When a user is removed from a ChatGPT workspace, their access to chats, files, canvases, and custom GPTs is revoked — but whether that data is retained and restored upon rejoining depends on the workspace type and any configured retention policy.
Team Workspaces
Data behavior:
Chats, files, and canvases are retained indefinitely.
When a user is re-added, their data is fully restored.
Custom GPTs:
Custom GPTs are transferred to a workspace admin upon user removal.
They are not returned automatically upon rejoining, but an admin can reassign ownership.
Enterprise Workspaces (SCIM and Non-SCIM)
Enterprise workspaces — regardless of whether users are managed manually or via SCIM — follow the same retention logic. However, retention duration may vary based on the workspace’s custom configuration.
Default behavior:
By default, chats, files, and canvases are retained for 30 days after a user is removed (or deprovisioned via SCIM).
If the user is re-added within this window, all their previous content is restored.
After 30 days, all data is permanently deleted and cannot be recovered.
Custom retention policies:
Some Enterprise workspaces have a custom retention period configured, which overrides the default 30-day setting.
This retention window may be shorter or longer, depending on the organization's compliance needs.
Workspace admins or support contacts can confirm the specific policy in place.
Custom GPTs:
As with other plans, custom GPTs are reassigned to a workspace admin when the user is removed.
They are not automatically returned to the user upon rejoining, regardless of retention policy.
Canvas Documents
Canvas files (standalone text/code docs created in ChatGPT) follow the same rules as chats:
Team: Retained indefinitely.
Enterprise: Retained for 30 days by default, or based on the workspace’s custom policy.
Restored automatically if the user is re-added within the retention window.