You may try this:
- Clear Browser Cache and Cookies
- Disable Browser Extensions
- Use a Different Browser or Device
If they don’t work, try followings:
- Log Out all your devices
- On web browser, on Settings, Security, Log Out of all devices and Log Back In
- Navigate to Explore GPTs.
- Go to MyGPT section, refresh page
- Refresh your browser multiple times until your project folders reappear on the left sidebar.
If they don’t work, visit OpenAI support:
- Contact OpenAI Support, click on widget on help page and continue to explain your issue.
help.openai.com
2 Likes
I am facing the same problem
I tried:
Logging out from all devices
Disabled all the extensions
Tried with a different browser
Deleted all cookies and cache from the browser
Still the issue persists.
Can anyone please suggest what can be done?
2 Likes
same thing happened to me today. all my projects disappeared from web and mobile app. the only thing that changed is the subscription, from chatgpt plus to free. could it be that ?
i get it its a plus feature, but why would openai delete project when the subscription finishes
3 Likes
I’m experiencing the same issue. The only change on my end was switching from ChatGPT Plus to the Free version. My conversations still appear in the list, but I get a 404 error when trying to open them on the iOS app. I also see this message on desktop version:
“Project not found or insufficient permissions. Please verify the project exists, and ensure that your account has the necessary permissions and that there are no workplace restrictions preventing access.”
My project folders have also disappeared. I don’t understand what’s happening.
1 Like
TLDR - if you ever plan to downgrade to Free, DO NOT create chats in Projects unless you have to. Otherwise those chats will get locked out. I’m going to pay this fee to get access to my content.
This is what I got from ChatGPT Support:
Thank you for clarifying your situation. Based on current information about how ChatGPT Projects work: Projects and their chats remain accessible as long as your plan supports the Projects feature. As of now, access to Projects is only available on ChatGPT Plus, Pro, Team, Enterprise, and Edu plans. If you have downgraded to the Free plan, you will lose access to all Project-based chats—even if the project itself still exists. This is intentional: the Free plan does not include Projects, and you will see a permissions error if you try to open or continue any chat inside a Project folder. Key points:
- You can see the Project and its chats in your sidebar because they are not deleted, but you cannot interact with them or continue conversations unless you upgrade again to a supported plan (Plus, Pro, Team, Enterprise, or Edu).
- Regular (non-project) chats remain accessible.
- There is currently no workaround on the Free plan to regain access to Project chats except by upgrading your subscription. What you can do:
- If you would like to regain access to continue these project chats, you would need to re-subscribe to a supported plan (such as ChatGPT Plus).
- As a workaround, you may consider exporting your data via Settings > Data Controls > Export Data. This will include the text of your previous Project conversations, but you won’t be able to reply to or continue these chats unless your account is on a supported plan. Let me know if you’d like help with data export or re-subscribing, or if you have any other questions!
I understand your frustration, and you’re not alone—many users want simple ways to organize their chats. The Projects feature in ChatGPT offers powerful ways to manage work and files, but it is currently a premium-only feature tied to paid plans. When you downgrade to the Free plan, access to those features (including the ability to use or continue Project chats) is restricted. If your main need is chat organization, consider keeping chats in the default chat area on the Free plan or reviewing whether upgrading fits your workflow. Your feedback is valuable, and OpenAI is always evaluating how features are made available. If you need guidance on exporting your data or managing chats, I’m here to help!
I understand your frustration. The Projects feature is designed for organization, collaboration, and expanded functionality, but it is currently only included with paid ChatGPT plans (Plus, Pro, Team, Enterprise, Edu). If your subscription ends, you lose access to creating or continuing project-based chats, though your data isn’t deleted—you can access it again if you upgrade in the future. This is similar to how many productivity tools limit advanced workspace features to paid plans. Regular chats outside of Projects remain accessible on the Free plan. If you only want to organize chats and not risk access loss, it’s best to keep important conversations outside Projects while on a free plan. I appreciate your feedback, and I’ll make sure it’s noted. If you need help exporting your data or have other questions, I’m here to help!
I’m facing the same problem. As I can see here, there’s no answer yet, so I’m gonna unfortunatelly cancel my signature.
Hi there!
This is a developer community: a space for developers building apps with OpenAI APIs and tools to have technical discussions with other developers. The ChatGPT team doesn’t monitor this forum. For ChatGPT discussion, join the official Discord: OpenAI. For support, you can visit https://help.openai.com/en/articles/6614161-how-can-i-contact-support.
