Most ChatGPT errors aren’t a problem with your computer: they’re caused by instability on OpenAI’s servers, heavy usage or something in your browser. Before changing anything, check whether the service is up.
In this article
First: is ChatGPT down?
Open status.openai.com. If there’s an incident, there’s nothing to do but wait: the errors go away when OpenAI fixes it.
The most common errors
| Message | What it usually is | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| A network error occurred / Error in message stream | The connection dropped during a long answer, or server instability | Click Regenerate; ask for answers in smaller parts |
| Something went wrong | Temporary failure of the service or the session | Reload the page; sign out and back in |
| Too many requests | Too many messages in a short time | Wait a few minutes before continuing |
| You’ve reached your usage limit | Your plan’s limit for that model | Wait until the reset time shown in the message or use another model |
| Security check (Cloudflare) | The site wants to confirm a human is accessing it | Complete the check; turn off VPNs and blockers |
Step by step when nothing works
- Reload the page (F5) and start a new chat: very long conversations freeze more often.
- Try another network: switch from Wi-Fi to your phone’s 4G/5G, or the other way around.
- Turn off VPNs, proxies and ad blockers, which often trigger the security check.
- Clear the cache and cookies for the ChatGPT site only (in Chrome: the icon next to the address › Site settings › Delete data).
- Try an incognito window or another browser. If it works, an extension is getting in the way.
- Update the app on your phone or PC.
- Expired session: sign out of your account and sign back in.
Files that won’t upload or cause errors
- Check the file’s size and format. Split very large files.
- Scanned or password-protected PDFs may fail. See PDF won’t open.
- If the error is in the code interpreter (spreadsheet analysis), start a new chat and upload the file again.
Beware of “unlimited ChatGPT”
Websites, extensions and WhatsApp numbers promising “unlimited ChatGPT” or “no errors” aren’t official and often collect data or charge for something they don’t deliver. Use only the official app and chatgpt.com. See how to use ChatGPT for free.
FAQ
The error only happens on my work PC.
The company firewall or proxy may be blocking the site. Talk to your IT team. Also see how to use AI at work safely.
I lost the answer that was being generated.
Click Regenerate or ask: “continue where you left off”.
