OpenAI has confirmed that its integration with WhatsApp will be blocked starting January 15, 2026. This is due to a new policy update from Meta that restricts general-purpose AI chatbots on the WhatsApp Business API, a move widely seen as consolidating power toward Meta AI. If you’re someone who used to leverage ChatGPT on WhatsApp for quick answers, study help, or simple curiosity, all your ongoing and past conversations are on the verge of disappearing. However, OpenAI has confirmed that users can still secure their chat records, but it must be done manually. Here’s a step by step guide on how to save your ChatGPT conversations on WhatsApp to the OpenAI app and why it’s necessary.
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While this is not OpenAI’s own decision, but rather Meta’s new guidelines for the WhatsApp Business API have effectively forced this change. Starting January 2026, Meta will restrict access for general-purpose AI bots such as ChatGPT, allowing only customer service and business-related tools to operate on the platform. The company says high-traffic AI assistants put excessive strain on its infrastructure. In response, OpenAI stated that it respects Meta’s policy update and is working to ensure a smooth data migration for affected users before the service ends.
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Unfortunately, WhatsApp doesn’t allow users to directly download or export conversations with AI bots. However, OpenAI shared an alternative that makes the process easier. According to OpenAI, if you connect your WhatsApp number to a ChatGPT account, your previous conversations will be automatically transferred to your ChatGPT history. Follow the steps below to link ChatGPT with your WhatsApp number:
Once done, you’ll successfully link your WhatsApp number with your ChatGPT account. This integration will allow all your WhatsApp chats with ChatGPT to appear in the ChatGPT app instantly and stay saved even after the integration ends.’
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ChatGPT’s official app, website, and voice platforms will all continue to operate as usual. However, ChatGPT will no longer reply on WhatsApp. Users who have connected their WhatsApp account to ChatGPT will still be able to view their prior conversations on the ChatGPT platform. But those who haven’t connected their accounts will lose their WhatsApp communication history forever.