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Is Character.AI shutting down? What happens to your chats
Not yet. Character.AI is open and c.ai+ still works, the company says.
It closes if no buyer keeps it running. Export your data now. Bids are due Nov 24. Source
Disney is the first bidder, and that sounds like a rescue. It is not one yet.
Disney's offer covers only some of the company's assets. Source News reports describe it as a license to some of the company's intellectual property. CBS News
Will the app close?
Not now. The company says the app stays open during the sale and paid plans stay active. Source
If the sale fails, the platform will be wound down, the company says. Source
Bids are due November 24 at noon Eastern. The auction is on December 1. A court hearing on the sale follows on December 3 and 4. Source
All dates and sources
| When | What happened | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Character.AI started a voluntary Chapter 11 case to sell the company under court supervision. | Company post, read November 10, 2026 | |
| The company filed the Notice of Commencement of its Chapter 11 case. | Company post, read November 10, 2026 | |
| The court issued its order on the bidding procedures for the sale. | Court claims agent, read November 10, 2026 | |
| The company posted the court's sale notice. Disney Worldwide Services is the lead bidder for a set of assets the papers call the Disney Target Assets. | Company sale notice, read November 10, 2026 | |
| Last day to object to the sale, 4:00 PM ET. | Court claims agent, read November 10, 2026 | |
| Bids for the company's assets are due by 12:00 PM ET. | Company sale notice, read November 10, 2026 | |
| Auction of the company's assets at 10:00 AM ET, unless it is cancelled or adjourned. | Court claims agent, read November 10, 2026 | |
| Court hearing on the sale, December 3 and 4 at 9:30 AM ET, unless it is adjourned. | Court claims agent, read November 10, 2026 |
Chapter 11 case 26-11603, US Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. Court times are US Eastern.
Is Disney buying Character.AI?
Not the whole company, as far as the court papers show. Disney is the lead bidder only for the Disney Target Assets. Source
Other buyers can still bid for those assets or for the rest of the company. A higher or better offer can replace Disney's. Source
News reports put Disney's offer at $20 million. CBS News
Why did Character.AI file for bankruptcy?
In its court papers, the company said the platform was costly to develop and grow. It also pointed to possible costs from lawsuits. CNBC
Some of those lawsuits claim the app harmed teens, CNN reported. CNN
What happens to your chats?
For now, nothing changes. The company says its privacy policy is the same and you can still export or delete your data. Source
A coalition of state attorneys general, led by Colorado, asked the court to protect children and private chats in any sale. Colorado Attorney General
What happens to your c.ai+ plan?
Billing is unchanged for now. Subscribers get notice before a change hits paid features, the company says. Source
| c.ai+ in the US App Store | Price | Billed |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly | $9.99 | Every month |
| Yearly | $94.99 | Once a year |
App Store US prices, checked October 28, 2026.
Both plans renew on their own until you cancel. Payments are non-refundable except where the law requires it. Source
A yearly plan pays for a full year ahead. With a monthly plan, you risk one month at a time.
What to do this week
- Export your data from the app or the website. The company says this still works. Source
- Turn off auto-renew if you don't want another payment. If you pay through the App Store, cancel in iPhone Settings, under Subscriptions. Source
- Compare other apps before you pay again.
| App | Billed every month | Minimum age | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| DreamGen | $7.83 | 18 | November 6, 2026 |
| Anuma | $9.99 | 13 | November 6, 2026 |
| Venice.ai | $18.00 | 13 | November 6, 2026 |
We update this page after the auction and again after the court hearing.
All c.ai+ plans, Charms packs and ratings: Character.AI prices.
Other questions
Does c.ai+ still work?
Yes. The company says paid plans stay active, billing is unchanged for now, and subscribers get notice before paid features change.
Can I get a refund for c.ai+?
Character.AI's terms say payments are non-refundable except where the law requires it.
Can I download my data?
Yes. The company says you can export your data or delete your account in the app or on the website.
When will the sale finish?
Bids are due November 24, 2026. The auction is set for December 1 and the court hearing on the sale for December 3 and 4, unless they are moved. The case is 26-11603 in the US Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware.
Page updates
What changed on this page
- : Rewrote the page around the questions readers ask. Added the bid deadline of November 24, Disney's role from the court notice, and why the company filed.
- : Added the court dates: objections by November 18, auction on December 1, sale hearing on December 3 and 4.
- : First version, from the company's update and our c.ai+ prices.
Sources
- Character.AI blog, "An update on Character.ai", read November 10, 2026
- Character.AI blog, "Chapter 11 update and transaction notice", read November 10, 2026
- Court claims agent Stretto, case dates, read November 10, 2026
- CBS News, Oct 13, 2026, read November 10, 2026
- CNBC, Oct 13, 2026, read November 10, 2026
- CNN, Oct 13, 2026, read November 10, 2026
- Colorado Attorney General, Oct 14, 2026, read November 10, 2026
- Character.AI, App Store US listing, read October 28, 2026
- Character.AI website, subscription terms, read October 29, 2026
- Apple Support, cancel a subscription, read October 31, 2026
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