How to Get Sora in 2026: Sora Is Shut Down, What Happened, How to Export Your Videos and What to Use Instead

If you are searching for “how to get Sora” or “upgrade to Sora” in 2026, the most important fact comes first: Sora is no longer available. OpenAI shut down the Sora web app and mobile app on April 26, 2026, and the Sora API followed on September 24, 2026. That means there is nothing left to sign up for, upgrade to or buy, and any website, group or seller that claims to give you Sora access today is not offering the real service. This guide explains what happened, what you can still do with your old projects, what to check on your billing, how to avoid the scams that appear after a shutdown, and which kinds of tools people use instead. Details can change, so always rely on the official OpenAI notice and help pages. If you want to read about the earlier pricing, see our Sora pricing and payment guide.

What happened to Sora

Sora was OpenAI’s text-to-video product. It let users describe a scene and generate short clips, and later added a social-style app where people could share videos. In 2026, OpenAI announced that it would wind the product down. The consumer web and app experience closed on April 26, 2026, and developer access through the API ended on September 24, 2026. Because the product has been retired, there is no current plan to subscribe to, no invite system to join and no waiting list that leads to a working account.

Why people still search for how to get Sora

Search results and videos from earlier years are still online, and many pages were written when Sora was open or invite-only. Social posts continue to talk about “Sora 2 access”, “Sora invite codes” and “upgrade to Sora Pro”. New visitors who find these pages may assume the service is live. Always check the date of any guide and compare it with the official OpenAI announcement before you spend money or time.

Beware of scams after the shutdown

Whenever a popular product closes, scammers use the confusion. Common examples include sellers of “lifetime Sora accounts”, “invite code” bundles, “unlocked” apps that you must install from a link, and websites that say they run Sora in the cloud and ask for payment. None of these can give you access to a service that no longer exists. Typical outcomes are lost money, stolen login details and malware on your device. If someone asks for a card payment, a gift card, a crypto transfer or your verification code in exchange for Sora, stop and do not continue. Report the listing to the platform where you found it.

How to export your Sora videos

If you created videos while Sora was available, you should secure them. OpenAI published an export page at sora.chatgpt.com/sunset for downloading your videos and other data while it remains available. Follow the steps shown there, using only the official address.

1. Open the official export page in a browser and sign in with the same account you used for Sora.
2. Select the videos, drafts and other items that you want to keep.
3. Download the files and check that they open correctly.
4. Save your prompts, settings and notes in a separate document so that you can recreate a style later.
5. Store the files in at least two places, for example a local drive and cloud storage.
6. Check licensing and usage terms before using the videos commercially.
7. Delete anything you no longer want to keep once you are sure your backup is complete.

What happens to credits and payments

Check your billing history in your OpenAI account. OpenAI stated that credits purchased for Sora can be used in Codex, a different product. Whether you are entitled to a refund or another remedy depends on your country, your payment method and the applicable terms, so read the official notice and use the help center for any request. Do not follow links in emails or chats that claim to process refunds, because they are often phishing attempts. Keep invoices and screenshots in case you need to contact support.

Choosing a replacement

Several video generation tools exist, and the best choice depends on your goal. Some focus on short cinematic clips from text, some animate a still image, some are strong at character motion, and some are built into existing creative suites. When you compare, look at the maximum length and resolution, the style of the results, the prompt controls, the pricing model (monthly plan or credits), whether credits expire, whether the plan allows commercial use and whether there is a free tier for testing. Run the same prompt on two or three tools before you pay, and keep a record of what you spent per usable clip. For background on how Sora access used to be sold, see our earlier Sora buying guide.

Matching a tool to your project

For social media clips, speed and cost per clip matter most, so choose a tool with a generous free tier and short generation times. For marketing videos, consistency and brand control matter, so look for reference image features and commercial licences. For storytelling or film previsualisation, look at camera controls and the ability to keep a character consistent across shots. For learning and experiments, free tiers and open tools are often enough. Whichever tool you choose, expect to generate several versions before you get a usable clip.

Protect yourself when you switch

Use your own email and a unique password for every new service. Read the privacy policy to see whether your prompts and uploads may be used to train models. Avoid uploading photos of other people without their consent, and avoid generating content that imitates real individuals. Keep a copy of your prompts so that you are not locked into a single provider.

When to contact official support

Contact support when you have tried the basic fixes and the problem remains, when you see an unexpected charge, when you suspect your account was accessed by someone else or when you are locked out. Prepare the account email, the date and time of the problem, the exact message you saw and screenshots. Describe what you did step by step and what you expected to happen. Use only the contact methods listed on the official site and ignore anyone who offers to fix things for a fee through social media or private messages.

Devices, apps and browsers

Use the latest version of the official app or a modern browser when working with Sora. Keep your operating system updated, install security patches and avoid rooted or modified devices, which weaken protection. Browser extensions can read pages you visit, so remove those you do not trust. On mobile, download apps only from official stores, review the permissions they ask for and turn off those that are not needed. Lock your device with a PIN or biometrics so that a lost phone does not become a lost account.

Helping family members and colleagues

If you are setting up Sora for someone else, such as a parent, a teenager or a coworker, guide them rather than doing everything silently. Explain why strong passwords and two-step verification matter, show them how to recognize suspicious messages and agree on who to ask before they click or pay for anything. For minors, follow age requirements and use the available parental or family controls. For teams, document who owns the account, who can approve spending and what to do when someone leaves.

Keeping up with changes

Features, prices and rules around Sora change more often than most people expect. Follow the official blog, release notes or help center, and read the emails you receive about policy updates instead of deleting them. When a guide such as this one gives a number or a menu name, treat it as a starting point and confirm it on the official site. If a change affects you negatively, you can usually adjust your plan, settings or usage, so act early rather than waiting for a problem.

Common mistakes to avoid with Sora

Most problems come from a handful of avoidable habits. People reuse the same password across several services, ignore security notices, click links in unexpected messages, install unofficial apps that promise extra features, or buy accounts and access from resellers. Others skip reading the terms, which leads to restrictions they did not expect, or forget to write down renewal dates and recovery details. Spend a few minutes reading the official help pages, keep your details up to date and treat anything that sounds too good to be true as a warning sign.

Official sources versus unofficial offers

When you search for help with Sora, you will find both official pages and third-party offers. The comparison below shows why it pays to stay with official channels.

Privacy and personal data

Before you enter personal information anywhere, ask what is really required. Use only the details that Sora needs, review the privacy settings after setup and limit who can see your profile, activity and contact information. Avoid posting documents, addresses, financial data or photos that reveal your location. Check which third-party apps are connected to your account and remove those you no longer use. If you work with client or company data, follow your organization’s policy and do not mix it with personal accounts.

Troubleshooting checklist

If something does not work as expected with Sora, go through the basics in order before contacting anyone:

1. Check your internet connection and try again on a different network.
2. Update the app or refresh the page, then restart the device.
3. Clear the cache or try a private browser window without extensions.
4. Confirm that you are signed in with the correct account and email.
5. Look for the exact error message and search the official help center for it.
6. Wait a short time before repeating an action, since repeated attempts can trigger temporary limits.
7. If nothing helps, collect screenshots and contact official support.

Account security basics for Sora

Protect your Sora account before anything else. Use a long, unique password stored in a password manager, turn on two-step verification, and make sure the recovery email and phone number are ones you control. Review the list of devices and active sessions every few months and sign out of any you do not recognize. Never share one-time codes, even with someone who claims to work for support, because genuine support teams never ask for them. If you sign in on a shared or public computer, log out afterwards and avoid saving passwords in the browser.

A monthly review habit

Set a reminder once a month to review your Sora setup. Check your security settings, payment method, connected apps and notification preferences. If you pay for anything, compare the charge with what you actually used and decide whether to keep, change or cancel. Update your recovery details if you changed phone number or email. Delete old data you no longer need. Ten minutes a month prevents most surprises and keeps your costs and risks under control.

Quick recap checklist

Before you finish, confirm the essentials for Sora:

• You are using the official website or app.
• Your password is unique and two-step verification is on.
• Recovery email and phone are current.
• Privacy settings match what you are comfortable sharing.
• You know the price, renewal date and how to cancel if money is involved.
• You saved receipts, confirmation emails and backup codes in a safe place.
• You know where to find the official help center.

Recognizing scams and fake offers

Scammers often imitate well-known brands such as Sora. Typical signs are urgent messages, requests for passwords or verification codes, links to look-alike websites, promises of free upgrades or guaranteed results, and payment requests through unusual channels. Always type the official address yourself or use a saved bookmark, check the sender of every email and never pay through a link sent by a stranger. If you think you were tricked, change your password, review recent activity, contact your bank if money was involved and report the message to the platform.

A simple plan for the next 30 days

In the first week, export and archive everything and write down the prompts that gave you your best results. In the second week, shortlist two or three replacement tools and run the same test prompts on each of them using free credits. In the third week, compare the outputs, check the licence terms and calculate your cost per usable clip. In the fourth week, choose one tool, subscribe only if the free tier is not enough, and set a reminder before the renewal date. This approach keeps you in control and prevents the panic purchases that scammers rely on.

Frequently asked questions

Is Sora still available?

No. OpenAI shut down the Sora web app and mobile app on April 26, 2026 and the API on September 24, 2026.

Can I still upgrade to Sora?

No. There is no plan or tier that you can buy, and any seller offering one is not legitimate.

Do Sora invite codes still work?

No. The invite system is no longer relevant because the product is closed.

Can I still download my old videos?

Use the official export page at sora.chatgpt.com/sunset while it is available, and save your files in more than one place.

What happens to credits I bought?

OpenAI said credits purchased for Sora can be used for Codex. Check the official notice for the current terms.

Can I get a refund?

It depends on your country, payment method and the terms that applied. Contact support through the official help center.

Are Sora apps outside the official stores safe?

No. Unofficial apps and websites claiming to offer Sora can steal your data.

What should I use instead?

Compare current video generation tools, test them on a free tier and choose according to length, quality, cost and licence terms.

Will Sora come back?

There is no announcement of a return that we can confirm. Rely only on official OpenAI communication.

How do I report a scam seller?

Report the listing on the platform, do not pay, and secure any account whose password or code you shared.

Summary

Sora is closed, so there is nothing to get or upgrade to. Export your files while you can, check your credits and billing on official pages, ignore sellers of invite codes and accounts, and compare current alternatives before you pay for any video tool.