On July 16, 2025, OpenAI’s popular AI chatbot, ChatGPT, faced a massive global outage, leaving millions of users unable to access the service. The issue, which started around 6:10 AM IST, also affected other OpenAI tools like Sora and the GPT API. Users across India, North America, Europe, and Asia reported blank screens, login failures, and error messages like “Unusual Activity Detected.” This is the second major ChatGPT outage this month, raising concerns about the platform’s reliability.
Why Is ChatGPT Not Working?
DownDetector reported that 88% of users faced complete inaccessibility, with many losing ongoing chats or seeing sluggish responses. The exact cause remains unclear—server overloads or unexpected bugs are likely culprits. OpenAI confirmed “elevated error rates” on its status page and is working on a fix, but no timeline for full recovery has been shared. This outage has disrupted workflows for developers, businesses, and content creators who rely on ChatGPT daily.
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How Are Users Reacting?
Social media, especially X, is buzzing with frustration. Posts with hashtags like #ChatGPTDown and #ChatGPTNotWorking are trending as users share screenshots of errors and vent about lost work. One user on X humorously posted, “ChatGPT is down, how am I supposed to fake being good at my job now?” The outage has highlighted how dependent people have become on AI tools for work, coding, and research.
What Can You Do If ChatGPT Is Down?
OpenAI suggests checking its status page for updates and advises users to clear their cache or try different devices. However, with services now restored for many, some users may still face intermittent issues. If you’re affected, patience is key—OpenAI’s team is working round-the-clock to stabilize the platform. In the meantime, users are exploring alternatives like Google Gemini, Grok, or Claude.
When Will ChatGPT Be Back?
Services were restored for most users by 9:24 AM IST, but some regions may still experience glitches. OpenAI promises a detailed report on the outage soon. For now, keep an eye on updates and avoid unsaved work on the platform. This ChatGPT outage has shown how critical AI has become, and users worldwide are waiting for a fully reliable service to return.