GPT-4o in ChatGPT?

No. OpenAI retired GPT-4o from ChatGPT on February 13, 2026, as announced in its January 29, 2026 post.

What does the keep4o campaign change?

It reflects user sentiment. It is not an official OpenAI extension of any of the dates on the deprecations page. Plan migrations against OpenAI’s published shutdown dates, not petition timelines.