What to do during a ChatGPT outage

When ChatGPT stops responding or shows error messages, you need to know within 30 seconds whether it's a widespread outage or just your connection. Check the [live OpenAI status](/status) monitor on this site — it update

What to do during a ChatGPT outage

When ChatGPT stops responding or shows error messages, you need to know within 30 seconds whether it's a widespread outage or just your connection. Check the live OpenAI status monitor on this site — 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 this site's live OpenAI status dashboard. It pulls data directly from status.openai.com and breaks down problems by component: ChatGPT web interface, API services, Sora, and authentication systems. If you see "Major Outage" or "Partial Outage" next to ChatGPT, the problem isn't on your end.

Next, visit status.openai.com directly. OpenAI posts incident updates there during outages, usually within 5-10 minutes of detection. Look for components marked "Operational" (green), "Degraded Performance" (yellow), or "Major Outage" (red). The page also shows historical uptime — if multiple components show recent incidents, you're likely experiencing a real outage.

Check Twitter/X for #ChatGPTDown or #OpenAIDown. During genuine outages, thousands of users report problems within minutes. If you see fresh reports from the last 2-3 minutes, it's probably not just you. Sites like DownDetector aggregate these reports but often lag 5-10 minutes behind real-time status.

Is it OpenAI or is it you

Before assuming it's an outage, rule out local problems in this order:

  • Open an incognito window (Ctrl+Shift+N in Chrome, Cmd+Shift+N on Mac). Try ChatGPT there. If it works, your regular browser has corrupted data.
  • Clear chatgpt.com data specifically. In Chrome: Settings → Privacy and security → Site settings → View permissions and data stored across sites → search "chatgpt.com" → Clear data. In Firefox: History → Manage History → search "chatgpt.com" → Forget About This Site. This fixes 40% of "ChatGPT won't load" problems.
  • Disable ALL extensions temporarily. Ad blockers, privacy tools, and VPNs cause random ChatGPT breakage. Test with extensions off. If ChatGPT works, re-enable extensions one by one to find the culprit.
  • Switch networks. Try mobile data instead of WiFi, or vice versa. Some corporate networks and VPNs block OpenAI endpoints. If mobile data works, your network is the problem.
  • Test the mobile app vs browser. Download the official ChatGPT app (iOS/Android) and test there. Apps use different endpoints — if the app works but the browser doesn't, it's a browser-specific issue. See ChatGPT not working — troubleshooting for deeper diagnostics.

What to do during an outage

When you've confirmed it's a real outage, take these specific actions:

  • Stop refreshing immediately. Hammering the site during an outage makes the problem worse for everyone and won't get you back online faster. OpenAI's infrastructure prioritises recovery, not individual refresh requests.
  • Don't delete and reinstall anything. Some users panic and delete their ChatGPT app or clear all browser data. This makes things worse — you'll lose conversation history and have to re-authenticate once service returns.
  • For API users: implement exponential backoff. If you're calling the OpenAI API and getting errors, don't retry immediately. Wait 1 second, then 2 seconds, then 4, 8, 16, up to 60 seconds between retries. Most API outages resolve within 3-5 minutes. Set a retry budget of 5-7 attempts, then queue requests for later. See OpenAI API error 429 and other API errors for retry logic examples.
  • Check the live status monitor every 2-3 minutes for updates. OpenAI typically posts incident updates within 10 minutes of detection and resolution updates as soon as services stabilise.
  • Don't contact support during an outage. OpenAI support can't restore service faster, and mass contact attempts slow their incident response. Save support tickets for persistent problems after service is restored. Learn more at How to contact OpenAI support.
  • Document the error if it's unusual. Screenshot exact error messages, timestamps, and any error codes. If the problem persists after the outage ends, you'll need these details for troubleshooting.

Questions people actually ask

Q: Is ChatGPT down right now?

A: Check the live OpenAI status on this site — it updates every 60 seconds and shows current operational status for all OpenAI services including ChatGPT.

Q: How long do ChatGPT outages usually last?

A: Most ChatGPT outages resolve within 15-45 minutes. Major incidents occasionally last 2-4 hours. Check status.openai.com for real-time updates during active incidents.

Q: Will I lose my conversations during an outage?

A: No. ChatGPT conversation history is stored separately and survives outages. Don't delete your account or app — you'll lose access to your history unnecessarily.

Q: Can I get a refund for ChatGPT Plus during outages?

A: OpenAI doesn't offer automatic refunds for brief outages. For extended downtime affecting multiple days, contact support through help.openai.com after service is restored.

What to remember

  • Use the live status monitor as your first check — it updates every 60 seconds from OpenAI's official feed
  • Never delete your account, reinstall apps, or spam refresh during an outage — you'll make your situation worse
  • API users should implement exponential backoff with a 5-7 retry budget before queueing requests
  • Most outages resolve within 45 minutes — check status.openai.com for incident updates every 2-3 minutes
  • Don't contact support during active outages — wait until service is restored to report persistent problems

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

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