DALL-E GPT Retires August 30: Save Your ChatGPT Images

Direct answer: OpenAI will retire the official DALL·E GPT in ChatGPT on August 30, 2026. If you have images you want to keep, open them and use Save to download copies before the deadline. Image creation is not ending: OpenAI says you can continue creating and editing images with ChatGPT Images, and user-created GPTs with image generation enabled are not affected.^[1]^[2]

5-minute image backup checklist

Open ChatGPT Images on the web, or open Images in the mobile app.
Review the images you want to preserve, especially older work created through the official DALL·E GPT.
Open each important image and select Save.
Rename the downloaded file with a useful project name and date.
Store a second copy in cloud storage or your normal asset library.

Do this by: August 30, 2026.

How to save ChatGPT images before the DALL·E GPT retirement

On the web

Sign in to ChatGPT.
Open Images in the sidebar or go to chatgpt.com/images.
Select an image to open it.
Choose Save from the image controls to download it to your device.
Repeat for every image that matters to you.

OpenAI’s help page says images created with ChatGPT are automatically saved under Images, where users can browse and reuse them. The same controls also offer Copy and Share.^[2]

On iPhone, iPad, or Android

Open the ChatGPT app and select Images.
Tap the image you want to keep.
Select Save to download it, or Share to send it to another app or storage service.
Confirm the file appears in Photos, Downloads, or your chosen destination before moving to the next image.

What is changing on August 30?

The change applies to the official DALL·E GPT inside ChatGPT. OpenAI’s release notes say that GPT will be retired on August 30 and explicitly encourage users to download images they want to keep.^[1]

OpenAI has not said on the cited pages that all old image files will definitely be deleted on that date. The safe interpretation is therefore: do not rely on continued access through a retired GPT. Download local copies of important work while the current access path is available.

What is not changing?

ChatGPT can still create images: OpenAI directs users to ChatGPT Images for new image creation and editing.
User-created image GPTs are not affected: OpenAI specifically says GPTs created by users with image generation enabled are outside this retirement.
Existing image-management tools remain available: ChatGPT Images provides Save, Copy, and Share controls.

ChatGPT Images is available on web, iOS, and Android, according to OpenAI’s current help documentation.^[2]

Use this file-naming template

Downloading is more useful when the files remain searchable. Rename each important asset using this simple pattern:

project-subject-version-YYYY-MM-DD.png

Examples:

summer-campaign-hero-v3-2026-08-09.png
product-concept-blue-packaging-v2-2026-08-09.png
youtube-thumbnail-ai-tools-final-2026-08-09.png

Backup checklist for teams and agencies

If DALL·E images are part of client or company work, do more than save loose files:

Download the approved final image and any important variations.
Record the project, owner, campaign, and usage status in the filename or asset manager.
Preserve the original prompt and useful revision notes in a text file or project document.
Confirm who is responsible for the backup before August 30.
Check that downloaded files open correctly before deleting or archiving anything.
Keep one local copy and one separate backup.

How to create and edit images after the deadline

Use ChatGPT Images: describe the image you want in a conversation, or choose More → Images. For edits, open a generated image or upload an existing one and describe the requested change. OpenAI’s current editor also supports selecting an area, changing aspect ratio, and saving the finished result.^[2]

FAQ

When is the official DALL·E GPT retiring?

OpenAI says the official DALL·E GPT in ChatGPT will retire on August 30, 2026.^[1]

Will ChatGPT stop generating images?

No. OpenAI says users can continue creating and editing images with ChatGPT Images.^[2]

Will my custom GPT with image generation stop working?

OpenAI says user-created GPTs with image generation enabled are not affected by the retirement of the official DALL·E GPT.^[1]

Are old images guaranteed to disappear on August 30?

OpenAI’s cited announcement does not say that every old image will be deleted. It does, however, encourage users to download anything they want to keep. Backing up important files is the safest action.

Where are my ChatGPT images?

Open Images in ChatGPT on web or mobile. OpenAI says images created with ChatGPT are automatically saved there for browsing and reuse.^[2]

Sources

Last checked August 9, 2026. Product interfaces can change; if a button label differs, open the image and use the available download or save control.