Table of Contents
Quick Answer
If ChatGPT is not working, the fix is usually one of three things: OpenAI servers are down, your browser cache is broken, or your network is blocking the connection. 90% of cases resolve in under 2 minutes.
- Check status at status.openai.com first
- Clear browser cache and cookies for chat.openai.com
- Try incognito mode or a different browser
Why This Happens
ChatGPT runs on OpenAI's cloud infrastructure. When you see errors like "Something went wrong", "Network error", "Conversation not found", or an infinite loading spinner, the issue is usually on OpenAI's side (server load, deploys, regional outages), on your browser (cached auth tokens, corrupted service workers), or on your network (VPN blocks, firewall rules, ISP throttling).
Step-by-Step Fixes
Step 1: Check OpenAI status
Go to status.openai.com. If ChatGPT shows degraded performance or outage, wait 15–30 minutes. No fix on your side will help during an outage.
Step 2: Hard refresh the page
Press Ctrl + Shift + R (Windows/Linux) or Cmd + Shift + R (Mac). This bypasses cache and reloads fresh assets.
Step 3: Clear site data
In Chrome: Settings → Privacy and security → Site Settings → View permissions and data stored across sites → chat.openai.com → Clear data. Log in again.
Step 4: Disable browser extensions
Ad blockers, privacy extensions (Privacy Badger, uBlock Origin), and VPN extensions break ChatGPT's streaming. Open an incognito window (no extensions load) and test.
Step 5: Turn off VPN or switch region
ChatGPT blocks many VPN IPs to prevent abuse. If you use NordVPN, ExpressVPN, or similar, disconnect and retry. If you're in an unsupported country, try a US/UK server.
Step 6: Check your network
Open fast.com to confirm internet works. Switch from Wi-Fi to mobile hotspot to rule out router/ISP issues.
Step 7: Log out and log back in
Top-right avatar → Log out. Log in again. This refreshes auth tokens that may have expired.
Step 8: Try a different browser
If Chrome fails, try Firefox or Edge. If all browsers fail, the issue is network or account related.
Step 9: Check your subscription status
Settings → Account → Manage subscription. If your card was declined, ChatGPT Plus reverts to free tier with stricter limits.
Step 10: Look at console errors
Press F12 → Console tab. Errors like "429 Too Many Requests" mean rate-limited — wait 60 seconds. "401 Unauthorized" means re-login.
Step 11: Reset service workers
In DevTools → Application → Service Workers → Unregister all for chat.openai.com. Refresh.
Step 12: Contact OpenAI support
If nothing works: help.openai.com → Messages icon (bottom right). Include screenshots, timestamps, and your account email.
When to Contact Support
Contact OpenAI support if:
- You see "Your account has been deactivated" error
- Billing was charged but Plus features don't activate after 24 hours
- You get the same error across 3+ browsers and networks
- "Conversation not found" on every chat after a recent deploy
Prevention Tips
- Bookmark status.openai.com for quick outage checks
- Don't install shady "ChatGPT booster" extensions — most break the site
- Keep browser updated (Chrome/Firefox/Edge auto-update weekly)
- Use the official mobile app as backup when web fails
FAQs
Is ChatGPT down right now? Check status.openai.com — the official status page updates within 60 seconds of incidents.
Why does ChatGPT say "Too many requests"? You hit the rate limit. Free tier is ~40 messages per 3 hours on GPT-4o. Wait or upgrade to Plus.
Why is ChatGPT slow to respond? Peak hours (9am–5pm PST weekdays) cause slowdowns. Try early morning or late evening.
Does ChatGPT work with a VPN? Sometimes. Many VPN IPs are blocked. Disconnect VPN to test.
Why won't ChatGPT load on my phone? Clear the app cache (Settings → Apps → ChatGPT → Storage → Clear cache) and force-close.
Can I use ChatGPT offline? No. It requires an internet connection to OpenAI servers.
How do I report a bug? Settings → "Report a bug" or email support@openai.com with details.
Conclusion
Most ChatGPT issues resolve in under 5 minutes with status checks, cache clearing, or extension troubleshooting. When you need reliable AI that routes around single-provider outages, try Assisters AI — a multi-model gateway with built-in failover across providers.
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