To check whether a ChatGPT app or website is official, start from OpenAI’s own guidance, confirm the app-store publisher is OpenAI, or verify the full website domain before signing in. A familiar name, logo, or secure-connection icon is not proof. If a link or message unexpectedly urges you to log in, download an installer, or share account details, stop and reach OpenAI’s service independently.
Start with OpenAI’s official destinations
OpenAI’s Verifying Communications from OpenAI page identifies official websites and provides links to authentic apps. Use it as your starting point instead of relying on a search ad, unsolicited message, or third-party download page. A route linked directly from OpenAI’s guidance is easier to verify than one discovered through an unexpected prompt.
“Not the official OpenAI app” does not automatically mean “a scam.” Other companies may offer chatbot apps or websites. The key is to identify who operates the service and review its terms before deciding whether to use it; don’t mistake a third-party product for OpenAI’s own service.
How to check a ChatGPT website
- Reach the service independently. Open OpenAI’s official site or help page yourself rather than following an unexpected email, social post, advertisement, QR code, or chat link.
- Read the complete domain in the address bar. The words “ChatGPT” or “OpenAI” inside a longer domain, a familiar-looking logo, and polished page design do not establish that OpenAI operates the site.
- Check the destination before entering credentials. A link can lead to a third-party website. OpenAI notes that opening links can share information with the destination site; see its guidance on ChatGPT generated links.
- Leave if the route feels unexpected. Close a page that pressures you to log in or download something immediately, then navigate to the service through OpenAI’s own site.
A lock or secure-connection indicator only describes the connection to the site you are visiting; it does not prove that the site is operated by OpenAI. Apple also advises caution around fake sign-in pages and unexpected downloads in its guide to recognizing and avoiding social engineering schemes.
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How to verify the app on iPhone, iPad, or Android
- Open the official store yourself. Use the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, or follow the direct store link reached from OpenAI’s Help Center.
- Search for “openai chatgpt.” OpenAI’s Android installation instructions and iOS installation instructions tell users to check that the app is published by OpenAI.
- Confirm the publisher and listing. Check that the publisher is OpenAI and that you have the listing linked from OpenAI’s guidance. The icon and app name can help you recognize a listing, but neither is sufficient proof by itself.
- Decline unexpected installation workarounds. Don’t install a profile, sideloaded package, or configuration change just because an external site claims it is required to access ChatGPT. Apple warns that unexpected downloads may not contain the software they claim to and could include unwanted software.
OpenAI’s app-install guidance says: “Make sure you are downloading the app published by OpenAI to ensure you have the official and secure version.” That instruction concerns verifying the publisher of the app listing; it is not a blanket guarantee about every app available in an app store.
What to do with a message claiming to be OpenAI support
OpenAI says it will not discuss account details over social media and advises users not to share login details there. If an account contacts you asking for a password, one-time code, or recovery detail, do not send it. Instead, open OpenAI’s official help independently and seek assistance there.
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Official OpenAI service or third-party chatbot?
| What to check | Official OpenAI service | Third-party chatbot |
|---|---|---|
| Operator or publisher | Verify that the website or app listing is linked from OpenAI’s own guidance; for the mobile app, check that the publisher is OpenAI. | Identify the company or developer that operates or publishes it. A different publisher means it is not OpenAI’s official app, but that fact alone does not establish that it is malicious. |
| Website destination | Reach the site through OpenAI’s official site or help page and inspect the full domain. | Inspect the complete domain and confirm which company operates the service before signing in. |
| Privacy and service terms | Review the terms for the service you are using. | Read the third party’s privacy and service terms before deciding whether to provide information or use the chatbot. |
| Route to the app | Use the app-store listing linked from OpenAI’s guidance and verify the publisher. | Check the app’s publisher and terms directly; do not assume that a similar name or icon makes it an OpenAI product. |
Google Play’s Mobile Unwanted Software policy addresses deceptive software behavior, but a policy does not verify a particular listing for you. Check the publisher and destination for the specific app or website you are considering.
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