ChatGPT Not Working? 13 Fixes That Work (2025 Guide)
ChatGPT can stop working for many reasons—server issues, browser problems, extensions, or network settings. Below are practical fixes you can try in minutes.
Quick check (1 minute)
Before anything else:
- Open ChatGPT in a different browser (Chrome/Edge/Firefox)
- Check if your internet works on other sites
- Try opening ChatGPT on mobile data (to test if Wi-Fi is the issue)
If it still doesn’t work, use the fixes below.
1) Refresh and restart the browser
- Close the ChatGPT tab
- Quit the browser completely
- Re-open it and try again
2) Log out and log back in
Sometimes sessions expire.
- Log out from ChatGPT
- Log back in
3) Try Incognito/Private mode
Incognito disables most extensions and uses a clean session.
- Chrome: Ctrl + Shift + N
- Edge: Ctrl + Shift + N
- Firefox: Ctrl + Shift + P
If it works in incognito, the issue is usually cache or extensions.
4) Clear browser cache (fast method)
Clear site data for ChatGPT:
- Chrome/Edge: Settings → Privacy → Clear browsing data
- Clear Cookies and cache (last 7 days is enough)
Then restart browser and retry.
5) Disable extensions (most common fix)
Ad blockers, script blockers, and privacy extensions often break ChatGPT.
- Temporarily disable extensions (especially adblockers)
- Reload ChatGPT
Tip: If you want adblockers ON, whitelist ChatGPT later.
6) Turn off VPN / Proxy
VPNs sometimes trigger extra checks or block connections.
- Turn VPN OFF
- Try again
7) Switch DNS (optional but helpful)
Some DNS providers can cause loading issues.
Try changing DNS to:
- Google DNS: 8.8.8.8 / 8.8.4.4
- Cloudflare: 1.1.1.1 / 1.0.0.1
(You can revert anytime.)
8) Try another network
- Switch from Wi-Fi to mobile hotspot
- Or restart the router
If it works on another network, your ISP/router settings may be the problem.
9) Disable “strict tracking” settings
Some browsers block scripts too aggressively.
- Check browser privacy settings
- Temporarily reduce strict blocking and test
10) Check system time & date
Wrong device time can break secure connections.
- Windows: Settings → Time & Language → Set time automatically
11) If you see “Too many requests”
This usually means rate limit or heavy usage.
- Wait a few minutes
- Refresh
- Avoid sending many prompts quickly
12) If you see “Network error”
Try:
- Shorter prompt
- Split your request into smaller messages
- Switch browser/network
13) Check if ChatGPT is down
Sometimes it’s not you—it’s the service.
- If it’s down, the only fix is to try later.
FAQs
Q1: Why does ChatGPT keep loading forever?
Usually cache, extension conflicts, VPN, or a network issue.
Q2: Why is ChatGPT slow today?
High traffic, network instability, or heavy prompts can slow responses.
Q3: Does adblock break ChatGPT?
Some adblock/privacy extensions block scripts needed for ChatGPT to run.
Final tip
If none of the above works, try using ChatGPT on a different device (phone/laptop). That quickly tells you whether the issue is account-related or device-related.
Internal links (add at bottom)
- Related: Best AI Tools (Free + Paid)
- Related: Beginner Guide: How to Write Better Prompts