ChatGPT may not be working for several common reasons as of August 2025:
- Server Issues: OpenAI's servers may experience downtime or heavy traffic, which can cause ChatGPT to be temporarily unavailable. This can happen especially during peak usage times or after major updates like the GPT-5 launch.
- High Demand and Traffic: During periods of high user traffic, ChatGPT performance might degrade, particularly for free users who face rate limits. Upgrading to ChatGPT Plus can help by providing priority access.
- Browser-related Problems: Corrupt or outdated browser cache and cookies, or conflicting browser extensions, can interfere with ChatGPT's functionality. Clearing cache, cookies, or using incognito mode or a different browser may solve these issues.
- Network Issues: An unstable or slow internet connection can prevent ChatGPT from working reliably. Restarting the router, checking internet speed, or switching networks can help fix this.
- VPN Usage: Using a VPN can sometimes block access to ChatGPT, as it may interfere with IP address recognition and security measures.
- Recent Backend Issues: In early 2025, some users experienced major problems due to backend updates that affected long-term memory and session stability, though this may not be the cause of all current problems.
- Specific Outages: For example, on August 8, 2025, there was a temporary outage linked to search functionality that affected users relying on real-time queries.
To fix ChatGPT not working, users should:
- Check OpenAI's status page for server updates.
- Clear browser cache and cookies.
- Try incognito mode or a different browser.
- Check and stabilize internet connection.
- Avoid VPNs or disconnect them.
- Consider upgrading to ChatGPT Plus for better access during high traffic.
- Refresh the page or log out and back in.
These are the main commonly reported causes and solutions for ChatGPT connectivity or usability problems in 2025. If none of these work, waiting for OpenAI to resolve server-side issues may be necessary.
