ChatGPT is down again: OpenAI reported “elevated errors for ChatGPT.” Here’s what you need to know
Nickie Louise
Posted On February 19, 2025
Less than a month after blaming high error rates for API and Sora for ChatGPT outages, OpenAI announced this morning that its AI chatbot app is experiencing an “elevated Error Rate for ChatGPT a
Users of ChatGPT have reported difficulties accessing the service after OpenAI announced “elevated errors” on their platform. According to OpenAI’s system status updates, the outage has resulted in sluggish responses, partial messages, or complete inaccessibility for a significant number of ChatGPT users.
OpenAI first flagged the outage at 10:23 PST, noting that it’s actively looking into the problem. In an update on its status page, the company shared that “free users have seen full recovery,” while efforts are ongoing to address lingering issues for paid users.
According to Downdetector, an online platform that tracks website and service outages, the outage started at around 0:05 AM EST and later spiked at 12:35 PM EST.
What Are “Elevated Errors”?
When OpenAI refers to “elevated errors,” it typically means that their servers are registering more failed requests than usual. This can manifest as:
- Time-outs when attempting to generate responses
- Error messages such as “Something went wrong” or “Server Error”
- Hanging or stalled replies mid-conversation
Potential Causes
While OpenAI hasn’t shared detailed technical reasons behind the outage at this time, there are several common culprits that could lead to elevated error rates:
- Unexpected Traffic Spikes: Surging user demand can overwhelm server capacity.
- Infrastructure Maintenance or Updates: Routine patches or software updates can sometimes introduce temporary instability.
- Third-Party Dependencies: Cloud services or networking providers that support ChatGPT’s infrastructure may be experiencing issues of their own.
How It Affects Users
- Delayed Response Times: Conversations may take longer to load or remain in a “loading…” state indefinitely.
- Limited Availability: Some users may be completely unable to start new ChatGPT sessions.
- Reduced Feature Set: In certain cases, OpenAI might temporarily disable specific features (like plugin integration or advanced GPT-4 capabilities) to help stabilize the system.
What You Can Do
- Stay Updated: Check OpenAI’s status page or official social media channels for ongoing incident updates.
- Try Again Later: If ChatGPT is unresponsive, waiting a few minutes and reattempting can sometimes resolve the issue once servers stabilize.
- Simplify Your Queries: During partial outages, shorter or simpler prompts may have a higher chance of success.
- Explore Workarounds: If ChatGPT remains inaccessible, consider alternative AI assistants or switch to older prompts or local solutions until the issue is resolved.
What’s Next?
OpenAI has indicated that they’re actively investigating the root cause of the outage. The company typically resolves such issues quickly, bringing the platform back online for most users within hours. As the investigation continues, users can monitor official channels for real-time information.
