How to fix the network error that appears in ChatGPT

ChatGPT is widely used for a variety of tasks, but occasional network errors can interrupt conversations, often at the most inconvenient moments. These interruptions are usually caused by common issues that can be easily diagnosed and fixed with a few simple steps.

Check your internet connection first

The most frequent cause of this error is an unstable or weak internet connection. If your connection drops even briefly, ChatGPT may lose the ability to send or receive responses. To rule this out, try opening another website. If it also fails to load, restart your router or contact your internet provider.

Avoid using VPNs that may be blocked

Although not widespread, some VPNs can trigger ChatGPT’s network error. If you’re connected through a VPN, try disabling it temporarily. If the error disappears, you may need to avoid that VPN while using ChatGPT.

Split long conversations into smaller parts

ChatGPT can struggle with lengthy threads, even if they’re under its token limit. Dividing your queries into shorter conversations helps maintain stability and avoids overloading the system.

Clear browser cache and try alternatives

Browser issues can also interfere with ChatGPT. Clearing your cache and cookies may resolve hidden conflicts, especially if you haven’t done so in a while. You can also test ChatGPT in another browser to check if the problem is browser-specific.

Check OpenAI’s status page

Sometimes the issue isn’t yours to fix. Server-side outages on OpenAI’s end can temporarily disrupt service. Visiting OpenAI’s status page can confirm if others are affected too.