ChatGPT is down for some free users - here's what you need to know

Date:
Thu, 30 Oct 2025 19:46:17 +0000

Description:
The popular AI chatbot is experiencing some issues

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Just a day after a serious Microsoft Azure outage, it seems that OpenAI's ChatGPT is having some issues. According to Down Detector, issues with
ChatGPT began spiking just before 3PM ET about 30 minutes ago and it currently sits at over 1,000 reported issues.

I've been trying to chat with ChatGPT on the desktop and on the iOS app, but to no avail, with it returning an "Error in message stream" message. One of
my colleagues in the UK TechRadar's Global Editor in Chief, Marc McLaren is encountering similar issues. I'm also seeing some early users taking to
social platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Threads to ask if ChatGPT is down.

ChatGPT has also confirmed issues for free users via the official status. So to track what appears to be a growing outage for ChatGPT, TechRadar is spinning up a live blog, and we've reached out to OpenAI for comment. Down Detector reports are spiking (Image credit: Down Detector)

As you can see just before 3PM ET, reports for issues on ChatGPT began
spiking and I've been getting an error in my attempts to use the AI chatbot
on the dekstop and via the iOS app. OpenAI confirms ChatGPT is having
problems for free accounts

OpenAI is at least quick to confirm the issues here: the official status page reads, "Increased errors on ChatGPT conversations for free users," and confirms a partial outage. (Image credit: OpenAI)

As someone with a free ChatGPT account, here's what responses currently look like from the chatbot. ChatGPT isn't saying much, if anything, just returning an error. (Image credit: Future) OpenAI has identified the problem

As of 3:24 PM ET, OpenAI write,s "We have identified the issue and are
working to mitigate it." The ChatGPT maker isn't yet providing details on
what is causing the issue, but it has identified the issue and is working on
a resolution.

As we noted above, this outage is mostly affecting free ChatGPT users, so if you have a paid account or one through enterprise or education, you're likely not seeing issues. Down Detector reports are starting to drop

While reports on Down Detector spiked to over 2,600, they have started to dip slightly, but remain elevated. As of 3:40 PM ET the last update on the service reports were over 1,100, suggesting that OpenAI is making good progress in mitigating the issue. (Image credit: Future)

As is typically the case with outages including Starbucks and Xbox Network just yesterday impacted folks are taking to social platforms, with some even asking OpenAI's Sam Altman what's going on? Did ChatGPT go down? October 30, 2025 Is chatgpt down or is it me only #chatgpt down # chatgpt pic.twitter.com/D9wt34mhNv October 30, 2025 Ayo @sama , ChatGPT is down brother October 30, 2025 OpenAI's deployed a fix for the issue

Now, a bit over an hour after ChatGPT began having issues, OpenAI says it has deployed a fix as of 4:07 PM ET. Here's the update:

We have deployed a fix to restore functionality and are monitoring to
confirm resolution.

It's certainly promising and does line up with reported issues dropping on Down Detector. I've just given ChatGPT a go again on the desktop and got a response, albeit after a longer processing time, but it's still showing an error on mobile.

Hopefully, we'll all be back to normal shortl,y and free users will be able
to use ChatGPT again. (Image credit: Future)



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/news/live/chatgpt-down-outage-october-2025


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