If you currently use ChatGPT-4o, you’re probably aware that OpenAI has decided to retire the model permanently and direct all users to its newer, and according to OpenAI, far superior model, ChatGPT-5.2, on February 13.
Long-time ChatGPT users will remember that OpenAI tried to retire ChatGPT-4o last year when it introduced the original ChatGPT-5 model, and things didn’t go well. There was so much user backlash that OpenAI was forced to reinstate 4o for Plus subscribers.
“Our goal is to give people more control and customization over how ChatGPT feels to use — not just what it can do. We’re announcing the upcoming retirement of GPT-4o today because these improvements are now in place,” OpenAI wrote last week.
The fact that the shutdown is scheduled for the day before Valentine’s Day feels particularly insensitive to some 4o users, especially given how many people rely on ChatGPT for emotional support and companionship.
With that in mind, we thought we’d round up all your options if you’re currently a 4o user. Here’s how to prepare for the big 4o switch-off, including one option that means you don’t have to say goodbye to ChatGPT-4o at all (see point three).
5 ways to survive the big 4o-switch off
1. Rebuild favorite workflows
A lot of what made 4o so great was how reliably it delivered the results you wanted from simple prompts. In short, it just worked. When you wrote things like “Summarize this without cheerleading” or “Rewrite this tighter, not longer,” 4o just knew what you meant. It simply got it.
Before 4o is turned off, try your favorite prompts in 5.2 and see how the responses differ. Take an old prompt you use regularly in 4o, run it through 5.2, and note exactly where the response diverges from what you want.
Next, add corrective instructions such as “Do not add framing language,” “Do not expand unless asked,” or “Preserve sentence rhythm,” and see if that brings the output closer to what you’re used to.
2. Build a 4o compatibility prompt
One of the biggest criticisms of the newer GPT-5 models is that they’re overly helpful and sycophantic, which is another reason many people preferred 4o. Let’s nip that in the bud.
You can give ChatGPT specific instructions in the Personalization section of Settings. This lets you enter text in the “Custom instructions” box that applies across all chats.
Alternatively, you can drop something like the following prompt at the start of a new conversation:
“Act like ChatGPT-4o in tone and behavior.
Be direct, neutral, and precise.
Follow instructions literally and do not reinterpret the task unless asked.
Avoid motivational language, cheerleading, or unnecessary framing.
Prefer concise, structured answers over verbose explanations.
Preserve the user’s voice when editing or rewriting text.
Do not add content, examples, or opinions unless explicitly requested.
If something is ambiguous, ask a single clarifying question rather than guessing.”
3. Keep using 4o, even after the switch-off
This is perhaps the most intriguing option. There’s a website called 4o-Revival that aims to bring ChatGPT-4o back, so you don’t have to stop using it entirely. It offers dated snapshots of the original 4o model, allowing you to experiment with different versions to find the exact “vibe” you loved.
I’ve spent some time using the 4o-Revival website, and it really does feel like using 4o again. The interface is slightly different, but you can do most of what you could before – including generating images, uploading files, performing web searches, and more. It also supports memory and personal instructions. While it doesn't offer full Voice Mode, it does offer text-to-speech.
The big drawback is usage limits. The free version caps you at 15 messages every 24 hours, while the Plus plan costs $19.99 a month and increases that to 80 messages every four hours.
4. Sign the petition
If you want to protest the retirement of 4o, you can try persuading OpenAI to reverse its decision. There’s an online petition calling on OpenAI to preserve access to GPT-4o.
It says: “We call on OpenAI to reverse the decision to retire GPT-4o for paid subscribers. If OpenAI wishes to move forward with GPT-5 as the default, we demand the implementation of a ‘Legacy Access’ toggle or a dedicated ‘Classic Mode’ that allows Plus, Team, and Enterprise users to continue using GPT-4o indefinitely.”
The petition may not ultimately change OpenAI’s plans, but it does at least provide a way to register your objections.
5. Quit ChatGPT
It may sound like a drastic final option, but many users are now openly discussing quitting ChatGPT altogether. Gemini appears to be the preferred destination for many users leaving OpenAI, while Claude is also a popular alternative.
The retirement of 4o is just one in a long list of “cost-cutting” complaints users have raised. Previous frustrations included automatic routing to lower-reasoning models based on query type and the introduction of ads.
The donation of a massive $25 million by ChatGPT president Greg Brockman to Trump’s super PAC, the largest of the six-month fundraising cycle, has also angered many users.
Explaining why they were quitting ChatGPT, Reddit user Individual_Dog_7394 wrote: “Legacy models are sunsetted, and plenty of people were using them for various tasks and reasons. Also, GPT’s quality is worse and worse in comparison to other models. It holds no candle to Gemini for the tasks I need from an LLM.”
User JackStrawWitchita even advocated abandoning paid AI services altogether:
“I’m surprised anyone is paying for any AI service. It’s more cost-effective — and more educational — to keep bouncing around the free tiers of the many different services available. The only way to learn about the different tools is to try them all. Paying for one service locks you into one narrow ecosystem and keeps you from learning about the amazing things the other tools are doing.”
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