How to Fix ChatGPT Not Working

ChatGPT outages and performance issues can disrupt your workflow when you need AI assistance most. Most ChatGPT problems stem from server overload, browser conflicts, or account authentication issues that you can resolve quickly.

1. Check OpenAI's server status. Visit status.openai.com to verify if ChatGPT is experiencing widespread outages. Look for any red or yellow indicators next to ChatGPT services. If servers are down, wait for OpenAI to resolve the issue before troubleshooting further.
2. Clear your browser cache and cookies. Open your browser settings and navigate to Privacy and Security. Click Clear browsing data, select Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files, then choose All time from the time range dropdown. Click Clear data to remove ChatGPT's stored data.
3. Disable browser extensions temporarily. Click your browser's extensions icon and toggle off ad blockers, VPNs, and privacy extensions one by one. Refresh ChatGPT after disabling each extension to identify conflicts. Re-enable extensions individually once ChatGPT works normally.
4. Log out and log back into your account. Click your profile picture in ChatGPT's bottom-left corner and select Log out. Close your browser completely, reopen it, and navigate to chat.openai.com. Click Log in and enter your credentials to establish a fresh session.
5. Switch to a different browser or device. Test ChatGPT in Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge to isolate browser-specific issues. If the problem persists across browsers, try accessing ChatGPT from your mobile device or the ChatGPT mobile app to determine if the issue is device-related.
6. Check your internet connection. Run a speed test at fast.com to verify your connection stability. If speeds are below 5 Mbps or you see frequent disconnections, restart your router by unplugging it for 30 seconds. Contact your internet provider if connection issues persist.
7. Verify your ChatGPT Plus subscription status. Click your profile picture and select My plan to check your subscription status. If your Plus subscription expired, you'll be limited to ChatGPT 3.5 with reduced priority during peak hours. Renew your subscription or wait for off-peak hours if using the free tier.