ChatGPT not responding? Wait 30 to 60 seconds, then click “Stop generating” and “Regenerate”. A reply that hangs is usually stuck on “Thinking…”, spinning without an answer, or frozen on a blank page. If regenerating does not work, start a new chat and work through the steps below, which follow OpenAI’s own troubleshooting guide for replies that hang.

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If the reply hangs: step by step

OpenAI gives this exact sequence for a response that “appears to hang indefinitely without completing”:

  1. Wait 30 to 60 seconds to see whether the response completes. Long or complex answers can take a while.
  2. Click “Stop generating,” then “Regenerate” to retry the same prompt.
  3. Start a new chat and resend your prompt. Copy it first so you do not lose it.
  4. Hard refresh the page with Cmd/Ctrl + Shift + R, or reload the desktop app.
  5. Sign out of ChatGPT and sign back in.
  6. Open ChatGPT in an incognito or private window with extensions disabled.
  7. Disable VPNs, proxies or secure DNS services.
  8. Try a different browser, or switch to another network or device.
  9. Check status.openai.com for an ongoing incident.

If the problem follows you across browsers, devices and networks, OpenAI asks you to collect a HAR file and the browser console errors with timestamps, note the model and the conversation URL, and contact Support.

If ChatGPT is slow or lags

Slowness is a related but different symptom: the answer arrives, just very slowly. OpenAI’s article on slow responses points to these causes and fixes:

  • Outdated cache. If ChatGPT used to be fast and suddenly is not, OpenAI says this is “most often” due to outdated cache data. Clear your browser’s cache and cookies.
  • Peak hours. Users “may notice a pattern of slowness at specific times of the day”. The status page shows whether there is a wider problem.
  • Extensions and system load. Disable extensions that block scripts or ads, and close tabs and programs you do not need.
  • Your connection. Run a speed test, and remember that mobile data can mean lower bandwidth and slower replies.
  • Company networks and VPNs. New network policies can make ChatGPT harder to reach; ask your IT administrator.

The same article suggests one more test: switch to a different model and start a brand-new chat. If the other model answers normally, the problem is specific to that model rather than your account.

If you see a blank screen or the page freezes

For a page that shows nothing, keeps loading or stops responding with no error message, OpenAI’s steps are:

  1. Hard refresh the page (Cmd/Ctrl + Shift + R) or force reload the desktop app.
  2. Sign out and sign back in.
  3. Clear site data or cookies for chat.openai.com, not only the cache.
  4. Disable extensions or content blockers.
  5. Open ChatGPT in an incognito window, a fresh browser profile or a different browser.
  6. Turn off VPNs, secure DNS or other security filters.
  7. Switch to a different network or device.

Why ChatGPT stops responding

OpenAI’s guide names three families of causes: “network configuration, browser extensions, or transient server-side problems”. For replies that hang, the most common ones are:

  • Long conversations. OpenAI’s first tip for stuck replies is a new chat “if the conversation is long or has many turns”.
  • Blocked or cut-off connections. ChatGPT streams replies over WebSocket connections. OpenAI’s network recommendations warn that if a network blocks this traffic, features “may stall, disconnect, or fail to stream updates correctly”. Company firewalls with TLS inspection or short idle timeouts are typical causes.
  • Temporary server trouble, visible on the status page.