ChatGPT has been in constant trend for the past few months. It is an AI chatbot loved by billions of users, and even now several apps and services are implementing GPT on their products.
ChatGPT can be a useful tool for those who want to do something but don’t have the required skills. Yes, it has flaws, but they are all overshadowed by its advantages.
If you are a fan of the AI chatbot and are actively working with it, you may have come across a ChatGPT network error at some point. When the ‘Network Error’ message appears on ChatGPT, it stops your conversation with the AI chatbot, leading to frustration.
Why does a network error appear on ChatGPT?
In general, you can ‘Network error’ on ChatGPT while asking for a long answer/answer.
There could be other things like unstable internet, server issues, corrupted browser cache, IP address ban, using VPN/Proxy, asking too soon, etc.
The best ways to fix network errors in ChatGPT
Since the actual reason behind the network error on ChatGPT is still unknown, we need to follow some general troubleshooting tips to fix it. Here are the best ways to solve this Network error on ChatGPT.
1. Don’t ask for long answers
The ‘Network Error’ on ChatGPT usually appears when you request long responses from the chatbot. This is because ChatGPT’s servers are generally busy and it takes a while to get an answer.
You’ll get this error if the response is too long and the servers are busy, but you can easily fix it by breaking your main question into parts.
In this way, ChatGPT responds faster and error-free to your questions. ChatGPT also answers your follow-up questions, which you can take advantage of.
2. Check your internet connection
Network error on ChatGPT is also linked to your internet connection. The error appears when you are using an unstable internet connection and lose connection during a call.
So while using ChatGPT, make sure your internet connection is stable and fast. The best way to check if there is an internet connection is through internet speed test websites.
3. Reload the page
Browser bug, glitch or connection timeout are other reasons for ‘Network error’ on ChatGPT. Since you can’t tell if it’s a bug or a glitch that’s causing the error, it’s best to reload the entire page.
Just click on the Reload knob next to the URL in the address bar. This will reload the web page. After reloading, go back to the AI chatbot.
4. Check ChatGPT’s servers
ChatGPT recently launched its paid plan called ChatGPT Plus, but still the free version is used by most of the users.
The servers of the free version of ChatGPT are often down or under maintenance, and when the problem comes from the ChatGPT backend, there is nothing you can do to fix the network error.
For ChatGPT outages, you can check out OpenAI’s status page, which shows the server status of all its tools and services. Aside from OpenAI’s status page, you can also rely on Downdetector to check the real-time status of ChatGPT’s servers.
5. Enable/Disable your VPN
If you use a VPN, chances are OpenAI has marked your IP address as spam; hence you are getting the network error.
You can try disabling your VPN if you have connected to it before. The opposite can also be true; if your actual IP address is highlighted, you will get the error; in that case, a VPN can help.
You should check if enabling or disabling a VPN helps in solving the ChatGPT network error problem. If the problem is solved while using VPN, then you should use the AI chatbot with a VPN.
6. Clear the browser cache and cookies
A corrupted browser cache is a prominent reason for ChatGPT network errors. The best way to fix this error is to clear the browser cache and cookies.
We used the Google Chrome browser to demonstrate the steps to clear the browser cache; you should do the same in other web browsers.
1. Open the Google Chrome browser and click the three dots in the upper right corner.
2. Then select More tools > Delete browsing history.
3. Click the Time frame drop-down list at the Clear browsing data prompt and select “Always‘.
4. Then select the ‘Browsing history‘, ‘Cookies and Other Site Data‘, and click the clear data knob.
That is it! This is how to deal with browser issues causing network error on ChatGPT.
7. Use ChatGPT after a few minutes or hours
Due to massive traffic from all over the world, ChatGPT’s servers fill up quickly. The server status page may show that the servers are functional, but due to overload, sometimes the AI bot may show you the ‘Network Error’.
You can try ChatGPT after a few minutes or hours. It is also recommended not to ask questions during peak hours, as responses are likely to be slow and may return with an error.
8. Contact OpenAI support team
ChatGPT is still being tested; hence the developers have opened a support system. You can visit OpenAI’s help center and report the problem.
The OpenAI team will investigate your issue and do their best to resolve it. To report the issue, visit this web page and click the chat icon in the bottom right corner.
Then select ‘Messages’ and send a message explaining your problem.
The ‘Network Error’ message on ChatGPT can be frustrating, especially if you rely on it too much. However, the methods we shared can help you fix the error. If you need more help fixing the ChatGPT network error, let us know in the comments. And if the article helped you, share it with your friends.
