ChatGPT Not Working? Live Status, Fixes and Troubleshooting

ChatGPT not working right now? Check live ChatGPT status, connectivity latency, and a complete troubleshooting guide to fix common ChatGPT issues in minutes.

ChatGPT Not Working? Start Here

If ChatGPT is not responding, the first question is always: is it a ChatGPT problem, or a problem on your end? The live status card above answers that in real time by combining OpenAI’s own status feed with independent server checks.

If the Live Status Shows Operational

If no widespread incident is detected, the problem may be limited to your browser, device, network, account, region, plan, or a specific ChatGPT feature. Work through this list in order:

  1. Hard-refresh the page (Cmd+Shift+R on Mac, Ctrl+F5 on Windows).
  2. Clear cookies and site data for chatgpt.com and chat.openai.com.
  3. Try an incognito/private window to rule out browser extensions interfering with requests.
  4. Disable VPN or proxy — VPNs, proxies, browser extensions, DNS filters, and corporate network policies can sometimes interfere with ChatGPT connectivity or authentication.
  5. Switch networks — try mobile data, or a different Wi-Fi network, to isolate ISP-side issues.
  6. Check DNS — temporarily set DNS to 1.1.1.1 or 8.8.8.8 if your resolver is slow or blocked.
  7. Try a different browser — Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge. If one works, the other has corrupted state.
  8. Check your account — log out, clear session cookies, log back in. Account-level issues (billing, region restrictions, suspensions) present identically to outages.

If the Live Status Shows Degraded or Partial

If our monitor confirms the problem, you don’t need to troubleshoot — the issue is on OpenAI’s side. Outage durations vary widely and we don’t publish a fixed estimate. For confirmed incidents, the official OpenAI status page is authoritative for scope and expected recovery. Keep this page open — it updates automatically.

If the Live Status Shows Down

During a major outage, there is nothing you can do except wait or use an alternative. ChatGPT does not have a user-facing status control — recovery depends on OpenAI’s engineers. While you wait, you can:

  • Try Claude (claude.ai), Gemini (gemini.google.com), or DeepSeek as temporary alternatives.
  • Keep this page open — it updates automatically and will flip to operational the moment connectivity returns.
  • Check the official OpenAI status page for incident updates from the engineering team.

Most Common Causes of ChatGPT Problems

  • Browser state — stale cookies, cache, or a corrupted service worker.
  • VPN / proxy / network policy — VPNs, proxies, browser extensions, DNS filters, and corporate network policies can interfere with ChatGPT connectivity or authentication.
  • Rate limiting — heavy usage triggers temporary HTTP 429 responses.
  • Regional restrictions — some countries are geo-blocked entirely.
  • Account issues — expired payment, suspension, or unverified email.
  • Actual OpenAI outage — rare, but happens; always check the live status first.

Recent ChatGPT Outages

Browse the full ChatGPT outage archive →

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is ChatGPT not working for me when the status says operational?

Operational means our monitor and OpenAI both report ChatGPT is running normally. When you still can’t use it, the issue is client-side: browser state, VPN, DNS, ISP, or account-level. Work through the troubleshooting checklist above.

How long do ChatGPT outages usually last?

Outage durations vary and we don’t publish a fixed estimate. Some incidents clear in minutes; others take longer. For a confirmed incident, the official OpenAI status page is authoritative for scope and expected recovery.

Is my VPN the problem?

Possibly. VPNs, proxies, browser extensions, DNS filters, and corporate network policies can sometimes interfere with ChatGPT connectivity or authentication. If ChatGPT loads without your VPN but not with it, that points to your VPN or network path.