Save your custom GPT chats from the ChatGPT data export

What happens to GPT chats

OpenAI's retirement FAQ says existing conversations with custom GPTs stay accessible after the retirement. They are not carried into the plugin that replaces a GPT: OpenAI's migration guide says previous chats may not copy, and suggests saving useful prompts and any context you need (Moving your custom GPT workflows to plugins). A copy outside ChatGPT also protects you if you later close the account.

Get your ChatGPT data export

In ChatGPT, open Settings, then Data controls, then Export data, and confirm.
OpenAI emails you when the file is ready. The download link expires 24 hours after you get it, so download it the same day.
Keep the ZIP as it is. Inside is your chat history, in a file called conversations.json (some exports split it into numbered files such as conversations-000.json; Skillcase reads both).

OpenAI says self-service export is not available for ChatGPT Business, Enterprise and ChatGPT for Healthcare workspaces; ask your workspace owner (Exporting your ChatGPT history and data).

How the export marks a GPT's chats

In conversations.json, each chat carries a gizmo_id. For a chat with a GPT it holds the GPT's id, the part after /g/ in the GPT's link (for example g-ABC123xyz). Chats in a ChatGPT project carry an id that starts with g-p-, and ordinary chats have none. This is how the export looks as written up by people who read it; OpenAI does not publish its layout (ChatGPT export specification (unofficial, community-written)).

Pull out the chats with Skillcase

Open Skillcase and, under "Your chats with the GPT", open the export ZIP as it is. Skillcase reads only the conversations file inside it, on your device.
It lists every GPT it finds, with the number of chats, the dates and the latest titles, and a link to open the GPT in ChatGPT so you can tell which one it is.
Pick the GPT for the backup, or tick several and save their chats on their own. Each chat becomes a Markdown file, plus one all-chats.md and a chats.json.

A GPT you did not make works the same way here: your chats with it are yours, and they are in your export, even though you cannot copy its instructions.

Where to put the chats next

all-chats.md is one file, which makes it easy to upload as knowledge to a Claude project (see moving a custom GPT to Claude), or to keep in a notes app. The per-chat files are for reading and searching on your computer.

Pack your GPT before December 11

Paste your GPT's setup, add its knowledge files and your ChatGPT export, and download a backup you can open anywhere, a skill for Claude, Gemini and ChatGPT, and your chats as Markdown. Free, in your browser, and nothing is uploaded.

Export your custom GPT Where each part of a GPT is

Questions

Does the ChatGPT export include chats with GPTs?

Yes. The export holds your chat history, and each chat with a GPT is marked with the GPT's id. Skillcase uses that mark to sort the chats by GPT.

How do I know which GPT an id belongs to?

The id is the part after /g/ in the GPT's link. Skillcase shows a link for each id that opens the GPT in ChatGPT, while GPT pages still work.

Can I export chats from a ChatGPT Business or Enterprise workspace?

OpenAI says self-service export is not available for Business, Enterprise and ChatGPT for Healthcare workspaces. Ask the workspace owner.

Sources: OpenAI Help: Custom GPT retirement and migration FAQ; OpenAI: Moving your custom GPT workflows to plugins; OpenAI Help: Exporting your ChatGPT history and data; convoviz: ChatGPT export specification (unofficial, community-written). Last checked: October 27, 2026. Skillcase is an independent tool by Peak Apps Studio and is not affiliated with OpenAI, Anthropic, Google or Ollama.