If you are asking is ChatGPT down right now or searching for answers to ChatGPT not working, you are not alone. On Tuesday, 3 February 2026, users across the UK, Europe and the United States reported widespread disruption, with sharp increases in traffic to ChatGPT status pages and outage trackers such as Downdetector. The ChatGPT outage was marked by login failures, frozen conversations and persistent error messages, triggering repeated searches including is chat gpt down, chatgpt down? and is chatgpt down?. OpenAI later confirmed that ChatGPT is down for many users, saying the service was “experiencing issues” affecting multiple features across the platform, the editorial team The WP Times reports.
What happened during the ChatGPT outage
Reports of chatgpt down began circulating shortly after 3:00pm Eastern Time, when users noticed ChatGPT responses slowing or stopping entirely. Within minutes, complaints logged on Downdetector surged past 10,000, indicating a large-scale disruption rather than isolated user errors.
Those checking is chatgpt down right now reported being unable to log in, stalled conversations and the familiar message suggesting that “something seems to have gone wrong”. In many cases, the chatbot interface loaded but failed to respond, reinforcing concerns that ChatGPT is down rather than temporarily slow. OpenAI later acknowledged the situation on its official status page, stating it was “currently experiencing issues” and that multiple services were affected simultaneously.
ChatGPT status: what OpenAI has confirmed so far
According to OpenAI’s official ChatGPT status updates, the disruption was caused by elevated error rates affecting both ChatGPT and parts of the wider OpenAI platform. The company confirmed that the incident was not limited to a single feature or region.
OpenAI identified two distinct impact areas. The first involved core ChatGPT functionality, where users encountered widespread errors affecting conversations, search, image generation and related tools. OpenAI said mitigations had been deployed and that recovery was being actively monitored.
The second issue affected advanced platform services, including fine-tuning jobs. In this case, OpenAI acknowledged that remediation was still in progress, warning that intermittent instability could continue even after partial service restoration.
Taken together, OpenAI’s statements confirmed that the outage was genuine and platform-wide. For users asking is chat gpt down? or is chatgpt down?, OpenAI’s position was unambiguous: the service experienced a real systems incident, not isolated user-side failures.
Is ChatGPT down in the UK, Europe and internationally
While early reports suggested the outage was most severe in the United States, international users quickly confirmed problems elsewhere. Searches for is chat gpt down right now increased sharply in the UK and across Europe, with many users reporting identical issues.
Comments on Downdetector highlighted inconsistent access by region. Some users found ChatGPT briefly functional in certain countries, while others reported complete outages. In the UK, access appeared intermittent, with sessions loading slowly or freezing mid-conversation. Several users noted that switching networks or using a VPN temporarily improved performance, though this was inconsistent and not a reliable solution. Overall, the data strongly suggested that chatgpt down reports reflected a genuine global disruption rather than local connectivity problems.
Why ChatGPT not working affects so many people
Although ChatGPT remains a relatively young service, its rapid adoption has made it critical for millions of users. From students and freelancers to developers and businesses, many rely on it daily for writing, coding, research and productivity. When ChatGPT is down, the impact is immediate. Tasks are delayed, workflows are interrupted and alternative tools must be found at short notice. This explains why searches such as chatgpt not working and chatgpt down? spike dramatically during outages.
The scale of this outage underlined how deeply embedded ChatGPT has become in everyday digital life, particularly in professional and educational settings.
Could recent updates have contributed to the outage
The timing of the outage coincided with several high-profile developments in the AI ecosystem. In the days before the disruption, OpenAI launched new tools and integrations that attracted strong user interest. While OpenAI has not confirmed a direct link, some analysts suggest that higher-than-expected demand may have placed additional strain on backend systems. Increased usage following new releases can expose bottlenecks, especially during peak global traffic. However, OpenAI has stressed that investigations are ongoing, and no single cause has yet been officially identified.
What to do if ChatGPT is down right now
If you are experiencing errors and asking is ChatGPT down right now, there are several practical steps that can help you assess the situation and limit disruption. First, check the official ChatGPT status page, where OpenAI publishes real-time updates on outages, mitigations and recovery progress. This is the most reliable source for confirming whether ChatGPT is down at a platform level.
Second, monitor Downdetector, which aggregates user reports and helps determine whether chatgpt not working is a widespread issue or limited to specific regions or networks. A sharp spike in reports typically confirms a broader outage. Users are advised to avoid repeated log-in attempts or rapid refreshes, as these can increase system load during peak incidents. If temporary access is restored, save conversations and work externally, as performance may remain unstable while systems recover.
When ChatGPT is down, options are limited beyond monitoring updates and waiting for service restoration. OpenAI has said it continues to track recovery and will provide further status updates as systems stabilise. Previous outages suggest that core functionality is often restored within hours, though residual latency or regional performance issues can persist longer.
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