ChatGPT may occasionally encounter technical issues due to factors like network configuration, browser extensions, or transient server-side problems. This guide outlines common error messages and actionable steps to troubleshoot them.
"Something went wrong."
This is a general error that may indicate a temporary server issue or a problem with your local setup.
Refresh the page or start a new chat
Check status.openai.com for known outages
Clear your browser cache and cookies
Use an incognito or private browsing window
Disable browser extensions, especially privacy or security tools
Turn off VPNs or secure DNS tools like Web Protect
Switch to a different network if possible
"A network error occurred."
"An error occurred while connecting to the websocket."
These errors suggest that your device is unable to establish a reliable connection to our servers.
Disable VPNs or proxy connections
Turn off Web Protect or other security filters
Try a different browser or incognito mode
Switch to a different network or device
"We detect suspicious activity." / "Unusual Activity Detected"
This message is shown when our systems detect traffic that may resemble automated or unusual behavior.
Disable VPNs or proxies that might route your traffic through flagged IPs
Restart your browser or device
Use a private browsing window to start a fresh session
Ensure you are not sharing your ChatGPT account with other people; change your password and ensure your email is secure
If you're not using bots or automation tools, contact us to report the issue
"There was a problem preparing your chat."
These usually occur when a browser extension or URL blocker interferes with loading the page.
Disable extensions that block scripts or modify page content
Temporarily turn off any unfamiliar or unused browser extensions
Open ChatGPT in an incognito window or a different browser
"There was an error generating a response."
A failed response when ChatGPT is unable to produce an answer.
May be a one-time error, click "Regenerate" button.
Restart your browser or device
Disable VPNs or proxy connections
Turn off Web Protect or other security filters
Try a different browser or incognito mode
Switch to a different network or device
"Download failed" / "File Not Found"
An error that occurs when attempting to download files / click on file links generated by ChatGPT.
For CustomGPT, ensure that 'Code Interpreter" functionality is enabled and you updated the GPT after checking the appropriate box
Ensure that the file is recently generated, files generated by ChatGPT expire quickly
Disable VPNs or proxy connections
Still need help?
If these steps don’t resolve your issue, please reach out to our support team. Please make sure to record the HAR file of you replicating an error before contacting support using the instructions in the article linked above.