ChatGPT not working today?

You're staring at a blank ChatGPT screen or an error message, and you need to know if the problem is OpenAI's servers or something on your end. Here's how to tell within 30 seconds: check the [live OpenAI status](/status

ChatGPT not working today?

You're staring at a blank ChatGPT screen or an error message, and you need to know if the problem is OpenAI's servers or something on your end. Here's how to tell within 30 seconds: check the live OpenAI status monitor on this site, which pulls directly from OpenAI's official feed every 60 seconds, or try opening ChatGPT in an incognito window on a different device.

How to check if OpenAI is actually down

Start with this site's live OpenAI status monitor. It updates every 60 seconds from OpenAI's official status API and shows you exactly which services are affected — ChatGPT web, ChatGPT mobile, API, Sora, DALL-E. If you see red indicators or "degraded performance" next to ChatGPT, the problem is on OpenAI's end.

Next, visit status.openai.com directly. OpenAI posts real-time updates there during incidents, including estimated resolution times and which specific components are down. Look for the component breakdown — sometimes the ChatGPT website works fine but the iOS app doesn't, or the API throws errors while the web interface is perfect.

Check third-party monitoring sites like Downdetector or X (Twitter) by searching "ChatGPT down". If hundreds of people reported problems in the last 10 minutes, you're not alone. But don't rely solely on social media — people often blame OpenAI for local network issues or browser problems.

Is it OpenAI or is it you

Before you assume OpenAI is down, isolate whether the problem is local. Open ChatGPT in an incognito or private browsing window (Ctrl+Shift+N in Chrome, Cmd+Shift+N on Mac). If it works there, you've got a cookie, cache or extension issue.

Clear your browser cache and cookies specifically for chatgpt.com:

  • In Chrome, click the three dots → Settings → Privacy and security → Clear browsing data
  • Select "Last hour" and check "Cookies" and "Cached images"
  • Click "Clear data" and reload ChatGPT

Disable browser extensions. Ad blockers, privacy tools and VPNs frequently interfere with ChatGPT. Turn them all off, reload, and test. If ChatGPT suddenly works, re-enable extensions one at a time to find the culprit.

Try a different network. Switch from WiFi to mobile data or vice versa. Corporate networks, school WiFi and public hotspots often block ChatGPT. If it works on mobile data but not WiFi, your network is filtering the connection.

Test on a different device or browser. If ChatGPT works fine on your phone but not your laptop, the problem is device-specific. If it works in Safari but not Chrome, you've isolated it to browser configuration. For more systematic troubleshooting, see ChatGPT not working — troubleshooting.

What to do during an outage

If OpenAI confirms an outage, wait. Refreshing every 10 seconds won't fix their servers faster — it just adds load. Check the live OpenAI status monitor periodically for updates instead of hammering ChatGPT.

For API users experiencing errors during degraded service, implement exponential backoff in your code. Start with a 1-second retry delay, then 2 seconds, 4 seconds, 8 seconds. Set a maximum retry budget — if you've failed 5 times, stop and queue the request for later. Don't loop infinitely. For details on specific API errors, see OpenAI API error 429 and other API errors.

Don't delete your account or cancel your ChatGPT Plus subscription during an outage. Temporary service disruptions don't entitle you to refunds, and you'll lose access to features when service restores. Don't spam the support queue — OpenAI knows about widespread outages and posts updates on status.openai.com.

If you need to reach OpenAI about billing or account issues unrelated to the outage, see How to contact OpenAI support for the correct channels. But during active incidents, their team is focused on restoration, not individual tickets.

Questions people actually ask

Q: Is ChatGPT down right now?

A: Check the live OpenAI status on this page — it updates every 60 seconds with official data. If all indicators are green and you're still having issues, the problem is likely local to your device or network.

Q: How long do ChatGPT outages usually last?

A: Most ChatGPT outages resolve within 15-45 minutes. Major incidents occasionally last 2-3 hours. OpenAI posts estimated resolution times on status.openai.com during significant events.

Q: Will I get a refund for ChatGPT Plus downtime?

A: OpenAI doesn't typically issue refunds for temporary service interruptions. Their terms of service include standard uptime disclaimers. Extended outages exceeding 24 hours might qualify for credits, but short disruptions don't.

What to remember

  • Check the live OpenAI status monitor first — it updates every 60 seconds from official OpenAI data
  • Test in incognito mode and on mobile data to rule out local issues before blaming OpenAI
  • Clear cookies and cache for chatgpt.com specifically, not your entire browser history
  • During confirmed outages, wait instead of refreshing — you're just adding server load
  • Never delete your account or cancel Plus during temporary downtime

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

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