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.
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).
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.
Press Ctrl + Shift + R (Windows/Linux) or Cmd + Shift + R (Mac). This bypasses cache and reloads fresh assets.
In Chrome: Settings → Privacy and security → Site Settings → View permissions and data stored across sites → chat.openai.com → Clear data. Log in again.
Ad blockers, privacy extensions (Privacy Badger, uBlock Origin), and VPN extensions break ChatGPT's streaming. Open an incognito window (no extensions load) and test.
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.
Open fast.com to confirm internet works. Switch from Wi-Fi to mobile hotspot to rule out router/ISP issues.
Top-right avatar → Log out. Log in again. This refreshes auth tokens that may have expired.
If Chrome fails, try Firefox or Edge. If all browsers fail, the issue is network or account related.
Settings → Account → Manage subscription. If your card was declined, ChatGPT Plus reverts to free tier with stricter limits.
Press F12 → Console tab. Errors like "429 Too Many Requests" mean rate-limited — wait 60 seconds. "401 Unauthorized" means re-login.
In DevTools → Application → Service Workers → Unregister all for chat.openai.com. Refresh.
If nothing works: help.openai.com → Messages icon (bottom right). Include screenshots, timestamps, and your account email.
Contact OpenAI support if:
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.
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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