How to check OpenAI server status

You're refreshing ChatGPT and getting error messages, or your API requests are timing out — you need to know if OpenAI's servers are actually down or if the problem is on your end. The fastest way to check: visit the [li

How to check OpenAI server status

You're refreshing ChatGPT and getting error messages, or your API requests are timing out — you need to know if OpenAI's servers are actually down or if the problem is on your end. The fastest way to check: visit the live OpenAI status monitor on this site, which updates every 60 seconds directly from OpenAI's official status feed and shows exactly which services are degraded.

How to check if OpenAI is actually down

Start with the live OpenAI status page on this site. It pulls real-time data from OpenAI's infrastructure every 60 seconds and breaks down status by component — ChatGPT web, ChatGPT mobile, API, Sora, and other services. You'll see green for operational, yellow for degraded performance, or red for outages. This is the same data OpenAI uses internally, just presented more clearly than their official page.

Next, check status.openai.com directly. OpenAI posts incident reports here when major outages occur, usually within 10-15 minutes of detection. Look for the component you're using — if you're hitting the API, check "API" specifically, not just the general summary. Past incidents stay visible with timestamps and resolution notes.

For real-time confirmation, search "OpenAI down" on Twitter or check DownDetector's OpenAI page. You'll see spike patterns within 2-3 minutes of widespread outages. If thousands of users report issues simultaneously, it's almost certainly OpenAI's infrastructure, not your connection. But be sceptical of isolated complaints — those usually point to local problems.

Is it OpenAI or is it you

Before assuming it's an outage, isolate your setup. These steps take 5 minutes and catch 80% of false alarms:

  • Test in incognito mode — Press Ctrl+Shift+N (Windows) or Cmd+Shift+N (Mac) in Chrome, then visit chatgpt.com. If it works here but not in your normal browser, cached data or extensions are the problem.
  • Clear ChatGPT cookies — Go to chatgpt.com, click the padlock icon in your address bar, select "Cookies and site data", then "Manage cookies and site data". Remove everything for chatgpt.com and openai.com. Log back in.
  • Disable extensions temporarily — Browser extensions (especially ad blockers, privacy tools, and VPNs) interfere with ChatGPT's websocket connections. Disable them all, refresh, and test. Re-enable one at a time to find the culprit.
  • Check your network — Switch from WiFi to mobile data, or vice versa. Corporate networks and university firewalls often block ChatGPT. If mobile data works but WiFi doesn't, it's your network configuration.
  • Try a different device — Test on your phone if you've been using desktop, or switch browsers entirely. Safari vs Chrome can reveal WebGL or JavaScript issues that look like server problems.
  • For API users — Run a simple curl test: `curl https://api.openai.com/v1/models -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY"`. If this times out but the live OpenAI status shows API as operational, check your firewall rules and API key validity. See OpenAI API error 429 and other API errors for specific HTTP status codes.

What to do during an outage

When OpenAI confirms degraded service or an outage, follow these steps instead of spamming refresh:

  • For API users, implement exponential backoff — Don't retry failed requests immediately. Wait 1 second, then 2, then 4, then 8. OpenAI's infrastructure prioritises well-behaved clients when recovering from incidents. Add jitter (random delays) to prevent thundering herd problems.
  • Queue non-urgent requests — Buffer requests locally and process them when service returns to normal. Most outages resolve within 20-40 minutes.
  • Don't delete your account or cancel subscriptions — Outages never justify refunds and support can't expedite recovery. You'll just create unnecessary work for yourself later.
  • Don't spam support — Support agents can't fix infrastructure issues. Read our guide on how to contact OpenAI support, but only for account-specific problems, not outages.

For general ChatGPT problems outside confirmed outages, see ChatGPT not working — troubleshooting for a complete diagnostic checklist.

Questions people actually ask

Q: Is ChatGPT down right now?

A: Check the live OpenAI status monitor on this page — it updates every 60 seconds and shows current operational status for ChatGPT web, mobile, API, and other services. Green means operational, yellow means degraded, red means outage.

Q: Why does ChatGPT say "We're experiencing exceptionally high demand"?

A: This message appears during capacity issues, not full outages. Free users get queued behind Plus subscribers. Wait 5-10 minutes or try during off-peak hours (early morning US time).

Q: How long do OpenAI outages usually last?

A: Most incidents resolve within 30 minutes. Major outages (affecting multiple components) can take 2-4 hours. Check status.openai.com for real-time updates with estimated resolution times.

What to remember

  • The live status monitor on this site updates every 60 seconds from OpenAI's official feed
  • Test incognito mode and clear cookies before assuming it's an outage
  • API users should implement exponential backoff, not aggressive retries
  • Corporate networks and browser extensions cause most false positives
  • Never delete your account or spam support during confirmed outages

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

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