How to check OpenAI server status

When ChatGPT returns a network error or your API calls start timing out, you need to know within 30 seconds whether OpenAI's infrastructure is having problems or if the issue is on your end. Check the [live OpenAI status

How to check OpenAI server status

When ChatGPT returns a network error or your API calls start timing out, you need to know within 30 seconds whether OpenAI's infrastructure is having problems or if the issue is on your end. Check the live OpenAI status monitor on this page — it updates every 60 seconds from OpenAI's official feed and shows exactly which services are affected.

How to check if OpenAI is actually down

Start with the live OpenAI status page on this site. It pulls real-time data from status.openai.com and breaks down performance by component: ChatGPT web interface, API endpoints, Sora, and image generation. If you see "Operational" across all services but you're still having problems, the issue is probably local.

OpenAI's official status page at status.openai.com shows the same information with incident history. Look for orange "Degraded Performance" or red "Major Outage" indicators. Click on individual components to see details — an API outage doesn't necessarily mean ChatGPT web is down, and vice versa. Check the timestamps. If an incident was marked resolved 20 minutes ago but you're still seeing errors, clear your browser cache before assuming it's ongoing.

Third-party monitoring sites like Downdetector aggregate user reports, but they lag behind official status by several minutes. Use them to confirm widespread issues, not as your primary check. If 2,000 people reported problems in the last 10 minutes, it's not just you.

Is it OpenAI or is it you

Before you assume the servers are down, isolate your setup. Open an incognito window in Chrome (Ctrl+Shift+N or Cmd+Shift+N) and try accessing chatgpt.com. If it works there, you've got a local problem — likely cached data or an extension interfering.

Clear your cache and cookies specifically for chatgpt.com. In Chrome: Settings → Privacy and security → Clear browsing data → Advanced → select "Cookies" and "Cached images" → set time range to "All time" → enter "chatgpt.com" in the search field → Clear data. In Firefox: Preferences → Privacy & Security → Cookies and Site Data → Manage Data → search for "chatgpt.com" → Remove Selected → Save Changes.

Disable all browser extensions temporarily. Extensions that modify page content, block ads, or manage passwords can break ChatGPT's websocket connections. Test in incognito mode with extensions disabled by default, then re-enable them one at a time.

If you're on a corporate network or VPN, try a different connection. Some workplace firewalls block OpenAI's domains or throttle websocket traffic. Tether to your phone's hotspot for a quick test. If ChatGPT works on mobile data but not your office WiFi, you've found your answer.

Try the mobile app versus the browser. API users should test both platform.openai.com and direct API calls via curl. If one works and the other doesn't, you've narrowed the scope — see ChatGPT not working — troubleshooting for component-specific fixes.

What to do during an outage

If OpenAI confirms an outage on their status page, wait. Refreshing constantly won't bring services back faster. For API users, implement exponential backoff immediately — retry failed requests after 1 second, then 2, then 4, up to a maximum of 60 seconds. This prevents you from hammering already-stressed endpoints.

Set a retry budget. Don't attempt the same request more than 5 times during an outage. After that, queue it or fail gracefully. Store failed requests locally and batch them when service resumes. Monitor the live OpenAI status to see when components return to operational.

Don't delete your account, don't cancel and re-subscribe, don't change your API keys. These actions won't fix an outage and they create new problems. Don't spam OpenAI support with "is it down?" tickets — they're already tracking the incident and mass tickets slow response times for everyone.

If you're hitting rate limits during degraded performance, that's normal. OpenAI throttles traffic to protect infrastructure during recovery. See OpenAI API error 429 and other API errors for rate limit handling.

Questions people actually ask

Q: Is ChatGPT down right now?

A: Check the live OpenAI status monitor at the top of this page. It updates every 60 seconds and shows real-time status for all OpenAI services including ChatGPT web, API, and Sora.

Q: How often does OpenAI go down?

A: Major outages are rare — typically a few times per year. Minor degraded performance happens more frequently, usually during peak US hours or after major feature releases.

Q: Will OpenAI notify me when service is restored?

A: Only if you subscribe to notifications at status.openai.com. Click "Subscribe to Updates" and enter your email. You'll get incident alerts and resolution notices.

Q: Can I get a refund for API downtime?

A: Review OpenAI's service level agreement at platform.openai.com. For subscription and refund questions, see How to contact OpenAI support.

What to remember

  • The live status monitor on this page updates every 60 seconds from OpenAI's official feed
  • Check status.openai.com for component-level detail and incident history
  • Test in incognito mode and clear cache before assuming it's an outage
  • API users must implement exponential backoff during degraded performance
  • Don't delete accounts 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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