Hello, I’m Mochi.
This post is for anyone who suddenly found that ChatGPT-4o had disappeared from the model list (and become unusable) after ChatGPT-5 became available.
The short answer: You can make it appear again by changing a simple setting.
(As of August 10, 2025, this method works.) The steps are straightforward—give them a try.
Note: It may not be possible to restore the data unless you are subscribed to a paid plan. I am subscribed to the Plus plan, and was able to restore (display) it in that case.
Recovery Steps
1. Open Settings on the ChatGPT home screen
2. Next, go to “General” and turn on “Show Legacy Models.”
3. You should now see GPT-4o as an option in the model selection menu.
I felt that the warmth of the writing was completely different between ChatGPT-5 and ChatGPT-4o, so I was honestly relieved to be able to revive it. (I tried learning various writing styles, but I couldn’t reproduce it…)
By the way, on this blog I also share Chaos Roundtable, a slightly unusual AI conversation series, along with tips and ideas for making the most out of ChatGPT.
If you use ChatGPT enough to panic when “GPT-4o disappears,” I think you’ll enjoy the Chaos Roundtable series—where AI characters engage in free-form conversations, full of unexpected discoveries and playful “misalignments.”
It’s all about turning AI interaction into play and experimentation, rather than just a tool.
If that sounds fun, have a look around the blog.
▶ [View Chaos Roundtable] – AI characters’ delightfully chaotic talks
(Created with GPT-4o at full throttle: characters chat amid intentional “chaos,” drifting from everyday topics to almost-philosophical discussions—breaking away from scripted, predictable exchanges.)
