If you created videos with Sora before the April 26, 2026 discontinuation date, OpenAI provided a straightforward export process:
Export Before Discontinuation (Before April 26, 2026):
- Log into the Sora web or mobile app while it was still operational
- Navigate to your generated videos or images
- Hover over the media you want to download
- Click the three-dot menu icon (⋯)
- Select “Download”
- Save the video or image to your local device
Download Options: Videos could be downloaded in standard formats compatible with most video players and editing software. OpenAI recommended exporting all content before the official discontinuation date to avoid permanent data loss.
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Post-April 26 Access: Once the Sora app was shut down on April 26, 2026, users could no longer access their content through the official interface. OpenAI indicated it might provide a final export window after that date but had not committed to doing so as of the shutdown announcement. Users who did not download their content before April 26 risked permanent loss.
Storage Recommendation: Given the timeline and permanence of deletion, OpenAI strongly advised users to download and back up all content to external storage (hard drives, cloud storage services, etc.) well before the April deadline. Videos generated with Sora were only available through the official platform and could not be recovered once OpenAI’s servers were decommissioned.
Third-Party Tools: Some third-party services offered Sora video download functionality, though their reliability and continued operation after Sora’s shutdown was uncertain. Using official export methods was the safest approach.