Home > Apps

Is ChatGPT Down? How to Diagnose and Fix Common Issues

The chatbot is just too popular
Last Updated on May 3, 2024
Is ChatGPT down? — AI chatbot server connectivity issues and how to fix them
You can trust PC Guide: Our team of experts use a combination of independent consumer research, in-depth testing where appropriate - which will be flagged as such, and market analysis when recommending products, software and services. Find out how we test here.

Is ChatGPT down? When you can’t connect to the ChatGPT server, it can be frustrating trying to figure out whether the AI chatbot is down, offline, or if it’s just an issue with your system. In this article, we’ll help you diagnose the problem and find a solution to get ChatGPT working again.

It may be that the server isn’t even offline or that your browser or its extensions are at fault. Or, the problem could be with your internet router! Let’s take a look and diagnose whether it’s a major outage or a minor hiccup.

✓ Gloria says

Status update: 03.05.24

We are seeing multiple reports that ChatGPT is experiencing difficulties – with some people not being able to log on. It appears to be a widespread issue.

Why is ChatGPT down?

A quick visit to the OpenAI’s status page and Down Detector confirms that ChatGPT is down at the moment. As of 3rd May, 2024, people are facing issues with ChatGPT, as they are unable to log in, view their history, or generate anything new. However, OpenAI has confirmed that they are aware of the issue and are working on a fix for it.

For any other error message, try our solutions below.

The most likely cause of the service being unavailable is that one of the servers on which it relies is inaccessible. The popularity of ChatGPT does mean that the service can be overloaded, especially at peak hours. Other potential issues include internet connection problems, corrupt browser cache or cookies, and conflicting extensions.

Sometimes, there’s a need for OpenAI’s servers to enter downtime. This typically happens when there’s a need for a fix or upgrade. While it’s highly unusual for the service to go completely offline, it may be necessary if it’s needed to resolve an issue or protect the service in the long term.

ChatGPT being down shouldn’t be confused with the common ChatGPT at capacity. However, it may offer the ‘at capacity’ warning before becoming inaccessible. In this case, it could be that there’s so much traffic across the service that an issue has occurred, forcing ChatGPT temporarily offline. Similarly, if you are seeing the ChatGPT failed to get service status error, that may be significant too.

Is ChatGPT down? — How to diagnose outages

If ChatGPT is down, there are a few things API customers and general users can do – but access may depend on geography and the cause of the outage. If it’s a global outage it could be that everyone is facing similar problems. However, if you’re based in, say, the United States, it may be that your region is experiencing an outage. Patience is key, but here are the things to do in order of importance and usefulness.

1. Check OpenAI’s official status page

As previously mentioned, first check the official OpenAI status page. Look for updates on infrastructure issues, increased error rates, and the status of the playground and API.

2. Use third-party status checkers

If the site isn’t loading at all, use a third-party website or online status checker like Downdetector, to help you determine if there’s a partial or major outage. Checking social media, like X, is also useful. X users tend to be quick to spot and report outages, and the comments will show you if others are reporting issues.

Clear OpenAI and ChatGPT data

Clearing your browser data can help by removing cookies and potentially corrupted data for OpenAI and the ChatGPT service. Here’s how to do it in Chrome, without removing all of your other data and cookies.

Step

1

Open the Chrome menu

Click the three-dots on at the top-right of your Chrome browser window.

Step

2

Go to settings

Navigate to ‘Settings’. Then select Privacy & Security, on the left hand menu.

This will allow you to view options for collected cookies and site data.

Step

3

Click on Cookies & other site data

Select the ‘Cookies & other site data’ option and proceed to the next menu.

Step

4

‘See all site data’

From the menu select ‘see all site data and permissions’.

Step

5

Search for ‘OpenAI’

In the search bar at the top, (near the middle of the webpage), search for OpenAI.

This will retrieve all the OpenAI and ChatGPT cookies and data stored in Chrome.

Step

6

Clear the data

Click the ‘clear displayed data’ button to clear all OpenAI-related cookies and data from your browser.

Why are ChatGPT’s servers down?

Without an official response or explanation from OpenAI, it’s impossible to do anything but speculate about server issues. Servers can go down due to a surge in demand, server instability, or a technical issue affecting performance. OpenAI, or any company, may not explain why its servers are down, so knowing why ChatGPT will never be easy.

Common ChatGPT issues and solutions

1. Sign-In errors

Error message:

We ran into an issue while signing you in, please take a break and try again soon.

ChatGPT error message

Solution:

The solution is in the error message! The site is live, and functional — it’s more likely to be a local internet connectivity issue in your area causing a timeout during the login process. Simply wait for a few minutes, perhaps reset your router, and try again.

2. Secure connection errors

Error message:

This site can’t provide a secure connection. chat.openai.com uses an unsupported protocol. err_ssl_version_or_cipher_mismatch

ChatGPT error message

Solution:

This error is related to OpenAI’s security certificate. You cannot fix this, and the lack of connection is not your fault. Try again in a few minutes!

3. ChatGPT at capacity

Error message:

ChatGPT is at capacity right now

Get notified when we’re back

ChatGPT error message

Solution:

Wait 15-30 minutes and try again. You might also try refreshing the page, logging out/into your account, clearing the browser cache, or using a VPN or your browser’s in Incognito mode.

FAQ

Why is ChatGPT not working?

As ChatGPT is still being developed, there is a relatively low limit to the server capacity. This means that the web page home to the chatbot is unable to handle an unusually large number of people trying to access the service. Hence, the website effectively shuts down, preventing any more users from accessing the ChatGPT service..

How often is ChatGPT down?

ChatGPT is not usually down for more than a few minutes, and OpenAI states that ChatGPT is up 99.1% of the time. However, if the servers are busy, you may have to wait around 15 to 30 minutes until you can access it again. If you haven’t already done so, check the status of the ChatGPT servers on the OpenAI website.

ChatGPT is experiencing very high traffic now, and it’s overloading the services. This means limits are being placed on the amount of users at one time. So if you’re trying to access the ChatGPT server, there’s a good chance you won’t get in. Hopefully, the hardworking software developers at OpenAI will fix this soon.

Is ChatGPT offline, or is it my internet connection?

If it appears the site is up, but it is down for you alone, it may be a bad internet connection. In this case, be sure to try disconnecting and reconnecting from your Internet or restarting your router. Should that not fix your issue, ensure that your ISP isn’t having difficulties. Even ISPs have downtime — typically less than 0.1%, but not 0! It’s uncommon but possible that an entire internet service provider is at fault.

What’s blocking ChatGPT? — Disable browser extensions

If you’re still finding that ChatGPT is down seemingly only for you, it may be worth disabling your browser extensions. You can do this by clicking on the three dots on the far right side of your screen, clicking settings, and then ‘More Tools’. There you can access extensions and disable them.

ChatGPT Plus — Will a premium subscription help?

If the service returns but remains at capacity, you may consider signing up for ChatGPT Plus. The subscription costs $20 per month and allows access even when it is under heavy load. If ChatGPT is offline completely, you still won’t be able to access it. However, one of the key selling points of this subscription is that you get a smooth and immediate connection, whenever possible.

What to do if ChatGPT is at capacity right now — Wait!

Finally, when ChatGPT is down, you may just need to wait for the service to return. Given its popularity, ChatGPT may be down for everyone everywhere. Hopefully, the service will return shortly.

That being said, if you’re running into the problem time and time again, it may be time to check out some ChatGPT alternatives, such as Bing Chat, or Google Bard. These platforms offer similar features and may provide a more stable experience during ChatGPT outages.

Conclusion

While ChatGPT outages can be frustrating, understanding how to diagnose issues and apply the appropriate solutions can help you get back to using the AI chatbot more quickly. By following the tips outlined in this article and keeping an eye on official and third-party status updates, you’ll be better equipped to navigate ChatGPT downtime in the future.

As a tech and AI writer for PC Guide, Gloria is interested in what new technology means for the future of consumer electronics and digital and broadcast journalism.