Unofficial guide · Updated October 1, 2026
OpenAI dots not working or not showing? A troubleshooting checklist
Most “I can’t find dots” problems come down to a handful of launch restrictions. Work through these in order; each one links to the official source.
By the Dots Playbook editors · Checked against 3 sources on October 1, 2026 · 6 min read
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Key facts
- Launched
- Sep 29, 2026
- Model
- GPT-6 Astra
- Included in
- Pro, Business Premium
- Create on
- Desktop only
- Minimum age
- 18
“Dots aren’t available on your plan / in your region yet”: what it means
If ChatGPT tells you dots isn’t available to you yet, the wording usually points straight at the cause. The exact text may vary; these are the common cases and what to do about each.
| What you see | Why | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Not available on your plan yet | You’re on Free, Go or Plus. Dots comes with Pro and Business Premium | See which plans include it on our pricing page |
| Not available in your region yet | You’re on Pro in the EU/EEA, Switzerland or the UK, which are excluded at launch | Business Premium works there; see availability |
| No dots option at all on an eligible plan | The gradual rollout hasn’t reached your account, or you’re on a phone | Wait a few days and try on desktop (checklist below) |
| Not available in an Enterprise workspace | The Enterprise beta is off until an admin enables it | Ask your workspace admin |
Not available on your plan yet
- Why
- You’re on Free, Go or Plus. Dots comes with Pro and Business Premium
- What to do
- See which plans include it on our pricing page
Not available in your region yet
- Why
- You’re on Pro in the EU/EEA, Switzerland or the UK, which are excluded at launch
- What to do
- Business Premium works there; see availability
No dots option at all on an eligible plan
- Why
- The gradual rollout hasn’t reached your account, or you’re on a phone
- What to do
- Wait a few days and try on desktop (checklist below)
Not available in an Enterprise workspace
- Why
- The Enterprise beta is off until an admin enables it
- What to do
- Ask your workspace admin
Plans and regions from OpenAI’s help article (OpenAI Help Center). The message wording comes from what users report and may change.
Can’t find dots or can’t create a dot
Check your plan
Dots is rolling out to Pro and Business Premium, plus Enterprise as a beta. Free and Plus aren’t included (OpenAI Help Center). See pricing.
Check your region
Pro excludes the EEA, Switzerland and the UK. Business Premium works in all supported regions. See availability.
Switch to a computer
You can only create a dot in the ChatGPT desktop app or a desktop browser. Mobile can’t create one and mobile web isn’t supported at all.
Give the rollout time
Access may take several days to reach an eligible account. Check back over the next few days.
Enterprise? Ask your admin
The Enterprise beta is off by default until your workspace admin enables it.
Check the age requirement
Dots isn’t available to users under 18 (OpenAI Help Center).
Check you’re in the right workspace
If you have a personal and a work account, switch to the one with the eligible plan. (General tip, not from OpenAI.)
Update the desktop app
Install the latest ChatGPT desktop app from chatgpt.com/download (official site, opens in a new tab), or try chatgpt.com/dots (official site, opens in a new tab) in a desktop browser. (General tip, not from OpenAI.)
Your dot is set up but not doing what you expect
It doesn’t reply in Slack or by text
Messaging channels are set up from desktop. Texting is a limited US beta for Pro only, and replying STOP turns off outgoing texts (OpenAI Help Center).
It can’t reach my files or computer
Local computer access is off by default. Open the ChatGPT desktop app on that computer and confirm Allow access. Camera, microphone and screen access also need permission in your device settings (OpenAI Help Center).
A scheduled task didn’t run
Open Scheduled in your dot’s profile and check whether the task is paused, and whether the dot itself is paused (“Paused • Tap to resume”) (OpenAI Help Center).
It stopped mid-task or asked me to take over
Auto-review checks certain actions, like sending email, before they run. If a step is blocked, your dot may ask for approval, try an allowed alternative, or stop. Changing passwords and moving money are always handed back to you, and the safety monitor can pause work and show a warning (OpenAI).
A site blocked its cloud browser
With local computer access enabled, your dot can use your local browser when its cloud browser is blocked (OpenAI Help Center).
It made a mistake
Ask your dot to fix it; it may be able to undo some actions, such as reverting document edits or recalling an email. Not every action can be reversed (OpenAI Help Center).
Still stuck?
Frequently asked questions
What does “dots aren’t available on your plan yet” mean?
Your current ChatGPT plan doesn’t include dots. At launch that means Free, Go and Plus. Dots comes with Pro and Business Premium, and Enterprise has it as an admin-enabled beta.
What does “dots aren’t available in your region yet” mean?
You’re on Pro in a region where Pro is excluded at launch: the EU/EEA, Switzerland or the UK. Business Premium works there. OpenAI hasn’t said when Pro will follow.
Why can’t I see dots in ChatGPT?
The usual reasons are an ineligible plan (Free or Plus), Pro in the EEA, Switzerland or the UK, using a phone, an Enterprise workspace where the admin hasn’t enabled the beta, or the gradual rollout not having reached your account yet.
Why can’t I create a dot on my phone?
Dots can only be created in the ChatGPT desktop app or in ChatGPT in a desktop browser. Mobile web isn’t supported. After setup, you can talk to your dot in the mobile app.
My dot stopped working. What happened?
Check whether it’s paused (“Paused • Tap to resume” in its profile) and whether the task is paused under Scheduled. Dots can also pause work and show a warning if their safety monitoring detects a risk.
Why won’t my dot do something I asked?
Auto-review may have blocked the step, or your custom rules may require approval. Some actions, such as changing a password or transferring money, are always handed back to you.
Sources
- OpenAI Help Center: Getting started with your dot (official, published September 29, 2026, checked October 1, 2026)
- OpenAI Help Center: Dots privacy, security, and safety FAQs (official, published September 29, 2026, checked September 30, 2026)
- OpenAI: How we build safety, security, and privacy into dots (official, published September 29, 2026, checked September 30, 2026)
Dots is new and changes fast. If something here is out of date, the official pages win.