ChatGPT errors explained, and how to fix them

ChatGPT errors usually fall into three groups: OpenAI is having an outage, you've hit a usage limit, or something between your browser and ChatGPT is interrupting the connection.

Check our ChatGPT status page first. If lots of people are reporting problems, waiting is the only fix.

Common ChatGPT errors

• "Network error": the connection dropped while ChatGPT was writing a reply, which often happens with long answers. Refresh, and ask for a shorter answer or for the reply in parts.
• "Too many requests" or a usage-limit message: you've hit a rate limit or your plan's limit for a model. Wait for the time shown, or switch to another model.
• "Something went wrong" or "Hmm… something seems to have gone wrong": a general server-side error. Refresh, start a new chat, or try again in a few minutes.
• "Unusual activity has been detected from your device": usually triggered by a VPN or shared network. Turn off the VPN, then log out and back in.
• Conversations or history won't load: often part of an outage. Your chats are normally still there once the service recovers.

Fixes to try

1. Refresh the page or restart the app.
2. Start a new chat; very long conversations can fail to load.
3. Log out and back in.
4. Turn off VPNs and browser extensions, or try a private window.
5. Clear cookies and cached data for chatgpt.com.
6. Try the ChatGPT mobile app or another browser.