ChatGPT Not Working? Fix Every Common Error Message (2026)

Most ChatGPT errors fix themselves within minutes. If yours doesn't, you're in the right place. Here's every common error and exactly how to fix it.

I've hit pretty much every ChatGPT error at this point - usually at the worst possible time. The good news is that most problems have simple solutions that take under a minute.

"Something Went Wrong"

This is the most common ChatGPT error and it's almost always a server-side issue. OpenAI's servers are temporarily struggling.

Fix: Wait 30-60 seconds and click "Try again." If it persists, start a new chat. The old conversation is usually still saved. If the problem continues for more than a few minutes, ChatGPT might be down entirely.

"Too Many Requests" / "You've Reached the Limit"

You've hit your usage cap. Free users have lower limits than paid users, and even ChatGPT Plus subscribers have message caps that reset periodically.

Fix: Wait for your limit to reset (usually a few hours). If you hit this often, consider upgrading to ChatGPT Plus for higher limits. The free tier works well for casual use, but heavy users will bump into this.

"Network Error"

This means the connection between your device and OpenAI's servers dropped. It's not always your fault - sometimes it's on their end.

Fix:

• Check if other websites load normally


• Disable your VPN or proxy (this is the #1 cause I see)


• Switch between WiFi and mobile data


• Restart your router if nothing else loads either


• Try a different network entirely

"Conversation Not Found"

The chat you're trying to open has been deleted, or the session timed out after a long period of inactivity.

Fix: Start a new chat. If you didn't delete the conversation yourself, it may have been removed during a server cleanup. There's unfortunately no way to recover it. Going forward, copy important answers somewhere safe.

Blank or White Screen

You open ChatGPT and get nothing - just a white page. This is almost always a browser issue.

Fix:

1. Clear your browser cache and cookies


2. Try incognito/private browsing mode


3. Try a different browser (Chrome, Firefox, Edge)


4. Disable browser extensions, especially ad blockers


5. Make sure JavaScript is enabled

Slow Responses

ChatGPT isn't broken, but it's taking forever to type out answers. This is usually a traffic problem.

Fix: Peak hours (US afternoons and evenings) are the worst. Try using ChatGPT during off-peak times. Shorter, simpler prompts also get faster responses. Plus subscribers get priority access during high-traffic periods.

General Browser Fixes That Work for Most Errors

Before you panic, try this checklist. It fixes about 80% of ChatGPT problems:

1. Hard refresh - Ctrl+Shift+R (Windows) or Cmd+Shift+R (Mac)
2. Clear cache - Settings > Privacy > Clear browsing data
3. Incognito mode - Ctrl+Shift+N in Chrome
4. Different browser - If Chrome fails, try Firefox or Edge
5. Log out and back in - Sometimes your login session just needs a reset

VPN Causing Problems

VPNs are one of the most common causes of ChatGPT connection issues. OpenAI blocks some VPN IP ranges, and VPNs add latency that can trigger timeouts.

Fix: Disable your VPN temporarily. If you need a VPN, try connecting to a different server - preferably one in the US. Some VPN providers work better with ChatGPT than others.

Mobile App Not Working

The ChatGPT app on iOS or Android can have its own issues separate from the website.

Fix:

• Update the app to the latest version


• Force close and reopen the app


• Check your internet connection


• If nothing works, delete and reinstall the app


• Make sure your phone's OS is up to date

If none of these fixes work, the issue is likely on OpenAI's end. Check status.openai.com and wait it out. For help with language settings or generating images, we've got separate guides for those.