Who actually gets ChatGPT Work
The single most confused fact about Work. Web and mobile are paid-plan only. Desktop depends on your plan and your workspace. And an admin can switch off cloud and local access independently.
VERIFIED 2026-08-23 · OPENAI HELP CENTERThe rule, stated precisely
OpenAI's Help Center puts it three ways, and all three matter:
- Work is available on ChatGPT web and mobile for eligible paid plans.
- Work is available in the desktop app when included for your plan and workspace.
- Work is available for eligible ChatGPT Enterprise and Edu workspaces with Enterprise Key Management (EKM) enabled.
Watch the wording. A lot of coverage published in July claimed free users could reach Work through the desktop app. The Help Center does not say that — it conditions desktop access on your plan and workspace, exactly as it conditions web and mobile access on having an eligible paid plan.
By surface
| Surface | Who gets Work | Runs where | Local files |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web | Eligible paid plans | Cloud | No |
| Mobile | Eligible paid plans | Cloud | No |
| Desktop (macOS / Windows) | When included for your plan and workspace | Cloud and local | Yes, with permission |
| Enterprise / Edu workspace | Eligible workspaces with EKM enabled | Per admin policy | Per admin policy |
In a managed workspace, your admin decides
For eligible workspaces, Work is enabled by default for members on the default workspace role unless an owner or admin turns it off. Workspace settings and role-based access controls still determine each member's access. Owners and admins manage this in Workspace settings → Permissions & roles:
| Permission | What it grants |
|---|---|
| Work Cloud | Start new cloud tasks and view existing cloud tasks across supported web, mobile and desktop surfaces. |
| Work Local | When enabled without Work Cloud, members work locally in the desktop app but cannot start cloud tasks. |
| Codex Local | Controlled separately — changing Work Local or Work Cloud does not change Codex Local access. |
| Browser use & network access | Separate controls that continue to apply where supported. |
Chat stays available in every configuration. If Work or Codex Local is off for your role, you will see the product marked unavailable with an option to request access from an admin.
Work is missing for me — what now?
- Confirm your plan is a paid one. Web and mobile Work requires an eligible paid plan. This is the answer most of the time.
- Update the desktop app and restart it. Rollout has been staged since launch, and surfaces enabled at different times.
- If you are in a workspace, ask an admin to check your role. Work Cloud and Work Local are separate permissions on the role, not one switch.
- If web works but local files do not, wait before filing a ticket. OpenAI's own guidance is that cloud and local access can update at different times — if the permission is enabled, allow time for the local-permission backfill to complete before contacting Support.