ChatGPT not responding to prompts

You type a prompt, hit enter, and nothing happens. Or ChatGPT starts typing but stops mid-sentence. Check our [live OpenAI status](/status) monitor right now—it updates every 60 seconds from OpenAI's official feed and sh

ChatGPT not responding to prompts

You type a prompt, hit enter, and nothing happens. Or ChatGPT starts typing but stops mid-sentence. Check our live OpenAI status monitor right now—it updates every 60 seconds from OpenAI's official feed and shows whether the problem is system-wide or just on your end.

How to check if OpenAI is actually down

Start with our live OpenAI status page. It pulls real-time data directly from status.openai.com and breaks down service health by component—ChatGPT web, ChatGPT API, Sora, and more. If the status shows "Operational" in green but you're still stuck, the problem likely sits between your device and OpenAI's servers.

Head to status.openai.com for OpenAI's own incident reports. When ChatGPT goes down, they post updates there—sometimes within minutes, sometimes after an hour depending on severity. Check the "Incident History" tab for past outages. If you see a current incident affecting ChatGPT services, you're not alone.

Search Twitter or Reddit for "ChatGPT down" in the last hour. Thousands of users report issues within minutes of an outage starting. If you see a flood of recent complaints, it's a system-wide problem. If nobody's talking about it, dig into your own setup.

Is it OpenAI or is it you

Open an incognito or private browsing window and try ChatGPT there. Press Ctrl+Shift+N in Chrome or Cmd+Shift+N on Mac. Log in fresh and send a test prompt. If it works, your browser extensions or cached data are interfering.

Clear your browser cache and cookies specifically for chatgpt.com. In Chrome: Settings → Privacy and security → Clear browsing data → check "Cookies and other site data" and "Cached images and files" → Time range: All time → Clear data. Close the browser completely, reopen, and try again.

Disable all browser extensions. Extensions like ad blockers, VPNs, or privacy tools often block the WebSocket connections ChatGPT needs to stream responses. In Chrome: three dots menu → Extensions → Manage Extensions → toggle everything off. Reload chatgpt.com and test.

Switch networks. If you're on corporate WiFi, try your phone's hotspot. Some workplace firewalls block ChatGPT's real-time streaming. If it works on mobile data but not WiFi, your network administrator has restrictions in place.

Try the ChatGPT mobile app instead of the browser. Download it from the App Store or Google Play, log in, and send the same prompt. The app uses different network paths than your browser. If the app works fine, your browser setup is the culprit.

Test on a different device entirely. If ChatGPT responds instantly on your phone but freezes on your laptop, you've isolated a device-specific problem—likely network settings, firewall rules, or DNS issues.

What to do during an outage

Wait it out. Most ChatGPT outages resolve within 30 to 90 minutes. Check our live OpenAI status monitor every few minutes for updates. Don't repeatedly refresh the page or spam new chat threads—you're just adding load to stressed servers.

If you're using the API, implement exponential backoff immediately. When requests timeout or return errors, wait 1 second before retrying. If it fails again, wait 2 seconds, then 4, then 8. This prevents overwhelming the system during recovery. See our guide on OpenAI API error 429 and other API errors for exact retry code.

Draft your prompts offline. Write them in a notes app or text editor so you don't lose work when ChatGPT becomes unresponsive. Copy and paste once service restores.

Don't delete your account or cancel your subscription during an outage. This won't fix anything and creates messy billing issues. Don't open multiple support tickets—response times during major incidents stretch to days, not hours. For guidance on actual support channels, read How to contact OpenAI support.

If you're stuck on a deadline, check if the API is working even when the web interface fails. Sometimes one component stays up while another goes down. Monitor component-level status carefully.

Questions people actually ask

Q: Is ChatGPT down right now?

A: Check our live OpenAI status page—it updates every 60 seconds with official data. If it shows green across all ChatGPT components, the problem is likely local to your device or network.

Q: Why does ChatGPT start typing then stop?

A: This usually means network interruption or server overload. The response generation begins but the streaming connection drops. Try refreshing once, then wait a few minutes before retrying.

Q: How long do ChatGPT outages typically last?

A: Most resolve within 30-90 minutes. Major incidents can stretch 2-4 hours. Check status.openai.com for real-time incident updates and estimated resolution times.

Q: Can I get a refund if ChatGPT is down?

A: OpenAI doesn't offer automatic refunds for brief service interruptions. For extended outages affecting paid tiers, contact support through help.openai.com, but expect multi-day response times.

What to remember

  • Check our live OpenAI status monitor first—updates every 60 seconds from official sources
  • Test in incognito mode to rule out browser extensions and cached data
  • Disable VPNs and try different networks—corporate firewalls often block ChatGPT
  • Never delete your account or spam support tickets during an outage
  • For persistent issues after status shows green, see ChatGPT not working — troubleshooting for device-specific fixes

---

*openai-support.com is an independent resource, not affiliated with OpenAI Inc.*

Related help