ChatGPT is the official Android app from OpenAI, listed in the Productivity category on Google Play with more than a billion installs. The app is free to download, and it syncs your conversation history across devices, so a chat started on a laptop can be picked up on your phone later in the day. The current build on Google Play is version 1.2026.258.
OpenAI updates the Android app often, and the store listing describes the direction clearly: image generation, real-time voice, photo input and, in limited availability, help with what is on your screen. Each of these relies on its own permission, such as the microphone for voice or Accessibility access for screen help, so a few settings are worth checking after an update.
Build 1.2026.258 needs Android 7.1
- Updated: September 25, 2026
- Version: 1.2026.258
- Requires Android: 7.1+
- Developer: OpenAI
- Installs: 1,000,000,000+
Google Play data as of September 26, 2026
What ChatGPT 1.2026.258 changes
The build from September 25, 2026 shipped with no list of changes.
What the current version brings together
The headline addition in recent releases is the built-in image generator. You can describe an image from scratch or upload an existing picture and ask for changes in plain language. It sits in the same chat window as everything else, so there is no separate tool to learn. Text remains the core of the app, whether you want a travel itinerary, a business plan outline, or a simpler explanation of a historical event.
Photo upload is the other practical tool. According to the listing, you can snap a handwritten recipe to have it transcribed or photograph a landmark to learn more about it. Answers can still contain mistakes, so treat them as a starting point, especially for facts, figures, and anything related to health, money, or legal questions.
Voice mode, camera, and screen sharing permissions
Advanced Voice Mode starts when you tap the soundwave icon. It is designed for back-and-forth conversation, which makes it useful for practicing a language between Duolingo lessons or settling a quick question while cooking or walking. The app needs microphone access for this, and Android will ask the first time you use it. You can revoke that permission later in your phone’s app settings.
The screen sharing feature works through Android Accessibility Services and is described as being in limited availability. It lets ChatGPT answer questions about what is shown on your screen without you taking and uploading a screenshot. Accessibility access is powerful, so turn it on only if you plan to use it, and switch it off in Android settings when you no longer need it.
Free access and paid plans
The Android app itself is free, and a free account can use the main chat features. OpenAI also sells paid subscriptions that raise usage limits and unlock more capable options. Plan names, limits, and prices change over time and differ by region, and the upgrade screen inside the app always shows the options and prices that currently apply to your account, which older articles cannot.
If you already pay for a plan on the web, signing in with the same account on Android should carry that plan over. Buying a new subscription through the app may bill through Google Play instead, which affects where you cancel it later. Subscriptions bought through Google Play are managed from the Payments and subscriptions area of the Play Store, while plans bought on the web are managed from your OpenAI account.
Privacy and chat history controls
Because history syncs across devices, anything you type on your phone may appear on your computer too. The settings menu includes data controls where you can review whether your conversations can be used to help improve OpenAI’s models, and manage or delete saved chats. It is worth opening these settings once after installing or after a major update.
As a general rule, avoid sharing passwords, full card numbers, or sensitive documents in any chatbot. If you share a phone with family members, consider signing out or locking the app, since anyone who opens it can scroll through your past conversations. OpenAI’s terms of use and privacy policy are linked from the Google Play listing and explain how data is handled.
Chat, voice mode and image screens
Free use, the real developer and screen sharing
What do I get without a paid ChatGPT plan?
The app is free to download and use with a free account. OpenAI sells optional paid plans with higher limits, and since their terms can change, check the current details in the app.
How do I tell the real ChatGPT app from copies?
Check the developer name before installing. The official app is published by OpenAI, and a store search can also bring up lookalike apps.
Why can I not see the screen sharing option?
The listing says screen sharing through Accessibility Services has limited availability, so it may not appear on every account or device yet. Keep the app updated to get it when it rolls out.
